From the Pastor's Desk

40 Years and Counting…

Release Date: Friday, May 23^rd.

(Note: This Sunday, May 25^th will mark my 40^th anniversary as a priest. It has been my practice since I have been a priest to celebrate my own anniversary quietly and without any public recognition. I do not like public or even private recognition of anything that I have accomplished because I do not like being the center of attention nor am I worthy of anything simply for doing what the Lord asks me to do. I did not celebrate my 25^th and there is nothing special about 40, other than it being a round number, and by the time I reach my 50^th anniversary, if the Lord is kind to me, I want it to pass quietly as well.)  

The purpose of this article is to share the stages of my priesthood with you since 1985. There are 4 headings which represent so many things, but mostly growth in age and wisdom in my priesthood and in life. Anyone who is close to my age or were married in the mid 80’s will relate and understand what I am expressing in my words below.

PRIESTHOOD: THE FIRST QUARTER 1985-1995

I woke up on the morning of my ordination in a twin bed at Fletcher Hall on the diocesan grounds preparing for my Ordination Mass at 11:00AM at the Cathedral. As I was getting ready, my 28-year-old mind was wondering two things; where did the last 10 years go? And was I ready? It seemed like yesterday, I had just graduated from Lakeside high school at 18 and was working at Bonanza in Hot Springs, now I was getting ready for the rest of my life? I knew that I spent 4 years in college and 6 years in the seminary since 1975, made lots of friends, experienced many different things, some good, some bad, but hell, 10 years already? Okay, I am still young. I certainly looked ready. All dressed in clerical clothing, my hair combed and had my alb in hand. However, deep down, I knew so many of my classmates who were preparing for ordination throughout the country on that day and weeks to come were so much holier and worthier than I. Yes, I had the knowledge necessary to be an effective priest but not much else, especially holiness. All I had was me.

During the first 10 years of priesthood, I spent half of the time as an associate at St Peter the Fisherman in Mountain Home (2 years) and Christ the King in Fort Smith (3 years) under 3 different pastors, Father Raymond Rossi in Mountain Home and Father Richard Strock and Father Tom Marks at Christ the King. I can tell you I was ordained as green as any freshly cut tree, but each of these pastors, although not mentors, taught me a lot. In my early days I was like any young priest spending time with the CYM, involving myself in school activities and enjoying being the priest without responsibilities but ‘cool’ and ‘relatable’. Father Rossi taught me the rules, Father Strock was ill most of my 2 years with him so I learned how to conduct Pastoral Council, finance meetings, school board and building committee in his absence. Father Tom…well…. The next 4 years were spent at Holy Redeemer in El Dorado where I was pastor for the first time. I had learned a lot in 5 years, but in El Dorado, I was taken to the next level. As pastor of small parish and school, I had to work with then Sister Henrietta Hockle, our diocesan Superintendent to hire a principal and reshape the School Board. She taught me many lessons on administration. I had to hire a secretary, teachers and other parish staff all within the first few years at the parish. I was still young enough to spend time with our CYM including two trips to Disney World and I was the still the ‘cool’ priest, but now with lots of responsibilities. I learned how to deal with those who agreed with me and those who did not agree with me. I learned patience, but the gift I learned most was the gift of how to listen intently to people sharing their stories with me. In 1994, I was made pastor of St Theresa in Little Rock. I was given an even larger parish and school and was to have an associate, but at the last minute that changed. The first year at St Theresa was still a learning year. I learned quickly in my second parish as pastor to dedicate myself to my people. In 1995, at 38, I celebrated my 10^th anniversary quietly. By then I had my first puppy George and was very much falling in love with my parish in Southwest Little Rock. The lessons I learned my first 10 years were; how to be a good preacher, to be a good listener, to run meetings and create a vision for a parish. However, I was only 38 and kind of immature for my age. I still had some growing up to do. My understanding of how to be an effective priest were present, but I lacked the ‘wisdom’ to effectively carry them out. The next 10 years would change that.

