"My calling to be a priest was a little delayed," said Boyhan, who was not exactly sure what he wanted in life before finally making his commitment to the priesthood. Last year, Boyhan celebrated his 25th anniversary as a priest with family and friends from around the globe. "It was sort of like a priestly roast as my family and friends used the occasion to remind me of a few things in the past," he said with a knowing smile.

Father Pat, as so many Islanders affectionately call him, was born on Valentine's Day in Brooklyn, N.Y. John Patrick Boyhan was named after his father and grandfather. Family and friends called him Pat growing up. He remembers his mother was always active in the church and did many social activities such as running the senior citizen's center. His dad managed a chain of restaurants called Child's and Company before retiring. "I have one brother who is a retired policeman and my only sister has six children, and three grandchildren. My grown nephews are working in law enforcement in Brooklyn," said Boyhan.

Growing up in a lower middle class family, he remembers playing out on the street in a mixed neighborhood, with kids of many different religions. "I didn't have TV for half of my life and there was always somebody out on the street to play with," said Boyhan.

"We had so many students in my high school we couldn't have a high school prom. There just wasn't any place large enough for a graduating class of 1,300," said Boyhan. "Neil Diamond and Barbara Streisand went to the same high school as I did. They were much older than me, and they made a whole lot more money."

Getting his masters degree from Holy Apostles College would take seven years as he worked his way through college. The young student worked various jobs like helping care for children in an orphanage, teaching remedial reading to kids who needed extra help, and even working for a while in a delicatessen. That meant going to summer school and night school. He later worked as a teacher, administrator and vice president at the college where he graduated. Boyhan finished his postgraduate degree at St. Thomas University in Rome, Italy. During that time, he also got a Pontifical License in Spiritual Theology.

While working in Brooklyn as a new priest, Boyhan was thumbing through a magazine, saw an ad about the Missionaries of the Holy Apostles, and sent away for information. Instead, they sent him an application. "He joined the religious community and moved to Connecticut. Twice elected as the "USA-Provincial Superior" of his religious community, Father Boyhan spent 10 years in Connecticut, traveled to Colombia, Venezuela and Peru as part of his work with the Holy Apostles.

While visiting missionaries in Peru, Father Boyhan tells about a little boy who came up to him on the street holding a tray of candy bars that cost the equivalent of 10 cents. "I bought three and ate one right away. I gave the others to one of the men at the mission. I walked into the kitchen a short time later and saw the man I gave them to cutting the candy into 12 pieces to share with the others. I really felt guilty, realizing how precious little they had."

Father Yvon Archambault, head of Holy Apostles, and Father Boyhan, then second in charge, were in Colombia together meeting with other missionaries and it was cold and rainy. "I was headed back to our headquarters in Montreal in February where it was also cold," said Father Boyhan. "Deciding to steal a three day holiday before going to Montreal, I got a flight from Bogotá to Miami. On one of those three days, I came to visit Father Joe Gomolski who was assigned by the diocese to San Marco Catholic Church. He was a friend and fellow priest I knew in Connecticut," said Father Boyhan. "I was so happy to be in a warm place in February."

"While visiting Father Joe, Father Eugene McCarthy, the pastor at San Marco Catholic Church, offered me a job." I was not able to accept because of my commitment with the Holy Apostles until August and I needed to get permission from my people to do parish work. Being a priest is my lifetime work, being a missionary is my commitment," said Boyhan. "Although I love my work at the church on Marco, they could call me back to the Work of the Holy Apostles at any time."

Father Boyhan describes himself as being a missionary "on loan" from the Holy Apostles. He has been at San Marco Catholic Church for three years doing parish work, visiting the sick, marrying people, and burying people. "I hatch, match and dispatch," says Father Boyhan.

The Parish house where the Father resides is spacious enough to hold five priests. He is the only one there at this time. "I am on call seven day a week, 24 hours a day," says Father Boyhan, who says it can be very busy in season when all the northern parishioners return to the island.

"Spending time with people has great highs and also lows," said Father Boyhan. "I remember one particular occasion when I was driving to Naples to visit three different people that were very sick in the hospital. I was feeling sad after leaving them. Driving back on to the island, I decided to stop at Island Café for dinner to lift my spirit. When I was ready to leave I was told someone dining there paid my bill. I never even knew who it was," he said.

Father Boyhan knows that he is greatly blessed living on a beautiful tropical island, with friends near and far, family and friends that love him, good health, and a God who has been very good to him. "There is joy and sorrow in everything," he reflected, "but there is always more joy than sorrow."

Not knowing how long he'll be on Marco and with no intentions to ever retire, Father Pat said wistfully, "When I die, I plan to go with my boots and my collar on."