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Home  / News & Publications /  Michigan Catholic News / 2009 /  40 archdiocesan priests celebrate jubilees

The Michigan Catholic
Published May 22, 2009

The Church of Detroit will honor 40 archdiocesan priests celebrating milestone anniversaries of their ordination to the priesthood at a Jubilee Mass and luncheon Tuesday, May 26, at Sacred Heart Major Seminary.

These men have given our Church the gift of their lives. Through their love of Jesus Christ and their dedication to bringing His love and Word to us, we have been forever changed.

They baptized us and our children, perhaps even our parents and grandparents. They taught us, prayed for us, consoled us, and shaped our faith. They cared for us when we were sick, conducted our weddings and presided at the funerals of our loved ones.

For all they have done for us - baptisms, funerals, marriages, sick visits - and for simply being men of prayer, we thank them.

This year's jubilarians include five celebrating 25 years, 11 marking 40 years, five marking 50 years, one marking 60 years, one marking 61 years, four marking 62 years, three marking 63 years, four celebrating 64 years, three marking 66 years, two marking 67 years, two marking 68 years and one each celebrating 70 and 71 years.

Information about diocesan priests celebrating jubilees this year follows.

71 years

Fr. Hayes

Fr. James L. Hayes
Fr. Hayes, 95, was born in Detroit, and attended Sacred Heart Seminary, Detroit, and Mount St. Mary's Seminary in Norwood, Ohio. He also attended the University of Detroit and Wayne State University, earning a master of arts in education, and did further post-graduate work at the Gregorian University through the North American College in Rome.

He was ordained June 11, 1938, and celebrated his first Mass at St. Anthony Church, Detroit.

Fr. Hayes served as assistant pastor at: Santa Maria Parish, Detroit (1938); Sacred Heart Parish, Dearborn (1938-43); St. Catherine Parish, Detroit (1943-48); Sacred Heart Parish, Roseville (1948-50); and Cathedral of the Most Blessed Sacrament Parish, Detroit (1950-52).

In 1952 he was named to the faculty of Sacred Heart Seminary, where he served until his 1960 appointment as pastor of St. Michael Parish, Pontiac.

Fr. Hayes then served as pastor of Shrine of the Little Flower Parish, Royal Oak (1966-74), before being named associate pastor of Guardian Angels Parish, Detroit (1974-80).

He was associate pastor of St. Valentine Parish, Redford Township, from 1980 until 2000. He was granted senior priest status in 1982.

His ministry included service on the Archdiocesan School Board, the archdiocesan Metropolitan Tribunal; the Junior Clergy Examining Board; as a spiritual director at Sacred Heart Seminary; and on the President's Cabinet of Madonna University.

He was recipient of the Fr. John Farrell Award in 1970, which enabled him to study in Rome for three months; and he was the 1995 recipient of Sacred Heart Seminary's Outstanding Former Faculty Award.

'Msgr. DeCneudt

He was ordained June 3, 1939, and celebrated his first Mass at St. Margaret Mary Church, Detroit.

After a brief assignment as assistant pastor at St. Margaret Mary Parish, Detroit, in the summer of 1939, Fr. DeCneudt served as assistant pastor at St. Elizabeth Parish, Wyandotte (1939-42); Our Lady of Sorrows Parish, Detroit (1942-48); St. Joan of Arc Parish, St. Clair Shores (1948-52); St. Edward Parish, Detroit, (1952-53); and Our Lady of Victory Parish, Detroit (1953-58).

He was named pastor of Madonna and St. Paul (Maltese) parishes, Detroit, in 1958, and then became pastor of Our Lady Queen of All Saints Parish in Fraser (1964-82).

He was made a monsignor in 1965, and was granted senior priest status in 1982.

68 years

Fr. Villerot

Fr. Henry E. Villerot
Fr. Villerot, 92, was born in Detroit, and attended Sacred Heart Seminary, Detroit, and Mount St. Mary's Seminary in Norwood, Ohio.

He was ordained June 7, 1941, and celebrated his first Mass at St. Agnes Church, Detroit.

Fr. Villerot served as assistant pastor at Our Lady of Lourdes Parish, River Rouge (1941-46); St. Aloysius Parish, Detroit (1946-51); and the Cathedral of the Most Blessed Sacrament, Detroit (1951-56).

He served as chaplain to Henry Ford Hospital, Detroit (1956-60), also serving as chaplain to Detroit Osteopathic Hospital, Highland Park, during the first year of that assignment.

Fr. Villerot was pastor of St. Theresa Parish, Detroit (1960-66); and also served as pastor of St. Margaret of Scotland Parish, St. Clair Shores (1966-72), and Our Lady Queen of Martyrs Parish, Birmingham, from 1972 until being granted senior priest status in 1985.

Fr. Kuntz

Fr. Donald B. Kuntz
Fr. Kuntz, 94, was born in Detroit, and attended Sacred Heart Seminary, Detroit, and Mount St. Mary's Seminary in Norwood, Ohio.

He was ordained June 7, 1941, and celebrated his first Mass at St. Theresa Parish, Detroit.

Fr. Kuntz served as assistant pastor at St. Mary Magdalen Parish, Hazel Park (1941-46), and St. Vincent de Paul Parish, Pontiac (1946-50), before becoming assistant director of religious education for the archdiocese (1950-54).

He served as assistant pastor at Visitation Parish, Detroit (1954-59), and at St. Thecla Parish, Clinton Township (1959-61).

In 1961 Fr. Kuntz was named pastor of St. Cletus Parish, Warren, where he served until being granted senior priest status in 1984.

