SAN DIEGO — The Catholic community in San Diego demonstrated its appreciation for Father Jim Boyd as the priest celebrated his 87th birthday and the 60th anniversary of his priestly ordination.
Father Boyd was born and ordained on June 1, both in Brooklyn. With his bishop’s permission, he relocated to San Diego in 1997 and, since 2003, has served as chaplain of the Stella Maris Seafarer’s Center, which provides pastoral care to those who make a living on the sea.
On June 4, the English-speaking Engaged Encounter community organized a celebration for Father Boyd at St. Vincent de Paul Parish in Mission Hills. In attendance were hundreds of people from the many marriage-related ministries that he actively supports, including both the English- and Spanish-speaking Marriage Encounter, Engaged Encounter and Retrouvaille communities, as well as members of Holy Family Parish, where he has been helping out recently.
Engaged Encounter is an organization that prepares couples for marriage, Marriage Encounter is for couples seeking to strengthen marriages, and Retrouvaille works to heal deeply troubled marriages.
John Prust, director of the diocesan Office for Family Life and Spirituality, described Father Boyd as an “incredible servant of God.”
“There’s probably no priest in our diocese more devoted to supporting marriages and families,” he said, adding that some people call him “the Divorce Buster.”
On June 8, the fourth-degree Knights of Columbus of Bishop Charles F. Buddy Assembly No. 2122 had a cake and ice cream at their regularly scheduled meeting at Our Mother of Confidence Parish, where they recognized Father Boyd for his 60 years of ministry.
“Father Boyd gave us a brief history of his priesthood experiences, which was quite entertaining,” said Fred Hall, who serves as Faithful Navigator, or presiding officer, of the Bishop Buddy Assembly. “It was a wonderful talk, and we were glued to his every word.”
