Second parade salutes longtime priest

Father Fred Cain traveled to St. Thomas à Becket Parish in Jefferson Hills on Saturday expecting simply to celebrate Mass, which is recorded every weekend for his parish grouping. What he received was perhaps the biggest surprise of his priesthood.

Walking out the front doors of the church following Mass, Father Cain was greeted by Bishop David Zubik leading a parade of parishioners past and present, along with dozens of relatives. They came to honor him on the 50 ^th anniversary of his ordination.

Fire companies from communities where Father Cain has served sent four trucks to kick off the parade. The Knights of Columbus helped direct traffic.

“It was overwhelming,” Father Cain said, his voice filled with emotion. “People were shouting from their cars, ‘I met your nieces and nephews while we waited!’

“Jesus said, the one who gives up family for me and for the sake of the kingdom will have hundreds of children, and I realize that’s true. This was incredible.”

The second of 10 children, Father Cain grew up in St. Catherine of Sweden Parish in Hampton and spent a dozen years at St. Meinrad Seminary in Indiana, where he earned a BA and Master of Divinity. He later graduated with a MA in liturgical studies from the University of Notre Dame.

Parish assignments included St. Sebastian in Ross, St. Bernard in Mt. Lebanon, All Saints in Etna and St. Agatha in Bridgeville, which became Holy Child Parish. He would go on to serve as pastor there for 20 years.

Father Cain also was spiritual director of St. Paul Seminary, dean of the Southwest Deanery. Currently he is regional vicar of Vicariate 2 and administrator pro tem of the parish grouping in Clairton/Jefferson Hills/Pleasant Hills/West Mifflin.

“This celebration was like fulfillment of the Scriptures,” he said. “The Church is still growing.”

Above photo: Parishioners and members of the Knights of Columbus help Father Cain celebrate 50 years of priesthood. 

Below: Well-wishers drive by with an artistic sign to honor Father Cain.

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