67 years

Fr. Forish

Fr. Andrew J. Forish
Fr. Forish, 90, was born in Coral, Pa., and attended Sacred Heart Seminary, Detroit, and Mount St. Mary's Seminary in Norwood, Ohio.

He was ordained May 30, 1942, and celebrated his first Mass at SS. Cyril & Methodius Parish, Detroit.

Fr. Forish served as assistant pastor at SS. Cyril & Methodius Parish, Detroit (1942-47); and at SS. Andrew & Benedict Parish, Detroit (1947-52), before becoming that parish's administrator (1952-61).

In 1961 he was appointed pastor of SS. Cyril & Methodius Parish, where he had been an assistant, and then served as pastor of St. Michael Parish, Livonia, from 1967 until being granted senior priest status in 1987.

Fr. Partensky

He was ordained May 30, 1942, and celebrated his first Mass at St. Alphonsus Church, Dearborn.

Fr. Partensky served as assistant pastor at St. David of Wales Parish, Detroit (1942-43); St. John Nepomucene Parish, Detroit (1943-48); St. Margaret Mary Parish, Detroit (1948-52); St. James Parish, Ferndale (1952-58); and St. Joan of Arc Parish, St. Clair Shores (1958-60).

In 1960 he was named pastor of St. Matthias Parish, Sterling Heights, and then served as pastor of St. Thecla Parish, Clinton Township (1967-69); and St. Joseph Parish, South Lyon (1969-70).

He was associate pastor of St. Michael Parish, Livonia (1970-81); Our Lady of Refuge Parish, Orchard Lake (1981-82); and St. Michael Parish, Livonia, from 1982 until being granted senior priest status in 1987.

66 years

Fr. Herman

Fr. Jerome A. Herman
Fr. Herman, 90, was born in Detroit, and attended St. Mary's College, Orchard Lake, and Mount St. Mary's Seminary in Norwood, Ohio.

He was ordained Dec. 18, 1943, and celebrated his first Mass at St. Hyacinth Church, Detroit.

Fr. Herman served as an assistant pastor at Sweetest Heart of Mary Parish, Detroit (1944-49); as chaplain to St. Francis Hospital, Hamtramck (1949-51); and as assistant pastor at St. Francis d'Assisi Parish, Detroit (1951) and Resurrection Parish, Detroit (1952).

He served as assistant pastor at St. Thecla Parish, Clinton Township (1957-59); St. Michael Parish, Pontiac (1959); St. Albert the Great Parish, Dearborn Heights (1959-60); and St. Clement Parish, Center Line (1960).

In 1969 he became temporary administrator of St. Barnabas Parish, Eastpointe. In 1970 he was named pastor of Corpus Christi Parish, Detroit, where he served until 1976.

He was granted senior priest status in 1982.

Fr. McGoldrick

He was ordained May 29, 1943, and celebrated his first Mass at St. Cecilia Church, Detroit.

Fr. McGoldrick served as assistant pastor at: St. Mary Parish, Manchester, and its missions, St. Dominic, Clinton; St. Joseph, Irish Hills; and St. Elizabeth, Tecumseh (1944); then assistant pastor of St. Dominic, with continuing responsibilities at the Irish Hills and Tecumseh missions (1944-49).

He was an assistant pastor at St. Benedict, Highland Park (1949-54); and St. Paul on the Lake Parish, Grosse Pointe Farms (1954-58).

In 1958, Fr. McGoldrick was appointed chaplain to the Adrian Dominican Sisters, and their Siena Heights College and St. Joseph Academy, and was at the nearby State Training School for Girls.

He became founding pastor of St. Edmund Parish, Warren, in 1961, and served there until being granted senior priest status in 1988.

During his ministry, Fr. McGoldrick also served on the Priests' Senate and the Presbyteral Council. He was also a recipient of the archdiocese's Cardinal Mooney Award.

Msgr. Villerot

He was ordained May 29, 1943, and celebrated his first Mass at St. Agnes Church, Detroit.

Msgr. Villerot served as assistant pastor at: St. Joseph Parish, Erie (1943-47); St. Catherine Parish, Detroit (1947-52); St. Lawrence Parish, Detroit (1952); and St. Mary Parish, Royal Oak (1952-57).

In 1957 he was appointed to the faculty of Sacred Heart Seminary, and was later named pastor of St. Martin Parish, Detroit (1965-70). He also served as pastor of St. Jude Parish, Detroit (1970-79), during which time he was vicar of the Gratiot Vicariate (1971-73).

Msgr. Villerot was pastor of St. Valerie of Ravenna Parish, Clinton Township, from 1979 until he was granted senior priest status in 1987.

He returned to St. Mary Parish, Royal Oak, as temporary administrator from September to December 1989. He was appointed to the archdiocesan College of Consultors (1990-92), and was named a prelate of honor to His Holiness (monsignor) in March 1990.

64 years
Fr. Joseph A. Janiga
Fr. Janiga, 88, was born in Detroit, and attended St. Stephen Grade School, Detroit; St. Mary's Preparatory and College, Orchard Lake; and the Catholic University of America, Washington, D.C. He went on to earn master's degrees from the University of Detroit, Catholic University of America and Notre Dame University in South Bend, Ind.

He was ordained Oct. 27, 1945, and celebrated his first Mass at St. Stephen Church, Detroit.

Fr. Janiga was appointed to the faculty of St. Mary's College and SS. Cyril & Methodius Seminary, Orchard Lake (1945-77); associate pastor of St. Michael Parish, Pontiac (1977-78); and associate pastor of St. Cletus Parish, Warren (1978-83).

