On Thursday, June 12, a Mass of Thanksgiving was celebrated by Bishop Louis Tylka honoring all Jubilarians in 2025. Each year it is held at the Cathedral of Saint Mary of the Immaculate Conception recognizing the priests who are celebrating milestone anniversaries.

Father Stephen Engelbrecht, celebrating his Silver Jubilee (25 years of priestly service), was homilist. He closed his homily with these words: “Sometimes the Lord’s help comes from where we least expect it. The church will have troubles. Some will come from without, and some from within. But God in His providence will make a way for her to be a means of salvation in our troubled world. May all of us hold fast to our practice and profession of faith and heed what it says in the Epistle to Hebrews, keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus, the leader and perfector of faith.”

Father Stephen Engelbrecht, who is celebrating his 25th anniversary of ordination in 2025, gave the homily for the Jubilarian Mass on June 12 at St. Mary’s Cathedral in Peoria.

Monsignor Philip Halfacre, Vicar General for the Diocese of Peoria, read the names of the Jubilarians at the end of Mass. He mentioned that Jubilees are an occasion to rejoice and an occasion to give thanks to God!

Monsignor Halfacre went on to give thanks for our newly ordained priests: Father Ben Schoonmaker, Father Francis Strong, and Father Jack Watt.

Monsignor then began with the reading of the names of the Jubilarians for this year.

This year celebrating 10 years of priestly service are: Father Joseph Baker, Father Eric Bolek, Father Adam Cesarek, Father Matthew Deptula, Father Alexander Millar, and Father Marc Nkulu, SMA.

Celebrating 15 years of priestly service: Father Paul Carlson, Father Thomas Dunton, CSJ, and Father James Pankiewicz.

Celebrating 20 years of priestly service: Father Anthony Co, Father Mark Miller, and Father Nicodemus Muithi.

Celebrating their Silver Jubilee of 25 years of priestly service: Father Steven Bird, Father Stephen Engelbrecht, Father Bernard Obeng Gyamfi, and Father Peter Pilon.

Celebrating 30 years of priestly service: Father Patrick DeMeulemeester, Father Joseph Dondanville, Father Narcis Katambe, Father Deogratias Mpewo, Father Jeffrey Stirniman, Father John Verrier, Father Mieczyslaw, Wit, OFM conv., and Father Johndamaseni Zilimu.

Celebrating 35 years of priestly service: Father Scott Archer, Father Vien Van Do, Father Ignatias Mulenda, Father Patrick O’Neal, Msgr. Eric Powell, Father Eugene Radosevich, and Father Patrick Riordan.

Clergy from around the Diocese of Peoria gathered with Bishop Louis Tylka at St. Mary’s Cathedral in Peoria for the annual Jubilarian Mass.

Celebrating 40 years of priestly service: Father Anthony Ego

Celebrating 45 years of priestly service: Father John Bazimenyera and Father James Myers

Celebrating their Golden Jubilee of 50 years of priestly service: Abbot Emeritus Philip Davey, OSB

Celebrating 55 years of priestly service: Father Donald Henderson

And this year, Father John Waugh celebrates his 70^th Anniversary of priestly service!

Monsignor Halfacre closed with a blessing. “May God continue to sustain all of you and to reward you for your service!”