BELMONT — Benedictine Father David Kessinger is marking six decades of priestly ministry this year.
A lifelong Catholic from Clifton Forge, Va., he first thought he might want to be a priest when he was training to be an altar server in the fifth grade.
He attended junior and senior college at Belmont Abbey. During his senior year there, he realized he had a call to the religious life. Upon his graduation from Belmont Abbey College in 1953, he entered the Benedictine monastery of Belmont Abbey.
After the novitiate he completed four years of major seminary studies before being ordained in the Abbey basilica by Bishop Vincent Waters on May 31, 1958.
Over the years, Father Kessinger has served at Belmont Abbey College, the Benedictine Military School in Richmond, Va., and a Benedictine high school in Savannah, Ga. He also served as the librarian of Belmont Abbey College for years.
When asked about what he has enjoyed most about his priestly ministry, Father Kessinger responds, “Having the joy of God’s gift of vocation and priesthood in ministering to the people of God, especially offering Mass and hearing confessions, and ministry to the sick and elderly.”
The most significant lessons he has learned over the past 60 years of religious life?
“God’s love for us all,” he replies, and adds, “The witness of the people of God. Learn from mistakes – go forward from there. God has many surprises! Take one day at a time.”
He has also witnessed “God’s loving mercy and the good example of the people of God.”
Father Kessinger has a great love of music, reading the Scriptures and spiritual reading. These things were shared with him by his parents, relatives and friends over the years.
His advice to those discerning a call to the priesthood or religious life?
“(Spend time in) daily prayer, asking the Holy Spirit for the grace of discernment of God’s call; daily participation in Mass and Holy Communion; faithful, daily reading of Scriptures; regular Eucharistic Adoration and praying of the rosary,” he suggests.
And, he urges, people should “pray daily for abundant and faithful vocations.”
— SueAnn Howell, senior reporter