He was named pastor of St. Helena Parish, Wyandotte (1983-89), and was granted senior priest status June 30, 1989.

Fr. Konopka

He was ordained Oct. 27, 1945, and celebrated his first Mass at St. Cunegunda Church, Detroit.

Fr. Konopka was assistant pastor at SS. Peter & Paul (West Side) Parish (1945-51), at Holy Name of Jesus Parish, Detroit (1951-56), and Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish, Wyandotte (1956-59).

He was appointed chaplain to Mount Carmel Hospital, Detroit (1959-60).

Fr. Konopka was founding pastor of St. Colman Parish, Farmington (1960-66); then served as pastor of St. Michael Parish, Pontiac (1966-71); St. Isidore Parish, Macomb Township (1971-74); Our Lady Queen of Heaven Parish, Detroit (1974-1982); and St. Alan Parish, Troy (1982-94).

Besides his parish assignments, he was vicar of the North Oakland-Pontiac Vicariate (1967-68) and was coordinator for the building of Pontiac Catholic High School in 1968.

He was granted senior priest status in June 1994, but was called back several times to serve as temporary administrator of parishes in Lapeer, Detroit and Livonia.

Fr. Kreft

Fr. Henry S. Kreft
Fr. Kreft, 91, was born in Detroit, and attended St. Mary's College, Orchard Lake, and Mount St. Mary's Seminary in Norwood, Ohio.

He was ordained to the priesthood Feb. 24, 1945, and celebrated his first Mass at St. Stephen Church, Detroit.

Fr. Kreft was assistant pastor at Immaculate Conception Parish, Detroit (1945-50); St. Lawrence Parish, Detroit (1950-55); St. Mary Parish, Wayne (1955-60); and St. Peter Parish, Mount Clemens (1960-61).

He was named administrator of St. Alexis Mission, Willow Run (1961-65); then pastor of Sacred Heart Parish, Auburn Hills (1965-87). He was granted senior priest status Feb. 20, 1987.

Fr. Xuereb

Fr. Paul D. Xuereb
Fr. Xuereb, 86, was born in Valetta, Malta, and attended seminary there.

He was ordained Aug. 12, 1945, in Gozo, Malta.

After coming to Detroit, Fr. Xuereb served as associate pastor of St. Frances Cabrini Parish, Allen Park (1971-72); St. Dunstan Parish, Garden City (1972-74); and briefly at Sacred Heart Parish, Dearborn, during 1974.

After incardination into the Archdiocese of Detroit in December 1974, he was appointed administrator of St. Mary Parish, Royal Oak, for several months during 1975.

Fr. Xuereb served as associate pastor of St. Jude Parish, Detroit (1975-77); Guardian Angels Parish, Clawson (1977-78); St. Germaine Parish, St. Clair Shores (1978-79); St. Lawrence Parish, Utica (1979); St. Michael Parish, Sterling Heights (1979-83); then as pastor of St. Mary Mystical Rose Parish in Armada (1983-97).

He was granted senior priest status Aug. 1, 1997.

Fr. Higdon

He was ordained May 31, 1946. On Nov. 6, 1973, Fr. Higdon was incardinated into the Archdiocese of Detroit.

Fr. Higdon served in Indiana and Kansas before serving as an associate at Guardian Angels and St. Raymond parishes, both in Detroit. He also served as an assistant pastor at St. Edward on the Lake Parish, Lakeport (1969-70); and St. Nicholas Mission, Capac (1970-72). In 1972, he was named associate pastor at St. Joseph Parish, Port Huron, and remained there until 1979. He also served as an associate pastor at St. Gertrude Parish, St. Clair Shores (1979-83); and St. William Parish, Walled Lake (1983-84).

In 1984, Fr. Higdon became the chaplain at both Mercy and Port Huron hospitals and Marwood Manor in Port Huron. He achieved senior priest status in 1991.

Fr. Ryder

Fr. Joseph Ryder
Fr. Ryder, 87, was born in Detroit and attended Sacred Heart Seminary in Detroit, Mount St. Mary's Seminary in Norwood, Ohio, Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C., and the University of Detroit.

He was ordained June 8, 1946, in Detroit, and celebrated his first Mass at St. Benedict Church in Highland Park.

Fr. Ryder served as an assistant pastor at Guardian Angels Parish (1946-51) and Assumption Grotto Parish (1951-55), both in Detroit; St. Anselm Parish, Dearborn (1955-60); and St. Ignatius Parish, Detroit (1960-61). He was pastor of St. Alexander Parish, Farmington Hills (1961-66); St. Louis Parish, Mount Clemens (1966-70); St. Andrew Parish, Rochester (1970-75); and St. Owen Parish, Bloomfield Hills (1975-92). He achieved senior priest status in 1992.

Fr. Ryder also served three years on the Archdiocesan Pastoral Council, six years on the National Liturgical Board (1960-66) and 20 years as chaplain for the Detroit Lions alumni.

Fr. Stanievich

Fr. J. Walter Stanievich
Fr. Stanievich, 88, was born in Hamtramck and attended Sacred Heart Seminary in Detroit, and Mount St. Mary's Seminary in Norwood, Ohio.

He was ordained Oct. 26, 1946, in Detroit, and celebrated his first Mass at St. George (Lithuanian) Church in Detroit.

Fr. Stanievich served as an assistant pastor at St. Clement Parish, Center Line (1946-51); St. Patrick Parish, Wyandotte (1951-54); and Holy Innocents Parish, Roseville (1954-59). He then served for three months as an assistant at St. Vincent de Paul Parish, Detroit, before becoming temporary administrator and then pastor of St. Anthony (Lithuanian) Parish, Detroit (1959-70). Besides his duties at St. Anthony, he was appointed administrator at St. Peter (Lithuanian) Parish in Detroit (1962-70).

