To the Editor:
I was privileged to be a part of Bishop Tom Donato’s 50th Anniversary of Ordination mass at St. Henry’s Catholic Church in Bayonne on Sunday, June 21. Even though I was a little late (I had to work!), the mass and the celebration that followed were spectacular! Fifty years of ministry is more than a milestone; it is a living testimony of one man’s service to the Gospel of Jesus Christ and to his Church. Bishop Donato has done this with grace and humility for more than half a century. I am a frequent visitor at Saturday night mass at St. Henry’s and have been deeply touched by the depth and breadth of Bishop Donato’s homilies, his teaching, and, of course, his welcoming spirit. He has been an important ambassador to the Bayonne community and a valued colleague to me and the congregation I serve. I stand in awe of your service and the years you have given so unselfishly. Well done, good and faithful servant! Soli Deo Gloria!
GARY A. GRINDELAND
Pastor, Grace Lutheran Church