St. Joseph’s Parish in Marietta will honor its pastor, Father John Emerick, S.M., on Sunday, May 24, when he will be co-concelebrant at a Mass of Thanksgiving with Archbishop Thomas A. Donnellan at 1:30 p.m.

The sermon will be delivered by Reverend Paul Visokay, S.M., of New York City. From 2:30 to 5:30 p.m. a reception will be held.

Father Emerick is a native of St. Clair, Pennsylvania. After graduating from the public elementary and high schools of his hometown, he began his studies for the priesthood at St. Mary’s Manor, Langhorne, Pennsylvania. Upon completion of his training at this junior college, he went to Our Lady of the Elms, Staten Island, NY, where he made a year of novitiate prior to entering Marist College at Catholic University in Washington, D.C. There, he pursued two years of philosophical studies and four years of theology. During his time at Marist College, he was a member of the glee club, taught Catechists at Haroers Ferry, West Virginia, and at the Home of the Little Sisters of the Poor, a home for the poor and aged. As a deacon, he assisted the chaplain at Walter Reed Army Hospital in Washington, by visiting and counseling the amputees of World War II.

Ordained by Bishop Michael J. Keyes, S.M., in the Marist College Chapel, on June 10, 1945, his priestly assignments took him to Buckhannon, W.VA, Sacred Heart Church in Atlanta, Elm Grove, W.Va., St. Paul, Minn., and Paulina, La.

After fourteen years in the parochial ministry, his superiors assigned him to teach at Marist School in Atlanta. During his eight years of teaching, he served as professor of sophomore English and as priest of discipline.

As parish work was his first love, he asked to be relieved of his teaching position and to return to church work. Accordingly, he was sent to Holy Family Church in Richwood as pastor. After two years, he was appointed pastor of St. Joseph’s Church in Marietta.

Marietta is no strange place for Father Emerick as he had serviced the Catholic Church there during the early years of his priesthood, when he was stationed at Sacred Heart Church in Atlanta. At that time, it was located on Church Street. Father is a member of the Kennestone Hospital Chaplains’ Association, Marietta Ministerial Association, and the local Rotary Club.

After 25 years of service in the priesthood, Father Emerick will make an extended tour of Europe shortly after the local festivities honoring him.