Our Lady of Victory School Remembers Rev. Monsignor Harry A. Echle (5/12/16 – 1/9/06), An Extraordinary Priest
Few priests have the privilege of serving for so many years the parishioners of one parish as well as the sick and dying in one hospital. During his lifetime, serving the people of Our Lady of Victory Parish, Monsignor Echle also gave well in excess of 50,000 hours of his life to be a friend, a companion for those who served and those who were patients at nearby Sibley Hospital. His truly was a singular vocation. Our Lady of Victory parishioners and students were truly blessed to witness the total dedication of one man's life to his vocation -- priesthood. He was a priest who knew the gospels, who lived the gospels. We can look upon him and his life and know that this man who loved his native Baltimore taught what the word LOVE means -- being of service to anyone in any kind of need. Monsignor Echle was God's gift to our parish for many years. Now we give him back to God as our thanksgiving gift. Let us all raise our hearts in gratitude to God that we can carry his memory forward. Let us rejoice even in our sadness: we truly believe we know a man, a priest, who must be with God in the kingdom prepared for him. It is the kingdom Monsignor so often expressed as his hope during the last several weeks of his life. Eternal rest grant unto him, Lord.