Father Rock honored with a retirement party by Saint Mary congregation

IC photo by Marie Mischel

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Father Martin Rock, who became pastor of Saint Mary Catholic Church in West Haven in January 1993, celebrates a children's Mass prior to his retirement party.

WEST HAVEN - For the past 21 years, Father Martin Rock has served as pastor of Saint Mary Parish in West Haven, but now with his retirement he's returning to the Jesuit retirement home in Los Gatos, Calif. The Saint Mary community celebrated his time with them with a party June 13.

"Retirement is a sad thing, because we're letting go of the one we love, but it also gives us the opportunity to recognize and honor him," said the parish's parochial vicar, Jesuit Father Leo Prengaman, during his homily at a children's Mass prior to the party. "All of us here consider Fr. Rock our friend. We all have memories of how he was there for us and served us."

Fr. Rock "shows us the way as pastor," Fr. Prengaman said. "He takes care of us so that we know what Jesus is saying and we know how to avoid stumbling and falling on the way to Jesus."

The first thing Fr. Rock did when he came to St. Mary was to establish a children's Mass, a time and place just for them, Fr. Prengaman said. "That was appropriate because every kid knows instinctively that Fr. Rock is his friend.... In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus says, ‘Blessed are the pure of heart, for they will see God.' We all know that Fr. Rock, his heart is pure, and he's going to see God, but we don't want it to happen too soon. Let's all be thankful for the many years that Fr. Rock has graced our lives."

In contrast, Jesuit Father Bill Kelly, a representative of Father John P. McGarry, the provincial superior of the Jesuits California Province, extended his thanks to the St. Mary community. "You have helped shape his heart by supporting him, by encouraging him and even by forgiving him when it's necessary. You taught him how to have the heart of Jesus. The Jesuits have loaned Fr. Martin to you for the last 21 years. Now you return him to us with the heart that is far more closely conformed to the heart of Jesus, and so I thank you for what you have done for him."

Fr. Kelly also thanked Fr. Rock. "By your being here these past 21 years, day in and day out, month in month out, year in year out, and every day saying to Jesus, ‘Thank you for this gift of pastoring these people, you've shown people like Fr. Leo and me how to be a faithful priest," he said.

In addition, Fr. Kelly had some advice to the congregation, reminding them that Jesus is the one true shepherd of the Catholic Church and "there will be many challenges as you try to work with your new pastor. But it's helpful to remember that your true pastor does not leave you. Jesus Christ, the great shepherd of the sheep, was your pastor yesterday, is your pastor today, and will be your pastor forever."

With retirement, Fr. Rock will return to the Jesuit community in Los Gatos, Calif. "I'm going back to the family," he said. "Many of my classmates are there."

His favorite memories of his time at St. Mary were the children, he said. "The children have always responded," he said, adding that he most remembers "the affection and love they showed. How desperate they were for attention. You give them attention, they just overflow."

As he leaves, he hopes the people of St. Mary will keep up the good work and love one another, he said. "And they do. They really are beautiful people and they care for one another."