For Father John Williams, becoming a priest was never just a career choice. It was a calling.
“I always felt called to the priesthood,” he says. “So I entered the seminary.”
After seven years of study and formation, Father John was ordained and spent many years serving in parishes throughout the Archdiocese of Hartford. When it came time for retirement, another chapter of his journey led him to Elim Park.
“I came to Elim Park; it was divinely ordained,” he says with a smile.
Continuing a Life of Faith and Service
Even in retirement, Father John still finds ways to serve. While he’s not on staff, he’s often asked to visit residents seeking the Catholic sacraments, and he’s always happy to help.
“I’ll get a call, and they’ll say, ‘There’s someone who needs the Catholic sacraments. Would you go?’ Certainly, I’ll go.”
Finding Connection Across Different Faiths
What has made the experience especially meaningful is the way people of different faiths care for and support one another.
“Sometimes people think because it’s Elim Park Baptist Home, you have to be Baptist to live here,” Father John says. “No, you don’t. We have people of all different persuasions.”
One morning over breakfast, a neighbor who practiced Hinduism asked Father John a simple question that has stayed with him.
“He said, ‘Father, would you pray for me?’” He was more than happy to.
For Father John, moments like that reflect something special about life at Elim Park.
“I think there’s been a lot of wonderful interaction between people of different faiths here, sharing with one another.”
A Community That Feels Like Family
He’s also grateful for the support and friendship of Elim Park’s chaplain, Pastor Tim Olsen, and the other ministers who serve the community. During Lent, Father John was invited to give a talk for the men’s group. The other ministers came simply to support him.
“I thought that was nice,” he says.
To Father John, those small moments of kindness and encouragement are what make the community feel like family.
“I think that’s the positive that we do have, that atmosphere where it has created that family-type situation.”
At the heart of it all, Father John says, it’s the people who make the difference.
“As I said, the real strong suit at Elim Park is the people we have here.”
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Explore More of Father John’s Story
Learn more about the community, creativity, and sense of purpose that make life at Elim Park so meaningful for Father John.