God is in control. 

That thought has been on my heart these last few months leading up to the 50th anniversary of my ordination to the priesthood. I haven’t always recognized God in everything that has happened over these 50 years, but looking back it is easy to see.

I’ve always tried my best to do my part, and there were many people and events that influenced my call to the priesthood, but God was ultimately in charge. It was entirely fitting that in the Daily Mass Gospel this year on May 12, the day of my 50th anniversary, Jesus says to his disciples: “It was not you who chose me, but I who chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit that will remain…” (John 15:16)

It began on Saturday, May 12, 1973, when I was ordained by Cardinal William Baum along with 16 other men for the priesthood here in the Archdiocese of Washington. Some 30 seminarians in my class at Mount St. Mary’s in Emmitsburg, Maryland, were also ordained that same year in their own dioceses.

As is tradition, I celebrated my first Mass the next day, and my father preached the homily. As you know, the homily is usually reserved for a priest or deacon. My father was ordained a deacon the year before I became a priest, so he was able to give the homily. It must be one of the few times in modern history (if not the only time) that a father preached at his son’s first Mass. What a gift at the beginning of my priesthood, and what a special memory for me 50 years later.

Thinking back to those years of formation and growth, I am grateful to my family and all who taught me what it is to be a priest. I think I learned more through actions than words. I was blessed to be around model priests who loved the Lord and cared deeply about other people. They were examples of faithful and loving parish priests spending their lives working in the Lord’s vineyard. 

I wanted to be a parish priest from the get-go, and I always loved my parish work. While still in seminary, I spent two years at St. Jane de Chantal, where I also saw the death of two pastors. Msgr. James Caulfield and Msgr. Francis Walsh died within 18 days of each other just two months before my ordination. That certainly had an impact on me, as I loved both of those men who were gifts to the archdiocese and did great things for the Church.

My first assignment after ordination was Little Flower Parish in Bethesda. The pastor, Msgr. Joseph Coyne, had asked the cardinal if he could assign someone who had experience with youth. I had spent two years working with youth at St. Jane de Chantal, so I was a good fit. 

It is often said that a priest’s first parish is your favorite, and in many ways that was true for me. Little Flower was a great gift to me for six years. I learned much from the priests there, but I think even more from the people. 

I was involved with the young people, ran a summer camp, and was heavily engaged with the school and religious education program. All of that gave me a chance to see families – good families – living out their faith in ways that inspired and uplifted me. I loved helping parents guide and lead their children towards greater faith, and many of those who were kids back then are still active in the Church today, 50 years later.

After working so much with youth at Little Flower, I was then asked to take over the Office of Youth Ministry/CYO for the archdiocese, which I did for 11 years. I mostly helped parishes develop their own programs and youth ministry efforts, which was important work, but I admittedly missed the day-to-day contact with parishioners. They were good years, and I was ready to go back to being a parish priest.

In 1987, even while still working in youth ministry, I was asked to also be pastor at Mount Calvary parish in Forestville, where I spent three spectacular years. It was my first pastorate, which is also a special experience for a priest. I loved the parish, the commitment to the school and young people, and how the community grew as an integrated parish. By the end of my time there, an almost equal number of Black and White parishioners were celebrating faith together.

I left Mount Calvary earlier than expected to become pastor at Our Lady of Mercy Parish in Potomac, where Father Joe Byron was struggling with Alzheimer’s disease. Mercy was my home for 14 wonderful years, the longest assignment of my priesthood.

The parish grew bigger and even more vibrant in my time there. We added a Victory Housing assisted living facility named after Father Byron, expanded the school, and built a new church to accommodate the growing number of people coming each week. Mercy was a great experience for me, and I still carry much of that in my heart.

I then worked full time for the archdiocese for a brief period on the Forward in Faith development campaign before being asked to also take over as pastor at Blessed Sacrament in Washington for nearly six years. Like at Our Lady of Mercy, I had opportunities to make a difference in the lives of many people. I loved being in the school and working with both religious education and adult education. I loved our active social concerns program there. And I loved once again being part of a parish family full of life, vigor and fun.

My last assignment here at Catholic Charities was also the biggest surprise. I did not expect anything of the sort 12 years ago when Cardinal Wuerl asked me to lead this amazing agency. It has been a great journey with lots of happiness and, honestly, very few struggles. Difficult issues always arise, but we’ve dealt with them effectively, efficiently, and compassionately. 

My experience has been joyful and spirit-filled, and I hope along the way I helped others in need find food, clothing, shelter, employment, or simply a friendly face. I also hope I helped others come closer to God and live out their Baptismal call to serve. 

In many ways, Catholic Charities has been the best job I’ve ever had because my entire ministry has been helping people in need. What an amazing gift it is when your job and your ministry are one in the same. I have no doubt it was part of God’s plan, as all my previous work prepared me well for this assignment.

The 50 years have gone by quickly. I think it’s because I have been happy, fulfilled, and supported by so many others every step of the way. I’ve lived with great brother priests. I’ve been inspired by wonderful sisters. I’ve been lifted up through the experiences of families. I’ve found great happiness in performing Baptisms, Marriages, Reconciliation, First Communions, Confirmations, and funerals for those I love and serve.

Thank you, Lord, for the gift of the priesthood, and for calling me to this great opportunity. Thank you for helping me say “yes” as often as I could. And thank you for the blessing of so many people I call friends, a big family of God’s children whom I love and who love me. God put me exactly where I was supposed to be and with the people I was supposed to accompany. 

I celebrate all of this as I celebrate 50 years of service in the priesthood and step down from my full-time role at Catholic Charities. I absolutely love being a priest, and I’m not stopping now. I look forward to many more years of commitment to the Lord in his vineyard and whatever God calls me to do. 

God’s still in control, and I wouldn’t want it any other way.

(Msgr. John Enzler, the president and CEO of Catholic Charities of The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Washington, writes the “Faith in Action” column for the archdiocese’s Catholic Standard newspaper and website and for the archdiocese’s Spanish-language El Pregonero newspaper and website.)