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Priests celebrate jubilees
Remembering years of service

By KATIE LEFEBVRE, Globe staff reporter
(Email Katie)

STORM LAKE – Stories of each jubilarian brought smiles and laughter at the May 18 Mass in Storm Lake.
Eight of the ten jubilarians of the Diocese of Sioux City were present for the liturgy to celebrate their years of priestly ministry with Bishop R. Walker Nickless and their brother priests.

Msgr. Gerald Lyon, Raymond Wieling and Father Gerald Zensen (not at the Mass) are celebrating 60 years of priesthood this year. Those celebrating 50 years are Father Jerome Degen, Father Albert Grendler, Father Gerald Hartz (not at the Mass), Father Donald Ries, Msgr. Leonard Ziegmann and Father Richard Kielbasa. Father Timothy Friedrichsen is celebrating 25 years of priesthood this year.

Bishop Nickless welcomed the jubilarians, priests of the diocese, family and friends to the celebration. He also recognized three seminarians, Pat Behm, David Esquiliano and Chris Ciaffa, who were in attendance.

Father Roger Linnan, pastor at St. Mary Parish in Hawarden, proclaimed the Gospel and gave the homily. He acknowledged that while Father Friedrichsen has served for 25 years that he is a “youngster in our midst.”

“These men who have served 50 and 60 years have witnessed tremendous changes in our church,” said Father Linnan. “They have to have faith that the Holy Spirit was with us that these changes were on target. Let’s go back to 1949 and try to recreate the feel of the liturgy as these men began celebrating the sacraments as newly ordained priests.”

He recalled stories about each of the jubilarians from the early days of their priesthood, which invoked knowing smiles as the jubilarians remembered the memories.

“We really are grateful for the priests you have been and the kind of example you gave to us,” said Father Linnan. “For all these years you have been the hands and voice of Christ giving Christ’s forgiveness, Christ’s healing and Christ’s light in those thousands of confessions that you have heard. You are the strengthening and healing touch of Christ for all those people you anointed in the sacrament of the anointing of the sick.”

He noted that the priests have witnessed marriages of countless couples.

“Priests of my generation started out with really high hopes about what our priestly ministry would accomplish,” said the homilist. “The changes brought about by the Second Vatican Council made everything seem possible – churches were full, vocations were abundant. We assumed that things could only get better, but it didn’t turn out like that.”

Father Linnan added that it is “not easy being a priest today. The passion is the sign that we are acting in the person of Christ.”

At the conclusion of Mass, Bishop Nickless addressed the jubilarians and thanked Father Linnan for giving the homily.

“For the last 25, 50 and 60 years, you have had the privilege of being priests of Jesus Christ,” said the bishop. “Like Paul, we give praise to God for what he has accomplished in your life. He has been there in your professional life as priests and in your own personal trials. He has been there with you as you seek to give consolation to those whom you have served as priests.”

He added that the celebration of a jubilee naturally gives a chance to look back at the past and reflect on their ministry thus far.

“Let’s also take this opportunity to look to the future,” said Bishop Nickless. “Be aware of our seminarians and the need they have for our prayers and our support. I thank all of you for continuing to care for our seminarians.”

He thanked the priests for being “holy priests, joyful priests dedicated to the wonderful vocation that God has given us. Jubilarians thank you again for your faithful witness, your brotherhood and your friendship.”

Following Mass, the priests traveled to Buena Vista University for dinner.