Fr. Stanievich was pastor of St. Mark Parish, Warren (1970-91). He served as vicar of Warren-Center Line Vicariate for two consecutive terms (1973-79), and another term from 1982-85. He achieved senior priest status in 1991.

Fr. Stanievich then served as temporary administrator at St. Paschal Baylon Parish, Taylor (1993); St. Sylvester Parish, Warren (1994); St. Perpetua Parish, Waterford Township (1995); St. Henry Parish, Lincoln Park (1995); and St. Francis Xavier Parish, Ecorse (1997).

62 years

Fr. Bauer

Fr. Erwin J. Bauer
Fr. Bauer, 86, was born in Redford Township, and attended Sacred Heart Seminary in Detroit and Mount St. Mary's Seminary in Norwood, Ohio.

He was ordained May 31, 1947, in Detroit, and celebrated his first Mass at St. Mary of Redford Church in northwest Detroit.

Fr. Bauer served as an assistant pastor at Sacred Heart Parish, Dearborn (1947-52); St. Gregory the Great Parish, Detroit (1952-56); St. Agatha Parish, Redford Township (1956-61); St. Mary Queen of Creation Parish, New Baltimore (1961-63); and Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Grotto) Parish, Detroit (1963-65).

He founded St. Donald Parish, Roseville, in 1965, and served as pastor there until 1978. He also served as vicar of the Roseville-St. Clair Shores Vicariate from 1969-70.

From 1978-83 he served as pastor of St. Mary Mystical Rose Parish, Armada, and he served as vicar of the Thumb Vicariate from 1979-83.

Fr. Bauer was appointed pastor of St. Hubert Parish, Harrison Township in 1983, and served as vicar of the North Macomb Vicariate (1984-87). He was pastor of St. Barnabas Parish, Eastpointe (1985-87), and was pastor of St. Philip Neri Parish, Columbus, and of Holy Rosary Mission, Smith's Creek (1987-91 and 2001-03).

Granted senior priest status in 1991, he served as administrator of St. Mark Parish, Harsens Island, in 1991 and in 1996.

Fr. Walter E. Burke
Fr. Burke, 85, was born in Joliet, Ill., and attended Sacred Heart Seminary in Detroit, and Mount St. Mary's Seminary in Norwood, Ohio.

He was ordained May 31, 1947, in Detroit.

Fr. Burke served as an assistant pastor at Sacred Heart Parish, Dearborn (1947-48); St. Alfred Parish, Taylor (1948-53); St. Brigid Parish, Detroit (1953-58); St. Elizabeth Parish, Detroit (1958-59); St. Agnes Parish, Detroit (1959-60); St. Ambrose Parish, Grosse Pointe Park (1960-63); St. Patrick Parish, White Lake Township (1963-67); and St. Anselm Parish (1967).

He was chaplain (1967-68) and pastor (1968-84) at St. Camillus Parish, Eloise Township (the Wayne County Hospital site). Fr. Burke was granted senior priest status in 1984.

Fr. Lombardi

Fr. Albert U. Lombardi
Fr. Lombardi, 85, was born in Ceprano, Italy. He attended Sacred Heart Seminary in Detroit and Mount St. Mary's Seminary in Norwood, Ohio.

He was ordained May 31, 1947, in Detroit, and celebrated his first Mass at Nativity Church in Detroit.

Fr. Lombardi served as an assistant pastor at St. Rita Parish, Detroit (1947-52); St. Catherine Parish, Detroit (1952-54); and St. Clement Parish, Dearborn (1954).

He was also an assistant pastor at the Detroit parishes of St. Margaret Mary (1954-55), St. Brendan (1955-57), Patronage of St. Joseph (1957-58), St. Raymond (1958-63) and Mother of Our Savior (1963-65).

Fr. Lombardi was appointed pastor of St. Bernadette Parish, Dearborn, in 1965, and served there until being named administrator of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish, Detroit, in 1967. In 1969 he returned to St. Brendan Parish as pastor, and continued to serve there until he was granted senior priest status in 1992.

Fr. O'Hagan

Fr. James P. O'Hagan
Fr. O'Hagan, 85, was born in Detroit, and attended Sacred Heart Seminary, Detroit, and Mount St. Mary's Seminary in Norwood, Ohio.
He was ordained May 31, 1947 at the Cathedral of the Most Blessed Sacrament in Detroit, and celebrated his first Mass at St. Joseph Church in Lake Orion.

Fr. O'Hagan's first assignment was as an assistant pastor at St. John the Evangelist Parish, Detroit (1947-52). He was appointed to the faculty of Sacred Heart Seminary in 1952.

He served as an assistant pastor at St. Gertrude Parish, St. Clair Shores (1954-59); St. Mary Parish, Royal Oak (1959-63); and St. Joseph Parish, Trenton (1963-64).

Fr. O'Hagan was appointed pastor of St. Gerald Parish, Farmington (1964-76), and served as vicar of the Farmington-Southfield Vicariate (1969-70 and 1973-76).

He served as co-pastor of St. Matthew Parish, Detroit (1976-79) and as pastor of St. Athanasius Parish, Roseville (1979-87). He was pastor of St. Benedict Parish in Waterford Township from 1987 until he was granted senior priest status in 1999.

Fr. O'Hagan continues to be active with the Metropolitan Christian Council of Detroit-Windsor.

