Events
Past
Celebration of the 50th Anniversary of Fr. Bill’s Dispensation
Ocean City, New Jersey
30-year caregiver and friend of Bill Atkinson, Rich Heron
Date held: August 1, 2023
from L to R: Betty Atkinson Harvey / Al Atkinson / Fr. Bill Waters / Joan Atkinson Mullen / Pat Atkinson McCaffrey
On August 1st, family, friends, and those who want to promote Bill Atkinson’s miraculous story gathered in Ocean City, New Jersey to commemorate the day when he was granted the ability to be ordained as a priest. 50 years ago on the day of the event, Pope Paul VI gave Bill Atkinson the opportunity to become the first quadrepelegic priest through a telegram dispensation. Bill Atkinson was later ordained at St. Alice’s Parish in the town of Upper Darby, Pennsylvania where he was raised.
What is the significance of where this recent event took place? Bill Atkinson spent time with his family at Ausbury Avenue and later West Avenue in Ocean City. Bill would interact with people at 19th Street on the boardwalk or under a pavilion on 20th Street through conversation, hearing confessions, or cataching up.
For this event in particular, those who knew Bill and those who know his story came together to exchange stories about Bill and engage in a prayer service. Father Atkinson is now on the road to canonization and with your help, we can get him there. In order to help him become memorialized with a bronze sculpture on his way to becoming the first modern American saint, visit our donation page and help in any way that you can. To learn more about his story, click here.