Pictured, is Father Langan. (Photos provided by Jim Raftis, Sr.)
Father Vincent F. Langan – a Priest of God for 56 years of his 82 years – ended his 41 years of local priestly ministry by celebrating his final Masses here in the two oldest churches of the Diocese of Scranton on Sunday, before relocating at his home in his native Scranton to enjoy retirement.
Since May 2016, Father Langan has been Administrator Pro Tem at St. Bridget Parishes – St. Augustine of Silver Lake, said to be the oldest, and St. Francis Xavier of Friendsville, a very close second. Father Langan covered during the half-year medical absence of Father Casmir Stains, pastor.
Father Langan is Pastor Emeritus of St. John’s of South Waverly and St. Joseph’s of Athens. He was named Pastor of St. John’s on Sept. 9, 1975, and on Sept. 9, 1996 he was also named pastor of St. Joseph’s. In 2009, consolidation closed both churches and the congregations joined Epiphany in Sayre.
Parishioners of St. Augustine and St. Francis thanked Father Langan for his service at a Sunday reception in the Newman Center Parish Hall in Choconut, Pa.
Father Langan encouraged his congregations to always sing The Lord’s Prayer. So they sang it at his farewell.
Father Langan is a widely known and highly respected priest. His patience, humility, kindness, understanding, teaching and example, particularly his love and caring of the sick, have left an indelible mark on countless people who for many years met him either at church or bedside at Robert Packer Hospital in Sayre. In retirement he celebrated many Masses and Masses of Christian Burial locally.
Father Langan’s sister, 89-year-old Theresa Marie Langan, died Wednesday, Sept. 14, at her home in West Scranton. She retired from the Diocese of Scranton. Father Langan made it a point to visit his sister weekly before she died.
To phrase a Latin quote, “Ad Multos Annos” – Father Langan, to many years and many happy returns. Special thanks for visiting the sick, day or night, seven days a week at Robert Packer Hospital in Sayre.
Father Langan, I wanted to send you a card to rejoice in your retirement. However, numerous attempts to find an address or phone number were unsuccessful. Thank you so much for all you did for me during the bad and the great years. My favorite time of the year for South Waverly will always be the snow. Hope you will stay in touch although I will not hold my breath. 🙂 March 5, 1978, the date of the Mass for my becoming Catholic. Linda Briggs played a large part of that and I am broken-hearted still about her death. God Bless you always. Jean