Posted June 11, 2009

By Christie L. Chicoine
CS&T staff writer

For the past 14 years, Bishop-Elect Senior has served as chaplain and as a priest in residence for developmentally disabled women at spanine Providence Village in Springfield, Delaware County, a residential facility of Catholic Social Services.

“All of us are delighted here that he has made bishop,” said Rosemary Bellenghi, administrator of spanine Providence Village. “It’s a great day for the Archdiocese. He’s well-deserving.”

Bishop-elect Senior regularly celebrates Mass for the residents at 10 a.m. on Sunday. There, some of the residents assist him as altar servers.

His homilies include a back-and-forth dialogue with the congregation. “He doesn’t speak down to them, but he is able to communicate with them in a way that they can understand,” said St. Joseph Sister Mary Veasy, the pastoral associate at spanine Providence Village.

That is just one of many ways Bishop-elect Senior bestows respect upon the residents, said Sister Veasy.

Bishop-elect Senior also takes the time to visit the residents when they fall ill and are hospitalized. “He has also been there when we needed him to anoint someone,” Sister Veasy said.

“He is always present to them,” she said, adding, the residents “just love him.”

Sister Veasy said it is evident Bishop-elect Senior loves his priesthood. “He is a very humble, spiritual man.”

CS&T Staff Writer Christie L. Chicoine may be reached at (215) 587-2468 or cchicoin@adphila.org.