Fathers Larson And Towsley

To Receive New Appointments

The Rev Lawrence Larson and the Rev Peter Towsley, parochial vicars at St Rose of Lima parish, will be leaving this summer for posts at other parishes in the Diocese of Bridgeport.

The Rev Robert Weiss, pastor of St Rose, made the announcement last Sunday at each of the masses.

“Transition is never easy, not for the two of them or for the parish, but the needs of the church have to be considered first,” Father Weiss said. “Both are needed to do something for the diocese.”

It is customary for parochial vicars, who serve as assistants to the pastor, to be transferred frequently. Seldom do they serve in one parish as long as Father Larson, who has been at St Rose for 13 years.

Father Larson celebrated his 25th year in the priesthood in 2001. Born and raised in Greenwich, he earned a master of divinity degree at St Mary’s Seminary in Baltimore, Md. He served in Bridgeport for 12 years, two years at St Ann’s Church and 11 years at St Peter’s. He was chaplain at Bridgeport Hospital for six years and chaplain of the Bridgeport Fire Department for ten years.

Father Peter Towsley joined St Rose in August 1999. He served previously as assistant to the pastors at Holy Family in Fairfield and St Jude’s in Monroe. He was born in northeast Ontario, Canada, one of nine children.

He received his theology degree from Holy Apostles Seminary in Cromwell. He studied at the John Paul Institute for Marriage and Family Life in Washington and Rome, and was ordained in May 1991 at St Augustine’s Catholic Church in Bridgeport. Father Towsley also is the coordinator of the annual East Coast Catholic Family Conference.

Father Towsley is leaving St Rose on May 19 to visit his mother who is seriously ill. He will return on July 1 and accompany teenagers from the parish on the annual trip to Steubenville, N.Y. On August 1, he will report to St Marguerite Bourgeoys parish in Brookfield.

Father Larry will leave during the first week of July for his new duties at Assumption parish in Westport. His replacement at St Rose will be the Rev Milan Dimic, who is coming from Holy Cross Church in Fairfield. Father Towsley’s replacement will be announced on Saturday, May 17.