HARRISBURG - Monsignor Vincent Topper, the oldest and longest-serving priest in the Diocese of Harrisburg, will celebrate the 75th anniversary of his ordination to the priesthood with a Mass and dinner Tuesday.
Topper, who is 98 years old, is retired and in residence at St. Catherine Laboure Church in Harrisburg, where he still celebrates Mass and attends parish functions.
Topper has been pastor at four parishes and assistant pastor at two. Among his assignments were assistant pastor at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church from 1943 to 1948, pastor at St. Joseph Church, Milton, from 1950 to 1957 and pastor of St. Columba Church, Bloomsburg, from 1957 to 1963.
The celebratory Mass will be held at 2 p.m. at St. Catherine Laboure Church, 4000 Derry St., Harrisburg, followed by a dinner and testimonials at the Sheraton on Lindie Road. Bishop Joseph P. McFadden, bishop of the Diocese of Harrisburg, and Archabbot Douglas R. Nowicki, of St. Vincent Archabbey, are expected to attend.
Topper selected altar concelebrants who are the next oldest priests in the diocese. The homilist, Monsignor Hugh Overbaugh, is his cousin. Altar concelebrants are Onsignors Mercurio A. Fregapane and Robert C. Gribben, the Rev. Joseph C. Hilbert and the Rev. Walter A. Sempko.
During Monsignor Topper's lifetime, there have been nine popes of the Catholic Church and eight bishops of the Diocese of Harrisburg. He became interested in the priesthood while he was in the second grade.