It’s wonderful when anyone reaches a 50th anniversary — in marriage or in the priesthood. Florida Catholic profiles a priest about to reach that milestone:

Father Raymond Hubert, who will soon be honored on the 50th anniversary of his ordination, has led three distinct lives in his time as a priest: as a missionary, a chaplain and a pastor.

After being ordained in 1958 in New Bedford, Mass., Father Hubert served almost two decades in the Philippines as a member of the Missionaries of Our Lady of La Salette. He then became a hospital chaplain in Providence and Woonsocket, R.I., then pastoral care director at St. Mary’s Hospital in West Palm Beach. He was appointed as parochial vicar of St. Martin de Porres Parish in Jensen Beach and spent 10 years as the pastor of Emmanuel Parish in Delray Beach. Since retiring, Father Hubert, now 74, celebrates Mass and performs other priestly duties at St. Matthew Parish here.

Father Hubert’s big day will be April 6, when Bishop Gerald M. Barbarito, along with three other bishops, celebrates the noon Mass at St. Matthew in honor of his golden jubilee. A Filipino choir from Emmanuel Parish will add to the celebration.

That evening, fellow priests, two of his sisters — one of whom is Sister Yvette Hubert, a Franciscan Missionary of Mary from North Providence, R.I. — a brother, other relatives and friends will honor him with a cocktail party and dinner at the Delray Beach Golf Club.

Tickets at $25 each are available at St. Matthew and Emmanuel parishes for persons wishing to attend the dinner.

Father Hubert told the Florida Catholic that, from his earliest childhood, he wanted to be a priest.

“I don’t think that I ever thought of anything else from the time I was 6 or 7,” he said. “From the earliest age, I saw myself as a priest. I never changed my mind. I have no idea what else I would have become other than that.”

Check the link to discover some of the places he’s been, and adventures he’s had. It’s a wonderful life.