Newly ordained Father Phillip Dufour offers his first priestly blessing to Father John McElroy, the longest serving priest in the Diocese of Providence. Father McElroy was ordained February 1945. This blessing took place at St. John Vianney Residence for Retired Priests in Providence. It is tradition that the newly ordained priest(s) offer a Mass for the priests at the retirement home each year. Father Dufour celebrated Mass with Father David Gaffney, Director of St. John Vianney Residence and Rector of the Seminary of Our Lady of Providence, and Father Christopher Murphy, Director of Vocations for the diocese.