61 years

Fr. Slominski

Fr. Fabian B. Slominski
Born in Duluth, Minn., Fr. Slominski, 84, attended Sacred Heart Seminary in Detroit and SS. Cyril & Methodius Seminary in Orchard Lake.

He was ordained May 22, 1948, in Detroit, and celebrated his first Mass at Holy Name Church in Detroit.

Fr. Slominski served as an assistant pastor at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish, Wyandotte (1948-53); at the Detroit parishes of SS. Peter & Paul (West Side) (1953-58) and St. Bartholomew (1958-62); and at St. Florian Parish, Hamtramck (1962-67).

Fr. Slominski was pastor of Corpus Christi Parish, Detroit (1967-70); St. Anne Parish, Warren (1970-83), and St. Cletus Parish, Warren, from 1984 until he was granted senior priest status in 1990. He served as a chaplain at St. John-Macomb Health Center in Warren until 2007.

60 years

Fr. Muir

Fr. Edmund D. Muir
Fr. Muir, 85, was born in Detroit. He attended Sacred Heart Seminary in Detroit and the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C.

Ordained May 21, 1949, he celebrated his first Mass at Sacred Heart Church, Dearborn.

Fr. Muir served as assistant pastor at Visitation Parish, Detroit (1949-54), and at Epiphany Parish, Detroit (1954-57). He was temporary administrator of Epiphany Parish (1957-58), and also served a temporary assignment as assistant pastor at Our Lady of Victory Parish, Detroit, during 1958.

Also in 1958, Fr. Muir became a chaplain in the U.S. Air Force. He returned to Detroit to become assistant pastor at Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Grotto) Parish (1963-68).

His first pastorate was Epiphany Parish, Detroit (1968-82); and he also served as pastor of St. Clement Parish, Dearborn, from1982 until attaining senior priest status in 1993.

Fr. Child

Fr. Child served as assistant pastor at St. Norbert Parish, Inkster (1959), and St. Gertrude Parish, St. Clair Shores (1964); and as associate pastor at Our Lady of Loretto Parish, Redford Township (1968). He became a U.S. Navy chaplain in 1969.

In 1973, Fr. Child was appointed pastor of Sacred Heart Parish, Dearborn, and vicar of the Dearborn Vicariate.

In 1984, he was appointed pastor of St. Alfred Parish, Taylor. He served as vicar of the Southland Vicariate (1985-87). In 1987, he became pastor of Our Lady Star of the Sea Parish in Grosse Pointe Woods. He served as pastor of St. Martha Parish, Dearborn from 1991 until attaining senior priest status in 2000.

Fr. Child also served as a member of the archdiocesan Assignment Board.

Fr. Phalen

Fr. John L. Phalen

He was ordained June 6, 1959, and celebrated his first Mass at St. Mary Church, Adrian.

Fr. Phalen served as assistant pastor at Our Lady of the Lakes Parish, Waterford Township (1959-64); St. Joan of Arc Parish, St. Clair Shores (1964-68); Sacred Heart Parish, Roseville (1968-69); and Christ the Good Shepherd Parish, Lincoln Park (1969-72). He then served as co-pastor of Christ the Good Shepherd (1972-75).

In 1975, he became founding pastor of Our Lady of the Woods Parish, Woodhaven, and was pastor of St. Joseph Parish, Lake Orion from 1990 until attaining senior priest status in 2003.

In addition, Fr. Phalen served as a speaker for the archdiocesan Family Life Bureau, co-chaplain to the Downriver Community of Hope, vicar of the Downriver Vicariate (1982-85), and also of the Pontiac Area Vicariate (1993-96).

He received the John Farrell Award from the North American College in Rome in 1999.

Fr. Rakoczy

Fr. Rakoczy served as assistant pastor at Holy Name Parish, Detroit (1959-63); SS. Peter & Paul (West Side) Parish, Detroit (1963-64); and St. Veronica Parish, Eastpointe (1964-71).

He became assistant pastor at St. Clement Parish, Dearborn, in 1971, and then was briefly temporary administrator at St. Rita Parish, Detroit (1976), before returning to his assignment at St. Clement later that year.

Fr. Rakoczy was pastor of St. Patrick Parish, Carleton (1985-95); and was pastor of St. Perpetua Parish, Waterford Township, from 1995 until attaining senior priest status in 2008.

In addition, he was chaplain to the Veterans Administration Hospital in Allen Park in 1977.

Fr. Porcari

Fr. Ernest M. Porcari
Fr. Porcari, 76, was born in Norma (Platina), Italy. He attended Sacred Heart Seminary in Detroit and St. John's Provincial Seminary in Plymouth Township. Ordained June 6, 1959, he celebrated his first Mass at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church in Detroit.

He served as an assistant pastor at St. Elizabeth Parish, Wyandotte (1959-64); and at St. Clement Parish, Dearborn (1964-71).

Fr. Porcari served as pastor of St. Clement, Dearborn (1971-77), and then worked toward the establishment of a new parish in Canton Township. He was temporary administrator of St. Richard Parish, Westland (1977-78); and was pastor of St. Thomas ā Becket Parish, Canton Township (1978-93). He was pastor of Our Lady of Victory Parish, Northville from 1993 until attaining senior priest status in 2003.

Fr. D'Achille

Fr. D'Achille taught music and religion at St. Scholastica Elementary School and Benedictine High School, Detroit (1963-70), and was associate pastor, organist and choir director of St. Scholastica Parish (1970-82).

He was chaplain to Providence Hospital, Southfield (1982-92) also serving as a weekend associate at Prince of Peace Parish, West Bloomfield Township (1988-92). He was incardinated into the Archdiocese of Detroit April 3, 1992.

