Fifty years is a long time in the life of any human being or any human community—especially in this time of rapid change. Fifty years of priestly service is a long time, and worthy of congratulations. Fifty years of priestly service in the same diocese is especially praiseworthy. And when the priest in question is now the diocesan bishop, the outpouring of congratulations and expressions of gratitude are abundant and well-deserved.

It took courage and missionary zeal for the newly-ordained Father J. Kevin Boland to leave his native Ireland to serve the People of God in the Diocese of Savannah in 1959, at the age of 24. Not only was Georgia far from home, but it was also very different in terms of culture and climate from contemporary Ireland. In 1959, Georgia was just beginning to prosper as part of the migration to the “sun belt,” made possible in part by the introduction of that new-fangled device, air conditioning. In 1959, Georgia was still largely segregated. And, then as now, Catholics were few and far between. Priests were even scarcer. Father Boland was the first Irish-born priest to come to the Savannah Diocese since Monsignor Daniel J. Bourke in 1935. Many more would follow.

From the beginning, Father Boland was entrusted with many responsibilities, always serving in parishes, but nearly always fulfilling important diocesan offices as well. As pastor of Saint Michael Parish, Tybee, rector of the Cathedral of Saint John the Baptist, Savannah, pastor of Blessed Sacrament Parish, Savannah, and, finally, pastor of Saint Anne Parish, Columbus, he proved an effective shepherd of souls, who was able to foster a sense of community and participation, no matter how large or challenging. He took advantage of continuing education, earning a master’s degree in religious education from Fordham University over several summers and participating in the Institute for Continuing Theological Education in Rome, in order to foster the renewal of the people entrusted to his care in the light of the Second Vatican Council.
At the same time, he served the diocesan bishops and the diocese at self as chancellor and vicar general, with the same tireless energy with which he led his parishes.
Kevin Boland was always known among his colleagues as a “priest’s priest,” one who gathered priests together to promote clerical fraternity, while at the same time empowering lay people to take their rightful places in the life of the Church.
For 36 years, Father Boland ministered to the People of God in south Georgia as an effective and highly effective priest.

The announcement in 1995 that he was to become the thirteenth Bishop of Savannah was greeted with rejoicing throughout the 90 counties that comprise the Diocese of Savannah. Bishop-elect Boland was regarded as an outstanding priest, an effective pastor and a well-known friend.

His episcopal ministry has been noteworthy for his presence at events, large and small, throughout the far-flung Diocese of Savannah. Bishop Boland has proven himself to be indefatigable in his desire to be with his people whenever he can.
Bishop Boland’s many accomplishments over the past 14 years, documented elsewhere in this issue, are worthy of our thanks. But on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of his ordination to the priesthood for the service of God and of the People of God, especially in the Diocese of Savannah, we, the members of his flock, offer our congratulations and thanks to John Kevin Boland primarily as a good and faithful priest, who has ministered to us in Word and Sacrament for half a century. It is indeed our good fortune that he is our bishop, but it is primarily as an exemplary priest that we say: Ad multos annos! May you live for many and glorious years.

—DKC