Fr. Roache’s First Mass

Linda Busetti Photos 

Father Dermot Roache, SMA, was ordained as a priest for the American Province of the Society of African Missions, their first new priest in 15 years, on Dec. 29. He celebrated his first Mass, above and below, at his home parish, St. Anselm, Bay Ridge, on Sunday Dec. 30, where his parents are still parishioners. Father Roache will serve in Kenya. Dancers in African dress carried up the offertory gifts and were each blessed by Father Roache. As a special gift, St. Anselm’s parish gave Father Roache a chalice which was used by Father Charles McLaughlin, a parish priest Father Dermot knew as a child and who recently passed away. Father Roache asked the congregation to pray for vocations