102 year-old deacon - CathNews New Zealand https://cathnews.co.nz Catholic News New Zealand Mon, 08 Mar 2021 02:00:03 +0000 en-NZ hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.7.1 https://cathnews.co.nz/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/cropped-cathnewsfavicon-32x32.jpg 102 year-old deacon - CathNews New Zealand https://cathnews.co.nz 32 32 70145804 At age 102, California deacon's motto remains ‘never retire' https://cathnews.co.nz/2021/03/08/at-age-102-california-deacons-motto-remains-never-retire/ Mon, 08 Mar 2021 06:51:27 +0000 https://cathnews.co.nz/?p=134306 Deacon Albert Graff, who turned 102 on Jan. 23, explains the secret to his longevity in two words: "Never retire." An engineer by profession, he had scarcely retired after 25 years at General Atomics when he began his more than 30 years of ministry as a permanent deacon. "I retired from General Atomics in April Read more

At age 102, California deacon's motto remains ‘never retire'... Read more]]> Deacon Albert Graff, who turned 102 on Jan. 23, explains the secret to his longevity in two words: "Never retire."

An engineer by profession, he had scarcely retired after 25 years at General Atomics when he began his more than 30 years of ministry as a permanent deacon.

"I retired from General Atomics in April of 1983 and was ordained a deacon in May of 1983," said Deacon Graff, who ministered to the St. James-St. Leo Catholic Community in Solana Beach, 22 miles north of San Diego.

He continued in active ministry well into his 90s, retiring for good only after suffering a stroke five years ago. He still attends Mass at the parish, including Friday school Masses.

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At age 102, California deacon's motto remains ‘never retire']]> 134306