Dover’s Father Aggie honored on 25th anniversary

DOVER — After celebrating online Mass on Wednesday at St. Mary’s Church in Dover, Father Agapit Jean Jr. was greeted by parishioner Jeanne Supple, who requested he come with her. He stepped out of the church where she pointed to her convertible and asked “come with me.”

A surprised look came over his face and he said, “I had better change out of my vestments,” which he did and then hopped into the spiffy Mustang convertible and they headed out 3rd Street and down the hill on Chestnut Street, where they were joined by officer Joe Caproni in his Dover Police Department vehicle with lights flashing.

The street was lined with folks standing on the sidewalks, smiling, calling out to him, holding strings of balloons and waving signs with a variety of congratulations and well wishes.

They, friends and many parishioners, had gathered to add their feelings to the recognition Father Jean’s (known by most as Father Aggie) 25th anniversary as a Roman Catholic priest.

Joe and Catherine Covert have known Father Aggie since his arrival in Dover.

“We have become good friends with him,” said Catherine, who has held numerous parish positions over the years.

“He has a warm pastoral manner,” added Joe.

Folks of all ages participated to share the pleasure of honoring the beloved clergyman. St. Mary parishioner Lisa Easler was joined by her daughters Emily, 6, and Josephine, 3. “We are so pleased to help celebrate Father Aggie’s anniversary. He is a wonderful pastor, it is so nice for us to be here to do this,” Lisa said.

Michael and Stephanie Bolduc, as well as daughters Alaina, 14, and Genna, 12, were excited to be there as well.

“We are so blessed to have Father Aggie both at the church and at St. Mary Academy,” Stephanie said. “He is a wonderful spiritual leader, especially in these times.”

Supple was pleased at the turnout. “I notified a number of parishioners and organizations and am so happy,” she said.

Supple added a special note to the day. Because of the social distancing requirements, it has been weeks since people could attend Mass and have not seen either each other or Father Aggie for some time. Supple’s observation was obvious as many on hand were seen greeting each other and chatting beginning with “I haven’t seen you for so long.”

Among the many standing on the sidewalk was a tongue-in-cheek attendant. Joining several folks with Molly Wade of St. Thomas Aquinas High School was a full-sized cardboard cutout of Pope Francis.

The caravan was a 15-minute gathering of affection and honor.

Father Aggie, 66, came to the priesthood later in life. One of 13 children, and an altar server at St. Joseph’s Church, he grew up in Epping and spent many years in business before answering “the tug” as he calls it to “serve God’s people.”

“I appreciate the opportunity to serve sometimes in difficult moments,” he said.

This day was not one of them. He called it “unbelievable and amazing.”