PRIESTHOOD: THE SECOND QUARTER 1995-2005

I could call this quarter of my priesthood; ‘the St. Theresa Years’ because I spent the entire second quarter of my priesthood there. It was during these 10 years, the wisdom that I lacked my first 10 years became a part of my persona. I grew each passing year loving my parish and who ‘we’ were in Southwest Little Rock. My love for Christmas and my dogs were my hobbies and the way I pastored and understood my priesthood grew in maturity because of the stability of my life and the love I had for my priesthood. I turned 40 in 1997 and in 2000 we received a new bishop, Bishop Sartain. We built the Parish Center at St Theresa in 2001 and it gave me the experience that I needed to carry through a vision. The event that affected me the most was terrorist attack on 9/11. When I preached with tears in my eyes and pain in my heart that following Sunday, it made a connection between me and my parishioners and bonded us together. I had to hire a new principal in 2002 and once again 3 years later. With each passing year, in the quietly normality of my life at St Theresa, my priesthood, my abilities, my experiences and my love for my priesthood grew. On my 20^th anniversary in 2005, I purchased a new car and went on a road trip visiting my family up east. The lessons I learned, now at 48, were that wisdom really does come with age. I also realized that I had the gift to be a good administrator. I felt a tad bit holier but my priesthood was still rooted in common sense, a love for the Lord, and simply doing what was right for the good of all.

PRIESTHOOD: THE THIRD QUARTER 2005-2015

This period of my life and priesthood was the most challenging on me. I spent 4 more years at St Theresa and the next 6 at St Raphael. With age and wisdom came a new sense of responsibility. As I navigated through the second half of the 00’s at St Theresa, changes were happening quickly. In the parish, the Hispanic population was ever increasing in Southwest Little Rock. I did not know Spanish, but I knew I had to learn it. Bishop Sartain was transferred in 2006 and we were a Sede Vacante diocese for two years under Monsignor Hebert. In 2007, I turned 50 and the same year, Spanish Masses began at St Theresa with the Vincentians saying Mass, but I knew I had to take responsibility for my own parishioners. I made plans to go to Mexico in the summer of 2008 which right at the same time we got the news we had a new bishop, Bishop Anthony Taylor.

After returning from Mexico my life got hectic. I was celebrating the Spanish Masses now and had much to learn in Spanish. Monsignor Friend assigned a seminarian to my parish, Rubén Quinteros. He knew little English, I knew little Spanish. In the spring of 2009, my wonderful parish of St Theresa hosted the diaconate ordination of 4 young men, some of who you know; Joseph Archibong, Jason Sharbaugh, Tony Robbins, and Rubén Quinteros. My parish did a beautiful job with the Liturgy and reception, proving that my parishioners could do as well as any parish in the Greater Little Rock area in putting on an event. I think it got the Bishop’s attention. One characteristic that I had developed at St Theresa was to fly low and out of the spot light. My ministry was about doing and not showing. Deacon Rubén was assigned to me in the summer of 2009. In August of that year, Bishop Taylor told me I was needed at St Raphael in Springdale because of my skills as a good administrator. He warned me that the parish was large, predominately Latino and poor. In October, both Deacon Rubén and I headed to St Raphael. Over the next 6 years, under a lot of stress, I learned to get my head around my new reality. I was learning to speak Spanish, trying to put order to chaos and learning to mentor young priests. The parish had a brand-new elementary school which was struggling.  I had to be the bad guy. I was assigned Father James Melnick and a missionary priest as my associates. I had never worked with an associate, so I was learning how to with very young priests with no experience. Father Melnick only lasted two months before we sent him away for rehabilitation. Once ordained a priest, Father Quinteros was my lifesaver. Over these 6 years, I received 4 newly ordained priests to mentor and at least 4 other priests to help me. I had to learn to mentor, all the while ministering to so many parishioners in need. On my 30th anniversary, now 58, I learned in these past 10 years my life was not my own. My abilities were increasing and I was seen by many priests in the diocese as the man to go to when questions or difficulties arise. However, although I felt perfectly at home carrying out my priestly duties, I never felt ‘holy.’ My Spiritual Director reminded me that my holiness was always rooted in the daily activities of life and always had been. I simply had to look for it. 

