Priests celebrating significant milestones of priestly service and fellow priests gathered in support of them concelebrate with Bishop Louis Tylka at the annual Jubilarian Mass at St. Mary’s Cathedral in Peoria on June 20. The Catholic Post Online/Paul Thomas Moore 

It’s an occasion where the priests of the diocese gather to celebrate their brothers who have reached significant milestones of priestly service. On Thursday, June 20, at St. Mary’s Cathedral in Peoria, they celebrated the best way they know how — by breaking the “bread of angels” as one of the hymns at the Jubilarian Mass intoned.

Approximately 90 priests RSVP’d to an event that tends to mark the informal start of summer on the diocesan calendar, and the end of a busy season of Easter, confirmations, ordinations, and school graduations.

A TIME TO REFLECT

Befittingly, this year summer solstice occurred at 3:50 p.m., just as the priests were gathering at nearby Spalding Pastoral Center for an after-Mass dinner.

In his opening remarks at Mass, Bishop Louis Tylka reflected on how priests are enabled “in a very unique and powerful way to give witness to our faith as fellow disciples on the journey toward God’s kingdom.” 

As is tradition, one of the jubilarians present offered the homily. Father Charles Klamut, pastor of St. Anthony Parish in Bartonville, celebrated 25 years of priestly service on May 29.

Father Charles Klamut, pastor of St. Anthony Parish in Bartonville, celebrating 25 years of priestly service, gave the homily at the Jubilarian Mass at St. Mary’s Cathedral in Peoria on June 20. The Catholic Post Online/Paul Thomas Moore

Building on Bishop Tylka’s description of priests as “fellow disciples on the journey to God’s kingdom,” Father Klamut suggested that to stay grounded they must remember, “Before we are fathers, we are first sons,” and, “Before we lay on this floor, we were first dunked in the font.”

DOCILE SHEEP, BEST SHEPHERDS

He indicated that a key discernment question in this process is, “Do you let God be for you what you try to be for your people?”

Putting a period on the thought, he said, “Even though we are shepherds, we never cease to be sheep. Docile sheep make the best shepherds.”

Father Chase Hilgenbrinck, left, diocesan vocation director for recruitment, was celebrating the 10th anniversary of his own recruitment to the priesthood of Christ. To his right is recently-ordained Father Jack Swoik. The Catholic Post Online/Paul Thomas Moore

At the conclusion of Mass, Msgr. Halfacre, vicar general, read the names of this year’s jubilarians:

65 years – Father Dennis O’Riley; Father Robert Schladen

60 years – Msgr. Dale Wellman; Father Patrick Collins

55 years – Father Ronald Enderlin; Father Paul Meismer; Father James Rickey

50 years – Bishop Emeritus Daniel Jenky, C.S.C., D.D.

45 years – Father Donald Levitt; Msgr. Gerald Ward

40 years – Father William Miller; Father Raymond Guthrie

35 years – Father Patrick Fennell

30 years – Father Stephen McKinley, OFM. Conv.; Father Piotr Sarnicki, OFM. Conv.

25 years – Father Charles Klamut; Father Robert Rayson

20 years – Father Ghislain Inai

15 years – Father David Sable; Father Adam Stimpson

10 years – Father Chase Hilgenbrinck; Father Matthew Hoelscher; Father Corey Krengiel; Father Kyle Lucas

5 years – Father Daniel McShane

Newly ordained this year – Father Nicholas Conner; Father Jacob Martini; Father Justin Ramza; Father Jack Swoik

Four recently-deceased priests were also remembered: Father George Remm (May 16, 2024); Father Edward Harkrader (April 1, 2024); Father Thomas Royer (Jan. 4, 2024); Father Duane Jack (Dec. 29, 2023)

Gathered priests of the Diocese of Peoria applaud after Msgr. Philip Halfacre’s recitation of this year’s jubilee celebrants at the end of Mass at St. Mary’s Cathedral in Peoria on June 20. The Catholic Post Online/Paul Thomas Moore

FATHER’S YOKE LIGHT

Father Klamut concluded his homily by saying, “As we gladly take on the yoke of priestly service, let’s never forgot that it’s a light yoke, and an easy burden, because it’s the yoke of a Father who loves us, and calls us a beloved son, so that so well and wisely fathered, we may likewise father others well in Christ.”