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| Fr. James McEnery |
MADISON — Fr. James McEnery will be celebrating his 60th anniversary as a priest this month.
Celebrations for Father McEnery’s jubilee are planned for Saturday and Sunday, May 18 and 19, at St. Peter Parish, Madison, and St. Mary Parish, Milton, respectively.
Father McEnery was ordained May 14, 1953, by Bishop William P. O’Connor, at Holy Redeemer Church in Madison (the cathedral was being renovated at the time).
Bishop O’Connor called him his troubleshooter, sending him to work with pastors who were ill. Three of the first four pastors died while he was their assistant.
The last three places Father McEnery worked were St. Paul Chapel (his sleeping quarters were on State St. before it became a mall), St. Mary Parish in Milton (the golden years of his priesthood), and St. Peter Parish in Madison (as a retired priest in residence).
He now helps out primarily at St. Cecilia Parish in Wisconsin Dells, as well as at St. Peter Parish in Madison.
The highlight of working in the Diocese of Madison was the unbelievably fraternal spirit among the priests, he said.
After retirement
Since retiring, Father McEnery has built houses in Guatemala, has dished up rice in Haiti, preached for Food for the Poor, and has done some substitute teaching at parochial schools.
He wrote and produced a musical, but only with the deft hand and assistance of the popular, experienced director Pat Dischler. He has also written music for the Mass, which has been performed in a number of parishes.
His thoughts on happiness
Father McEnery says that all he ever wanted to be was a simple parish priest, and is proud — even jealous — of the title “father.”
He said, “All a priest needs to be happy are two things: God and people. Win, win. And the people! So willing to help, give of their time, their friendship their laugh.”
On getting older
“The death rate is 100 percent. It’s just a matter of timing, so pass the butter,” said Father McEnery.