Fr. D'Achille served as temporary administrator of Our Lady of Loretto Parish, Redford Township (1992), and as associate pastor of St. Isaac Jogues Parish, St. Clair Shores, during the same year.

In 1993, he served as temporary associate pastor of St. Patrick Parish in White Lake Township, and later that year was appointed pastor of St. Clement Parish in Dearborn, where he still serves.

A fourth-degree Knight of Columbus, he is chaplain to both the Bishiop Foley Council and the Msgr. Schulte Assembly.

40 years

Fr. Alder

Fr. Ronald J. Alder
Fr. Alder was born July 1, 1934, in Detroit to Joseph and Dorothy Alder. He graduated from Sacred Heart Seminary, Detroit, in 1965, and St. John's Provincial Seminary, Plymouth Township, in 1969. He was ordained June 7, 1969, at the Cathedral of the Most Blessed Sacrament, Detroit, and celebrated his first Mass at Our Lady of Loretto Parish, Redford Township.

He served as associate pastor at: Divine Child Parish, Dearborn (1969-72); Shrine of the Little Flower Parish, Royal Oak (1972-75); St. Cyprian Parish, Riverview (1975-76); St. Mary Magdalen Parish, Melvindale (1976); St. Kieran Parish, Shelby Township (1976-79); St. Paul on the Lake Parish, Grosse Pointe Farms (1982-85); St. Mary Magdalen Parish, Melvindale (1985-88); St. Blase Parish, Sterling Heights (1988-93); and St. Isaac Jogues Parish, St. Clair Shores (1993-96). He served as pastor at St. James Parish, Ferndale (1979-82) and later at St. Irene Parish, Dundee (1996-2002).

He also served as the clergy representative to the North Macomb Vicariate (1977-78), volunteer chaplain to the North Macomb Regional Correctional Facility (1992-93), and volunteer chaplain to the Monroe County Jail (1997-98).

Fr. Alder was granted senior priest status in 2002. He currently lives at St. Frances Cabrini Parish, Allen Park.

Fr. Brzezinski

Fr. Jerome A. Brzezinski
Fr. Brzezinski was born May 30, 1943, in Detroit to John and Melanie Brzezinski. He studied at St. Mary's College in Orchard Lake, St. John's Provincial Seminary, Plymouth Township, Catholic University, Washington, D.C., and the University of Detroit. He was ordained June 7, 1969, at the Cathedral of the Most Blessed Sacrament, and celebrated his first Mass at Guardian Angels Parish, Clawson.

Before he was ordained, he served on a special assignment at St. Justin Parish, Hazel Park (1965-67) and established the youth ministry program at St. Joseph Parish, South Lyon (1967-68). As deacon, he served at St. Anne Parish, Warren (1968).

He served as associate pastor of Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish, Detroit (1969-70), and St. Clement Parish, Center Line (1970-71), before becoming co-pastor of St. Clement (until 1975). He then served as director of religious education for the archdiocese (1975-83) while serving as pastor of Holy Ghost Parish, Detroit (1980-81). He served as Director of Campus Ministry at Oakland University, Rochester (1983-89) and has served as pastor of St. John Fisher University Chapel (Oakland University) since 1989.

Fr. Brzezinski's other assignments include serving as a member of the College of Consultors, as vicar of the Pontiac Area Vicariate (1984-87), on the presbyteral council (2006-08), and holding several national positions for the National Conference of Diocesan Directors of Religious Education. He's also served as vicar for the Pontiac Area Vicariate since 2005.

Fr. Cronk

Fr. James F. Cronk
Fr. Cronk was born June 17, 1943, to Frederick and Madeline Cronk. He was ordained June 7, 1969, and celebrated his first Mass at St. James Parish, Ferndale.

He served as associate pastor of St. Angela Parish, Roseville (1969-71), St. Paul on the Lake Parish, Grosse Pointe Farms (1971-76), St. Patrick Parish, White Lake Township (1976) and St. Dennis Parish, Royal Oak (1976-77). He then served as pastor of Our Lady of the Lakes Parish, Waterford Township (1977-89) and St. James Parish, Novi (1989-2003).

He has served as pastor at Our Lady Queen of Martyrs Parish, Beverly Hills, since 2003, and will begin his new assignment, pastor of St. Owen Parish, Bloomfield Hills, beginning July 1.

Fr. Fontana

Fr. Charles S. Fontana
Fr. Fontana was born June 17, 1943, in Detroit to Luigi and Anita Fontana. He studied at Sacred Heart Seminary, Detroit; St. John's Provincial Seminary, Plymouth Township; the University of Detroit; Hebrew University, Jerusalem; and Wayne State University, Detroit. He was ordained June 7, 1969, at the Cathedral of the Most Blessed Sacrament, Detroit, and celebrated his first Mass at the Nativity of Our Lord Parish, Detroit.

He served as associate pastor of St. Suzanne/Our Lady Gate of Heaven Parish, Detroit (1969-76), St. Mary Parish, Wayne (1976-77) and St. Clement Parish, Dearborn (1977). He then served as administrator of St. Andrew Parish, Rochester (1977-85).

Fr. Fontana served as pastor at St. Pius X Parish, Southgate (1985-88), and St. Timothy Parish, Trenton (1988-2006). He has served as associate pastor at St. Paul of Tarsus Parish, Clinton Township, since 2006, and will begin his new assignment, as pastor of St. Clement Parish, Dearborn, beginning July 1.

