Chalice: 58 years later ‘it’s like new’

By DAWN PROSSER
Director of Communications
(Fifth in a series)
 
The beautiful chalice with the red glaze made its liturgical debut at newly-ordained Father John Thomas’ first Mass June 5, 1966, at Holy Name Church in Rock Rapids. The vessel has accompanied Father Thomas at the altar for over five decades.
 
Just prior to his June 4 ordination at the Cathedral of the Epiphany, the seminarian’s family announced they would purchase a chalice for him as an ordination gift.
 
“The seminary had some chalices on display from this company in Germany,” Father Thomas explained, noting he attended Mount St. Bernard Seminary in Dubuque. “They set up a table and put these chalices out and the material regarding them. We were free to look at them and decide if we wanted to deal with (that company.)”
 
The seminarian was able to personalize the vessel with a special process for the red color. He selected a silver dove to represent the Holy Spirit for the front of the chalice. Once his specifications were complete, the chalice was created in Germany and shipped back to the Dubuque seminary.
 
“I was pleased. It is a beautiful chalice,” the priest said of receiving the finished piece. “I had engraved on the baseplate, ‘Rev. John M. Thomas, ordained June 4, 1966. From my father, mother, brothers and sisters. May they share in all my Masses.’”
 
Traveling the diocese
Although retired since 2009, Father Thomas has a full calendar traveling the eastern side of the diocese to celebrate Masses nearly every weekend in numerous parishes.
 “I enjoy it very much,” he said, noting he senses he is appreciated by the faithful in the parishes he visits. He also celebrates occasional daily Masses and is scheduled monthly to preside at Mass at the Homestead Assisted Living and Memory Care of Algona, bringing his chalice to each site. 

“I use it at every Mass that I celebrate,” he said. “When I am going out, filling in anywhere, I take it with me and use it.”
 
After nearly 60 years of liturgical use in the diocese, the retired priest said, “it’s like new.” He polishes it three or four times each year and keeps it in its carrying case. After each Mass, he ensures that he cleanses the vessel himself rather than entrusting anyone else.
 
“I clean it up myself. I really treasure it,” Father Thomas stressed.
 
He has considered the future use of his beloved chalice when he is gone. 

“I don’t want to see it sitting on a shelf somewhere,” he said. “I am very particular about it. I’d like to see a young priest who does not have a chalice to take this and use it.”
 
As he travels around the diocese in his retirement, filling in at Masses, the priest said he sees unused chalices in churches.
 
“All the different rectories I’ve been in and I see the chalices sitting on the shelves,” he said, pointing out that the Knights of Columbus over the years purchased chalices for their deceased members as memorials. “There are just not enough priests anymore. When you consider how many chalices that the KCs would have contributed … there’s a kind of surplus of chalices available.”
 
Although the retired priest turned 86 this week, he said his health is very good and plans to continue to take his chalice throughout the diocese and assist with presiding at Masses for the faithful.

 Photos courtesy of Deacon John Rudd, taken at Holy Family Church in Emmetsburg“I just really enjoy going out to the parishes and celebrating the Masses and the sacraments with the people. I don’t consider it to be a job. It’s a vocation,” he said. 

This is the final installment of the priests’ chalice series. Read the first five articles:

 - Father Galles
-  Father McCarthy
- Father Brad Pelzel
- Father Sunny Dominic