TRAVERSE CITY -- Friends and family of a well-known priest in the Grand Traverse Area came together Sunday, to celebrate his new title as a Monsignor in the Catholic Church.
84 year-old Reverend Edwin Thome is currently the Pastor at St. Joseph Parish on the Old Mission Peninsula.
Thome was ordained in 1954 and has been an integral part of the Catholic community in northern Michigan for many years.
In fact, in his 58 years with the Catholic Church he has served as pastor for three different Traverse City parishes.
Saturday afternoon hundreds gathered at St. Francis High School to celebrate his new title of “Monsignor” which is an honorary name given directly by Pope Benedict XVI. It is meant to recognize his long and exceptional service to the Catholic community.
Msgr. Thome was one of five priests that were awarded with the honorary title during a ceremony at St. Mary's Cathedral in Gaylord back on April 15th.