He's also served as vicar of the Monroe Vicariate (1982-85) and on the College of Consultors (1983-84). He received the Fr. John Farrell Award in 1994.

Fr. Kuras

He served as associate pastor at St. James Parish, Ferndale (1969-74) and Holy Name Parish, Birmingham (1974-77). He then served as pastor of Our Lady of the Lakes Parish, Waterford (1977-80). He also served as vicar of the former Birmingham/Bloomfield/Troy Vicariate.

He has served as pastor of Divine Savior Parish, Westland, since 1980.

Fr. Kirwan

He served as associate pastor of Christ the King Parish, Detroit (1969-72) and St. Dorothy Parish, Center Line (1972) before becoming pastor of St. Dorothy (1972-77). He then served as coadjutor pastor at St. Hilary Parish, Redford (1977) before becoming pastor of St. Hilary (1977-83).

He then served as associate pastor of National Shrine of the Little Flower Parish, Royal Oak (1983-84); Our Lady Queen of All Saints Parish, Fraser (1984); St. Matthias Parish, Sterling Heights (1984-88); Divine Child Parish, Dearborn (1988-93); and St. Blase Parish, Sterling Heights (1993-99). He served as pastor of St. Raphael Parish, Garden City (1999-2001) before taking medical leave.

Fr. Kirwan became a senior priest in 2008.

Fr. Kotlarz

Fr. Robert J. Kotlarz
Fr. Kotlarz was born July 21, 1943, in Detroit. He studied at St. Mary, Orchard Lake, and the Gregorian University, Rome. He was ordained Dec. 20, 1968, in Rome, and celebrated his first Mass in the catacombs of St. Priscilla Parish, Rome.

He served as associate pastor of St. Ladislaus Parish, Hamtramck (1969-71), and then as personal secretary to Cardinal John Dearden (1971-76). He also served as administrator of St. Kenneth Parish, Plymouth (1974-75); St. Mary Parish, Royal Oak (1975); administrator of St. Conrad Parish, Melvindale (1975-76); and St. Catherine Parish and St. Edward Parish, both in Detroit (1976).

Fr. Kotlarz then served on faculty at Sacred Heart Major Seminary, Detroit (1976-81) and as director of the former Permanent Deacon Program (1977-81). He served as pastor of Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish, Detroit (1981-96) and as administrator of St. Anthony Parish, Detroit (1996-97) and St. Luke Parish, Detroit (1997-2002). He's also served as an auditor for the Marriage Tribunal.

He has served as pastor at Our Lady of Good Counsel Parish and St. Raymond Parish, both in Detroit, since 2002.

Fr. Ruedisueli

Fr. Robert A. Ruedisueli
Fr. Ruedisueli was born May 2, 1943, to Charles and Mary Elizabeth Ruedisueli, in Detroit. He studied at Sacred Heart Seminary, Detroit, St. John's Provincial Seminary, Plymouth Township, and North American College, Rome. As a deacon, he served at St. Edmund Parish, Warren (1968) and at St. Margaret of Scotland Parish, St. Clair Shores (1969).

He was ordained June 7, 1969, and celebrated his first Mass at St. Isaac Jogues Parish, St. Clair Shores.

He served as associate pastor at Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Grotto) Parish, Detroit (1969-73); as administrator of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish, Emmet (1973); as chaplain at William Beaumont Hospital, Royal Oak (1973-76); as pastor of St. Ambrose Parish, Grosse Pointe Park (1976-80); as associate pastor at St. Louis Parish, Clinton Township (1980-81); as associate pastor at St. Mark Parish, Warren (1983-84); as administrator of St. Justin Parish, Hazel Park (1984); as pastor of St. David of Wales Parish, Detroit (1984-89); and as associate pastor of St. Joan of Arc Parish, St. Clair Shores (1989-91).

He's also served on the assignment board and on the presbyteral council. He won the Fr. John Farrell Award in 1995.

Fr. Ruedisueli has served as pastor of St. Mark Parish, Warren, since 1991.

Fr. Maciejewski

Fr. Norbert F. Maciejewski
Fr. Maciejewski was born Nov. 14, 1943, in Detroit to Edward and Julia Maciejewski. He studied at St. Mary's, Orchard Lake, and St. John's Provincial Seminary, Plymouth Township. He was ordained June 7, 1969, and celebrated his first Mass at St. Andrew Parish, Detroit.

He served as associate pastor of St. Joseph Parish, Port Huron (1969-71) and at St. Ladislaus Parish, Hamtramck (1971-76). He then served as pastor of Ascension Parish, Warren (1976-2007) while serving as administrator and then pastor of St. Leonard of Port Maurice Parish, Warren (1997-2007).

He attained senior priest status in 2007.

Fr. Vogan

Fr. Howard L. Vogan
Fr. Vogan was born May 9, 1943, in Toledo to Howard and Margaret Vogan. He studied at Sacred Heart Seminary, Detroit, and St. John's Provincial Seminary, Plymouth Township, and was ordained June 7, 1969. He celebrated his first Mass at St. Joseph Church, Erie.

He served as associate pastor of St. Rita Parish, Detroit (1969-72) and St. Regis Parish, Bloomfield Hills (1972-76). He then served as pastor of St. Joseph Parish, South Lyon (1976-98); he also served on the archdiocesan Marriage Tribunal (since 1981).

He has served as pastor of St. Genevieve Parish, Livonia, since 1998, and at St. Maurice Parish, Livonia, since 2006.

