Fr. Vince Costello retired from the Archdiocese of Chicago back in 2021, after 45 years of service to local families in Chicago and suburban parishes. Locally, he led the nearly 3,000 families at Our Lady of the Wayside Church in Arlington Heights, from 1994 to 2005.
Fr. Vince Costello, second from left, with Fr. Manuel Dorantes, left, Pope Leo and Fr. Ken Simpson
He also made many personal connections with fellow members of the clergy, with whom he worked, including Fr. Manuel Dorantes, whose friendship would lead Fr. Costello to meet Pope Leo XIV.
Back in November, 2024, it was Pope Francis who asked Fr. Dorantes to serve as management director of the Laudato Si’ Center for Higher Education, located at the pope’s historic residence, Castel Gandolfo, outside Rome. The Center is dedicated to living out the vision of Laudato Si’, the landmark encyclical, published by Pope Francis, on creation and human dignity, now marking its 10th anniversary.
On Sept. 5, Pope Leo arrived to tour and bless the center, and Fr. Dorantes had invited a few of his friends from the Chicago Archdiocese to attend, including Fr. Costello and Fr. Ken Simpson, his first pastor.
Fr. Manuel Dorantes celebrates Mass in one of the gardens at the Laudatory Si’ Center, with Fr. Ken Simpson, left, and Fr. Vince Costello, right.
“When he asked us to participate in the blessing, I was very honored,” Fr. Costello says. “I was even more honored to be introduced to the Holy Father and to shake his hand. As you can imagine it was a once in a lifetime experience for me.”
The Center is responsible for fostering education, the economy of sustainability and ecological training inspired by the principles of the pope’s encyclical. Specifically, its main objective is to transform the beauty of Castel Gandolfo’s gardens into a place of training in integral ecology,
“The potential of the Center in the areas of education, the economy of sustainability, ecological training and service is both challenging and inspiring,” Fr. Dorantes said in a statement last year.
Fr. Costello says he was saddened to see his friend take on this new, four-year assignment in Rome, but not surprised.
Fr. Vince Costello visits with Cardinal Blase Cupich and parishioner Ann Brice during a 2023 visit at Wayside.
“I presumed one day he would be invited to do something special for the larger church,” Fr. Costello says. “Father Manny is one of the most gifted priests I have ever met.”
In fact, Fr. Dorantes is a native of Mexico who came to this country at the age of 11. The Archdiocese credits him with leading two parishes to revitalization, and he also completed an advanced business degree at the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University.
In reflecting on the visit and meeting the pope, Fr. Costello said simply: “It is something I will cherish all my days.”
“During those few seconds I was with him, I thanked our Holy Father for making the sacrifice of accepting the papacy,” Fr. Costello says. “Being a pastor of a parish was challenging enough for me. I can only imagine what a sacrifice it is to bear the burden of his high office.”
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