KEYSTONE HEIGHTS – St. William Catholic Church recently welcomed Father Mason Wiggins as its priest.

He was ordained by the bishop and assigned to be the priest at St. Williams. Though he has been a priest for two years, this is his first assignment to lead a congregation. He was previously assigned as a parochial vicar, also known as an associate pastor, at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish in Palm Coast and Holy Family Parish in Jacksonville.

Father Wiggins chose to become a priest when he was attending the University of Florida in his first year of college.

“I discern there that I thought I had a calling to be a priest,” he said.

After spending six years in the seminary, he decided to pursue law. At the age of 50, he had a reckoning which resulted in him returning to his calling as a priest. He studied at Pope John the 23rd National Seminary in Massachusetts.

“The second year I went back, it seemed like everything was right. This was what I was supposed to do,” he said.

He finished his seminary and was ordained to the diocese on June 20, 2020.

On a personal level, becoming a priest meant that he can give back to God for the blessings he has received.

“I’ve been so blessed and given so much that I would like to show Him that I can give back and if this is the best way I can do it then that’s what I want to do,” Father Wiggins said.

He was born in England and has traveled around the world due to his father being in the Air Force. He spent a lot of time in West Florida.

“I love Florida. Always have even when I was working in Washington, D.C., for those many years. I always knew that when I was ready, I would always come home to Florida,” he said.