The St. Bernadette Parish community thanked the Rev. Joe Dorner for his 25 years of vocational service in the Diocese of Green Bay.

Dorner, pastor of St. Bernadette on East Lourdes Drive in Appleton, Wisconsin, entered the priesthood 25 years ago.  

"What a remarkable gift to the Church, but more personally to the people he has touched and served over the past 25 years," Gloria Koth wrote in the parish bulletin.

Koth, who runs the parish care ministry, said the entire St. Bernadette family is immensely grateful for Dorner's dedication, sacrifice and love. 

Dorner reflected upon the last month in his own message for the bulletin. He said he's grateful for several things, including being able to celebrate two weddings, honor the lives of three parishioners who passed away, to be able to celebrate in-person Sunday masses at a 25% capacity, and for the parishioners of St. Bernadette.