Father Vincent J. Conners thinks all men should be angels, and he has spent most of his life working toward that goal.

As a boy he was impressed with a story about Pope Gregory the Great, who visited some Anglo-Saxons who had been brought to Rome. His comment was that they were “angels,” not Anglos. Pope Gregory later sent missionaries throughout the English-speaking world.

“My thinking about the Church has never changed,” Father Vincent said “We must continue the missionary effort, we must make angels in the world.”

Father Vincent celebrated his golden jubilee as a priest last week. He was born in Brooklyn in 1899 and was ordained in 1924.

His early years as a priest were devoted to conducting retreats and missions in the New England and New York areas, and in the 1930’s he worked on efforts to produce a sound movie of the Mass.

Later assignments include service as a chaplain in the Army and the Air Force. This was during World War II and later. It was at this time that he did special work in the Far East.

In 1953 Father Conners came to the South for reasons of health. He stayed at Atlanta’s Immaculate Conception Church for six months. He stayed for another six months and so forth. He has been here ever since.

In 1958 he moved to St. Thomas More Church in Decatur where he presently is engaged in parish ministry.

“Nothing makes any sense to me but the Roman Catholic Church,’ he said. “As long as I’m in service to the Church I’m happy.”

Father Conners is a member of the Passionist Order which is devoted to missionary activity. The order had done extensive work in China before being expelled by the Communists.

Good health is a gift much appreciated by Father Conners. He has had his share of physical suffering and has always tried to take care of himself.

Never in my life have I missed a chance to exercise,” he asserted. He does a lot of swimming and he is a familiar sight on his bicycle.

He has spent 50 years making people into angels, but there is still much work to do and Father Conners has no intention of quitting.