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It’s not every day that someone gets to celebrate a golden jubilee, and that’s why this Sunday was such a special occasion for Monsignor John Bendik.
Currently the pastor at St. John the Evangelist Church in Pittston, Bendik was ordained in 1967. On Sunday, he celebrated his 50 years of priesthood with a special Mass at the church with his parishioners, followed by a reception at Best Western Plus Genetti Hotel and Conference Center in Wilkes-Barre.
With hundreds of people in attendance, Bendik made sure to emphasize that the jubilee wasn’t truly about him.
“This isn’t about Bendik,” he said, referring to himself in the third person. “This is about Jesus. If it wasn’t for him, these people wouldn’t be here.”
Bendik reflected on his time as a priest at his various assignments, saying that he looks at himself as an enabler.
“Everywhere I’ve gone, I’ve tried to show people that we’re gifted and blessed,” he said. “I’ve tried to help people use their gifts in the service of God.”
The jubilee also served as a retirement party of sorts, as Bendik will be departing from his role as pastor in June.
In attendance to celebrate Bendik’s achievements and retirement, besides numerous parishioners, family members and even members of Bendik’s high school graduating class, were Luzerne County Judge Thomas Burke and Pittston Mayor Jason Klush.
An opening benediction was offered by the Rev. Denis Robinson, president-rector of St. Meinrad Seminary and School of Theology in Rockport, Ind., the seminary attended by Bendik.
Before his benediction, Robinson offered a few words about about Bendik.
Looking out over the crowd of hundreds, Robinson recalled the seminarians at St. Meinrad, saying, “I wish for this for every one of them.”
Robinson went on to say that, while the parishioners of St. John the Evangelist will see a new pastor come their way soon, “there will never be another Jack Bendik.”
The glowing praise offered by Robinson and others was echoed by Bendik’s parishioners, including Len Pesotini, of West Pittston, who attends the Pittston church. Pesotini said that he would be sad to see Bendik go.
“He’s one of the best leaders of the parish that we’ve ever had,” Pesotini said, saying that this comes from Bendik’s uncanny ability to “mesh” with the people. “He made the parish even better than it was.”
Pesotini recalled a bit of Bendik’s trademark joviality, recounting a story of Bendik’s interactions with his family.
“We have three daughters, and he married two of them,” Pesotini said. “He told the third one that she’d better hurry up and get married before June so he can do it, but she’s too young.”
And while many like Pesotini are sad to see Bendik leave his post, he was sure to clarify that he was only retiring from life as a pastor.
“I’ll still be doing priestly stuff,” Bendik said, saying that he’d still be serving the Church in roles such as filling in for other priests.