Diocese of Green Bay priests celebrate anniversaries of 25, 50, 60, 65 and 70 years of priesthood
Each jubilarian was asked this question: “Looking back on your years of priestly ministry, what has brought you the greatest joy or sense of fulfillment in serving the Church and God’s people?”
Fr. Willard (Willie) Van De Loo
70 years
“I think by far the biggest thing has been Pope John XXIII saying, ‘The Church is a church of mercy’: opening up, welcoming people and giving us a new look at things. Now, to see Pope Francis and Pope Leo saying the same thing … There’s just God’s mercy — that’s the thing that strikes me the most.”
Fr. Anthony (Tony) Birdsall
65 years
“As I look over the many years I’ve been (a priest), there have been so many satisfactions, so to speak. What makes you a happy individual is that you believe that you are doing something good for Almighty God and that you feel wanted by people.”
Msgr. James Dillenburg
60 years
“It is truly a privilege to have been called to priesthood and to walk through life with God so close to me. Being a priest means being a bridge between God and his people. I have found bridging that gap to be both joyful and fulfilling. God is as close to me when … I confect the Eucharist or pray any other sacrament — or just pray with people. Such consolation! I love being a priest!”
Fr. Theodore Hendricks
60 years
“One or another of the parishes I served had some difficulties, but even in those times, I made some of my best friends. So it is hard to say which gave me the greatest joy because I loved all of it. I hope the hard times made me grow.”
Fr. Robert Karuhn
60 years
“I would say confession. (Seeing) many people come down holding guilt and (leave) feeling better, and others seeing that God can forgive them — that was the most joyful. I think that was what gave me the most joy over the years.”
Msgr. John Schuh
60 years
“The love Jesus has for his people and that I am able to participate in it — that’s a real joy. Most of my life was with bishops — four of them. I think that’s the record since Jesus walked the earth. All the bishops were super unique, caring, loving (and) wonderful. I was pastor at (St. Clare Parish) Wrightstown — wonderful people. (It was a) super parish.”
Fr. David Pleier
50 years
“I am continually humbled by: God calling and entrusting me with so great a mission; how widely people will open their hearts and souls, sharing their joys and pains, their heroics and failures; the joy that comes from the Church community, both through belonging to it and being challenged by it.”
Fr. Larry Seidl
50 years
“First and foremost, it is the celebration of the Eucharist with the people of God which gives me the greatest joy in my priestly ministry. Christ gave us the wonderful gift of his very self in the Eucharist, and I am humbled to be chosen by him to fulfill the charge he gave when he said, ‘Do this in memory of me.’
Fr. James Lucas
25 years
“Come, Holy Spirit! I have been a parish priest. My greatest joy has been prayer and worship with God’s people. My next joy has been sharing life with God’s faithful and faith-filled people … I am so grateful to God for this calling.”