For the jubilarian
Every year, the Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend celebrates its priests who are celebrating their 25th, 40th, 50th, 60th and, if necessary, 70th anniversary of ordination. Each year, this yields an array of priests from around the diocese who celebrate with a Mass at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Fort Wayne and then join the bishop for a celebratory luncheon.
In 2006, the diocese honored Fathers Dave Voors and Jim Delaney (25 years), Msgr. Owen Campion and Fathers John Pfister and Ed Erpelding (40 years), Father Robert Yast (50 years) and (the now late) Msgr. William Faber (70 years).
In 2007, the diocese honored Fathers Adam Schmitt, James Rose and Dan Leeuw (all 50 years), as well as Father Dale Bauman (25 years).
In 2008, however, the jubilarian number stood at one solitary priest, Father Barry England, pastor of St. Bavo Parish in Mishawaka and a priest since May 25, 1968. On Sept. 16, the priests once again gathered for Mass and honored Father England’s jubilee with lunch on the garden level of Archbishop Noll Catholic Center in Fort Wayne.
Father Barry England, right, celebrates his 40th anniversary as a priest with a luncheon at the Archbishop Noll Catholic Center Sept. 16. He is joined, at left, by Father Ed Ruetz, retired in South Bend, and Father Paul Bueter, pastor of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Warsaw.
Next year, the number of priest jubilarians swells once more with an anticipated 12 priests celebrating anniversaries.