‘I thank God for this day and for my vocation,’ said the newly ordained Fr John Vespa to a crowd of about 800 at the thanksgiving Mass held at his childhood parish of St Mary’s Greensborough on Sunday 27 July. Only a month earlier, he was standing in St Peter’s Basilica as one of 32 men ordained to the priesthood by Pope Leo XIV in this Jubilee Year.
Sunday’s Mass was the first opportunity for the wider community of Melbourne—friends, family, fellow clergy, parishioners, teachers and classmates—to gather and celebrate Melbourne’s newest priest.
Bishop Greg Bennet of the Diocese of Sale has known Fr Vespa and the Vespa family for decades and was invited to deliver the homily. In it, he reflected on the hospitality shown to him by the Vespas, especially during his time as an assistant priest at St Mary’s.
‘The Vespa family were so very kind to me. Mario and Maddalena always opened their door—a home of hospitality, good company and delicious food,’ said the bishop.
‘I have strong memories of an energetic little nine-year-old John, who was always full of cheek and much delight. John could never sit still. He loved to stir his brothers, David and Paul, and to annoy [his sister] Santina. It was a family of love, a family of faith, a normal holy family with its joys, its hopes, its dreams and sometimes its challenges.
Bishop Bennet also recalled how Fr Vespa’s father, Mario, taught him how to graft trees together. ‘I remember being in the backyard with Mario tending his little orchard and his beautifully maintained orto [veggie patch]. One day, Mario taught me how to graft a fruit tree,’ he recalled.
It has taken time, encouragement, courage and a deep personal response to say, “Yes, Lord, I wish to be grafted to you. I am prepared to be wounded by love so that I may grow in your love and bear fruit for your Church.”
‘He chose the ripe branch on the existing tree and spliced the two ends together. He did everything so carefully and gently, and at the end, he wound the bandage to hold the graft together. It was a form of art, grafting two trees to the sign of hope that they will bear fruit.
‘In many ways, this is a beautiful metaphor for John, a beloved son grafted into the life of God and the life of God’s Son, Jesus Christ,’ said Bishop Bennet. ‘It has taken time, encouragement, courage and a deep personal response to say, “Yes, Lord, I wish to be grafted to you. I am prepared to be wounded by love so that I may grow in your love and bear fruit for your Church.”
‘It’s been wonderful to witness John grow in his formation at Corpus Christi College,’ said the bishop. ‘I admire his passion for pastoral ministry, and I always enjoy hearing the comments of others saying he was open to be formed and ready to serve with love.’
Bishop Bennet reflected on Fr Vespa’s previous experience in hospitality, saying it will stand him in good stead as he embarks on his new ministry. ‘To make people welcome, to nourish them in the Word and sacraments, to become a place for the hungry, the thirsty and the weary—this is the mission of Jesus entrusted to you and to us.’
‘This is the graft of love—your life, your gifts, your faith—given now for others. You are now grafted to the priestly ministry of Jesus Christ and given to the Church. We shall pray for you, that God who has begun this good work in you will bring it to fulfilment.
‘We are grateful that you said yes to the call of God in Christ. The Spirit of God has made his home in you, and just as the apostles were shaken on the day of Pentecost, you will now be sent forth in the Archdiocese to serve.’
St Mary’s holds a special place in Fr Vespa’s heart. It’s where he attended primary school and where he says he found his vocation.
‘I found my vocation there, really, when I had my first Holy Communion, he said. ‘It was special, and I think that’s where the Holy Spirit really spoke to me the first time, and that’s why I wanted to celebrate [my thanksgiving Mass] there.’
Sunday’s celebration was a moment of pride not only for Fr Vespa’s family but also for longtime parishioners of St Mary’s.
The Holy Spirit has been in my life ever since I was young. And hopefully the Holy Spirit spoke to all those gathered today as well.
Robert and Eileen Holbery shared how they’d happily observed Mario and Maddalena’s support of their son as he explored his vocation to the priesthood.
‘We have all been there as parishioners to encourage and pray for John on his journey from seminarian to the priesthood,’ said Eileen.
‘It was a privilege to be asked to carry the offertory gifts and a grace for all of us who were in attendance and participated at John’s thanksgiving Mass. Now as he moves to where he is meant to be, our prayers and blessings go with him.’
Also unveiled on Sunday was a special cross stitch by Maddalena Vespa, based on the artwork Pentecost by Juan Bautista Maino. The piece took more than 1,185 hours to complete and contains approximately 118,500 stitches.
As Fr Vespa explained, ‘Today’s thanksgiving Mass was a votive Mass for the Holy Spirit. And that’s because the Holy Spirit has been in my life ever since I was young.
‘And hopefully the Holy Spirit spoke to all those gathered today as well.’
Banner image: Fr John Vespa celebrates with family and friends at St Mary’s Greensborough. (Photo by Melbourne Catholic.)
All other photos by Casamento Photography.
