Fr. Tommy King, Franciscan Missionary

Celebrating 25 years of Franciscan Priesthood

On February 3, 2018 about 200 friars, family members and friends gathered  in thanksgiving at Our Lady of the Angels to celebrate Fr. Tommy ‘s 25^th anniversary mass as a Franciscan priest.  The homily brought tears to everyone present including his seven siblings and some of his high school classmates.  Here is an excerpt:

These past 25 years of Franciscan priesthood have been a journey of faith and a profound experience of  God’s generous love and grace.  All participating in this liturgy have accompanied me in this journey.   I am eternally grateful for your love and support.  May you be blessed today and always with God’s deep peace and joy!

In typical Fr. Tommy fashion, he found a way to incorporate some lightheartedness  into the liturgy and to remind us that he is human.  Among  the many offertory gifts were: a soccer ball and Manchester United shirt  symbolizing his passion for soccer, a miniature wooden canoe and oar that was a going away gift when he left the Peruvian Amazon, a Tsutuil  bird cloth, a gift when he left Guatemala, a San Francisco Giants hat and shirt (his favorite baseball team).  Other more serious offerings included an icon of Archbishop Oscar Romero, a martyr from El Salvador dedicated to peace, justice and solidarity with the poor, the chalice and ceborium given to him by his family for his ordination and other memorable items.

The day was magical with his humble memories and the enormity of how he has spent 25 years doing God’s will.  We are very blessed to have Fr. Tommy in our lives and shepherding the Casa Franciscana Mission in Guaymas, MX.   He asks for your prayers as he continues his journey and you  may donate to the Mission in his honor.

The CFO board celebrates with Fr. Tommy

Hugs from his great niece and nephew