Fr. Tony is pictured above (right) meeting Pope Francis. Bishop Virginio is in the background.

“It felt like it did back when we were students. It was wonderful!”

Last year Fr. Tony Russo, SCJ, celebrated his 50th anniversary of ordination.

He was honored at the parishes where he had been pastor: Our Lady of Guadalupe in Houston and St. Martin of Tours in Franklin, WI. There was also a province event with fellow golden jubilarians Bishop Joseph Potocnak, SCJ and Fr. Tom Westhoven, SCJ, as well as other gatherings with friends and family.

But one of Fr. Tony’s most memorable anniversary celebrations took place just a few weeks ago when he joined a couple of classmates in Rome: Bishop Virginio Bressanelli, SCJ, of Neuquén, Argentina (and former SCJ superior general) and Fr. Tom Stanley, SCJ, of the British-Irish Province.

“Wouldn’t it be great if we got together in Rome to visit some of the places we went to when we were students?” wrote Bishop Virginio last year. He and Fr. Tony had been in contact following the death of fellow classmate Fr. Peter Mastrobuono, SCJ. The three were students together at the Gregorian University in Rome.

Fr. Tom Stanley, Bishop Virginio Bressanelli and Fr. Tony Russo at St. Peter’s.

And while there, wouldn’t it be wonderful if the classmates could celebrate Mass with Pope Francis? Bishop Virginio feels a strong connection to the pope, a fellow Argentine; both have served as officers in the Argentine Episcopal Conference.

Fr. Tony agreed, but no specific plans were made. That was until early January when he got a message from Bishop Virginio. Would Fr. Tony be able to meet him in Rome in a couple of weeks?

“We put the trip together quickly but we did it,” said Fr. Tony. Fellow classmate Fr. Tom Stanley was able to join them.

“I hadn’t seen Fr. Tom in over 50 years!” said Fr. Tony. Two other SCJ classmates –– Bishop Carmo João Rhoden and Fr. Darcy Dutra of Brazil –– were unable to make the trip.

The trio visited the churches where they had each celebrated their first Masses and many of the other haunts of their youth in Rome.

And yes, they did concelebrate Mass with Pope Francis at Casa Santa Maria (the pope’s residence) and after, briefly met with the pope.

The Mass with the Holy Father was a very special moment for Fr. Tony.

“However, what most impacted me during our visit in Rome was the spirit we found in the house [Generalate],” he said. “It was good to feel such a sense of welcoming and collegiality among the many young SCJs in the house, priests and brothers from Africa and Asia, from all over the world.

“I am grateful for their hospitality and to see so much life there. It felt like it did back when we were students. It was wonderful!”