Father Bill Mason, O.M.I. was born to Betty and James Mason in Buffalo, N.Y., and is the oldest of three children. His brother and sister and there families still live in the Buffalo Area. Father Bill attended an Oblate High School and then entered the Oblate seminary in Newburg, N.Y. in 1961 After graduating from there and spending a special year of spiritual training in Tewsbury, M.A. Father Bill continued his studies at the Gregorian University in Rome, Italy, where he earned his B.A. in Philosophy and an M.A. in Theology. For Father Bill’s six years in Rome, he lived in the international community with Oblates from around the world. In 1969 he made his perpetual profession of religious vows and in 1971 Father Bill was ordained to priesthood. Father Bill returned to the US in 1972. In 1979 he began 20 years of service as a pastor of inner-city parishes in Miami, St. Petersburg, and Chicago, serving the African American and Hispanic- American communities. During this time he also has a M.A. in Black Catholic Studies at Xavier University in New Orleans. (Pending) Father Bill has a diverse cultural experience and a deep appreciation of the need to re-preach God’s Word and help re-new God’s people. Father Bill served for 9 years in the preaching of ministry of the Missionary Oblates from 2008- 2013 he was pastor of a multicultural parish in Miami F.L. From 2013 - 2015 he preached ministry at Immaculata Retreat House in Windham, Connecticut. Fr. Bill was appointed pastor of Sacred Heart Parish since that time and has become a blessing to this community.