Father Joseph Fitzgerald, director of Vocations for the Diocese of Rockville Center on Long Island, conducted two Advent Days of Recollection; one on Saturday for Men at St. Patrick’s in Owego and one on Sunday afternoon for Youth at St. Margaret Mary’s in Apalachin.
His program included Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, a Homily, small group discussions and individual confessions with support from Fathers Thomas Valenti and Peter VanLieshout.
Father Fitzgerald has a very interesting background. From Long Island, N.Y., he’s a graduate of Ithaca College where he was a Division Three Champion football quarterback with former Owego Free Academy football star and then IC Team Captain Joe Palladino of Owego.
Father Fitzgerald also competed in the 1986 Olympics and for a decade, traveling the globe to 50 countries as part of a U.S. National team hardball squad.
Now, the former Olympian and priest is recruiting future priests after being a Chaplain at a Diocesan High School.
On a vocation retreat, Father Fitzgeral brought his youth group and was asked by a Catholic priest, “Joe, you’ve dated half the girls on Long Island, have you ever considered dating the priesthood?”
The grace of God was at work. He was ordained a priest on June 9, 2007.
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