Fr. Walsh

Fr. Jerome T. Walsh
Fr. Walsh was born June 14, 1942, in Detroit to Thomas and Madeleine Walsh. He studied at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Catholic University of America, Washington, D.C., Catholic University of Louvain, Belgium, and the Pontifical Biblical Institute in Jerusalem. He was ordained June 28, 1969, in Louvain; he celebrated his first Mass in Belgium, and his first Mass in the archdiocese at St. William Parish, Walled Lake.

He served as associate pastor at St. Ambrose Parish, Grosse Pointe Park (1969-72). He then served on the faculty at St. John's Provincial Seminary, Plymouth Township; Mary Immaculate Seminary, Northampton, Pa.; and St. John's University, Jamaica, N.Y. He also served at St. James Parish in Setauket, N.Y.

He currently lives in Texas and teaches in the School of Ministry at the University of Dallas.

Fr. Chase

25 years
Fr. Kenneth M. Chase
Fr. Chase, 52, was born in Ferndale. He attended the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, and St. John's Provincial Seminary in Plymouth Township. Ordained Dec. 15, 1984, he celebrated his first Mass at St. Germaine Church, St. Clair Shores.

Fr. Chase served as associate pastor of St. Germaine Parish, St. Clair Shores (1984-85); St. Mary Queen of Creation Parish, New Baltimore (1985-88); Our Lady Star of the Sea Parish, Grosse Pointe Woods (1988-91); and St. Frances Cabrini Parish, Allen Park (1991-94).

He served as temporary administrator of St. Frances Cabrini Parish Allen Park for several months in 1994.

Fr. Chase was named pastor of St. Hedwig Parish, Detroit (1994-98); and has been pastor of St. Joseph Parish, South Lyon, since 1998.

He also served as vicar of the Southwest Vicariate (1995-97), and has been a member of the archdiocesan Assignment Board since 2007.

Fr. Kiselica

Fr. John J. Kiselica
Fr. Kiselica, 53, was born in Hartford, Conn. He attended Bishop Grimes High School in E. Syracuse, N.Y.; the Marist Seminary in Cambridge, Mass.; and Boston College, from which he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in European History. He also attended Marist College in Washington, D.C., and the Weston School of Theology and Harvard Divinity School, both in Cambridge, Mass., earning a Master of Divinity degree in 1983. He later went on to do additional studies at the University of Munich in Germany, and to earn a master's in Catholic School Leadership from Madonna University, Livonia.

Ordained June 3, 1984, for the Society of Mary (Marists), he celebrated his first Mass at St. Mary Church in Minoa, N.Y.

He served as a teacher at Notre Dame High School, Harper Woods (1984-2000), and was a weekend chaplain with the U.S. Air Force Reserve at Selfridge Air National Guard Base in Harrison Township. He served as principal of Divine Child High School, Dearborn (2001-06).

Fr. Kiselica was incardinated into the archdiocese of Detroit Aug. 5, 2004.

He has been teaching at St. Mary's Preparatory, Orchard Lake, since 2006, and is the school's chaplain.

Fr. Kiselica served as a weekend assistant at St. Blase Parish, Sterling Heights (2001-07), and at Our Lady of the Lakes Parish, Waterford Township (2007-08).

Fr. Petroske

Fr. Peter Petroske
Fr. Petroske, 54, was born in Frankfurt, Germany. He attended Sacred Heart Seminary in Detroit and St. John's Provincial Seminary in Plymouth Township. He was ordained Sept. 14, 1984, for the Diocese of Marquette, and was incardinated into the Archdiocese of Detroit on March 16, 1994.

Fr. Petroske was associate pastor of St. Rene Goupil Parish, Sterling Heights (1991-93); and of St. Anne Parish, Warren (1993-94).

He was pastor of St. Pius X Parish, Southgate (1994-2008); and became pastor of Sacred Heart Parish, Dearborn, in 2008.

Fr. Roman

Fr. Victor S. Roman
Fr. Roman, 53, was born in Lodz, Poland. He earned his Master of Divinity degree from SS. Cyril & Methodius Seminary, Orchard Lake. Ordained Dec. 15, 1984, he celebrated his first Mass at St. Sylvester Church, Warren.

He served as associate pastor of St. Sylvester Parish, Warren (1984-85); Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Wyandotte (1985-88); and of St. Lawrence Parish, Utica (1988-92).

He became pastor of St. Brendan Parish, Detroit (1992-97), an

Fr. Trapp

Fr. Daniel J. Trapp
Fr. Trapp, 51, was born in Detroit. He attended Sacred Heart Seminary in Detroit, the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome, and the Pontifical Athenaeum of Sant'Anselmo in Rome. He was ordained Dec. 15, 1984.

Fr. Trapp served as associate pastor of St. Christopher, Detroit (1984-85), and St. Clement, Center Line (1985-86).

After returning from graduate studies in Rome (1986-89), he was appointed to the faculty of Sacred Heart Major Seminary (1989-90).

He served as archdiocesan associate director of religious education (1990-93), during which time he also served short assignments as administrator of All Saints Parish, Detroit, and of SS. Andrew & Benedict Parish, Detroit.

Fr. Trapp was named pastor of SS. Andrew & Benedict and Holy Cross parishes, Detroit (1993-95), during which time he also served as vicar of the Southwest Vicariate.

In 1995, he was named temporary administrator of Divine Providence (Lithanian) Parish in Southfield. In July of that year, he also became spiritual director for students in the Graduate School of Theology at Sacred Heart Major Seminary.

In 1996, Fr. Trapp was named pastor of St. Augustine & St. Monica Parish in Detroit, in addition to his duties at the seminary, both of which appointments continue to the present.

He has also served two two-year terms on the archdiocesan Presbyteral Council.