PRIESTHOOD: THE FOURTH QUARTER 2015-2025

This quarter of my priesthood represents nothing more than a refinement of my priesthood on all levels. Some highlights in these 10 years include turning 60 in 2017 and mentoring 6 more newly ordained diocesan priests. There were hard times as well. My dad passed away in 2016 and my mom in 2020. Like all of you, I went through the pandemic. However, I was in a parish that struggled financially and I had to become very creative. In 2017, Bishop Taylor started to assign me two young priests at a time because everyone thought that I was some great mentor. I would argue that I am not, but no one would agree with me. In this same year, I was assigned as pastor of St Joseph in Tontitown for 5 years. In early 2019, the Bishop named me his Vicar General. I was honored and promised to represent him well in Northwest Arkansas. All of you know the rest of the story. In 2023, I was assigned to St Joseph and Father Daniel came with me. These two years have provided me with a sense of new life and energy in my priesthood. This parish is now my new home and I have loved every minute of being here. I also have the responsibilities of being the Moderator of the Curia which takes me away from the parish a bit more than your previous pastors, but Father Daniel has my complete confidence to cover for me while at the diocese. On my 40th anniversary, now 68, in these past 10 years I have learned to mentor young priests, not to make them copies of me, but to allow them to grow into their priesthood. I acknowledge I have a lot of abilities, but I am a still a simple priest. Anyone who gets distracted by a passing train is simple. I still feel unworthy of a lot of the things that have been handed to me. I am at peace as well that my spirituality is lived out only in my head. My heart is reserved for those that I serve.

THE FUTURE 2025-

It is my hope that St Joseph is my last assignment before I retire. If I keep my health, I would like it to be a long time, but I will leave that up to the Lord. I am not sure how much more mentoring I can do. I get older and the newly ordained priests get younger.  I will leave that up to the bishop. I do have lots to do with you all. We have that elementary school to build and ministries to form and build upon. We will find a pathway to make our parish even more welcoming than it already is and to be a place to call home that reflects the richness of the past and desire to embrace a faithful future.

I will continue serving at the bishop’s pleasure in the capacity of Vicar General/Moderator of the Curia. The young man that was ordained 40 years ago along with Danny Eakins could never imagine what 40 years of ministry would bring. The majority of what I am doing I could never see myself doing at 28. There have been so many blessings, challenges, moments of sorrow and joy.  With that in mind, it is I who want to thank so many of you for your support, prayers and presence in this incredible journey:

·      To the parishioners of my assignments as an associate pastor: St Peter the Fisherman in Mountain Home and Christ the King in Fort Smith; thank you for your patience and prayers for this young priest who was learning his way in priesthood.

·      To my parishioners of my assignment as pastor: Holy Redeemer in El Dorado, St Theresa in Little Rock, St Raphael in Springdale, St Joseph in Tontitown and St Joseph in Conway, thank you for you support, love and prayers that you provided me as your pastor. It was and is my honor.

·      To all parishioners who became my friends and confidants over the years. You know who you are and I thank you from the bottom of my heart.

·      To all my staff from my parishes and now at the diocese. Thank you for your patience with me as we worked together for the good of the church.

·      To my family and closest friends over the years, those who go back only a decade or two or those who have known me from age one, I love all of you very much, I am just not really good at showing or saying it.

·      To my first pastors who worked with this young immature priest; Father Raymond Rossi, Father Richard Strock and Father Tom Marks. Thank you. RIP Ray and Dick.

·      To my diocesan associates who helped me in my time of need; Father Les Farley and Father Taryn Whittington. Thank you both. God bless.

·      To my missionary associates who in unique ways helped me grow in my priesthood: Father Yoban, Father Ravi, and Father Raj Chittem. Thank you for your support and ministry.

·      And finally, to my associates who I mentored at the beginning of your priestly ministry. I have been blessed to have had the opportunity to work with you and guide you. All of you have brought so much joy to my priesthood. Thank you for caring for me.

1.     Father Rubén Quinteros (2009-2011)

2.     Father Alejandro Puello ( 2012-2014)

3.     Father Juan Guido (2014-2017)

4.     Father William Burmester (2017-2018)

5.     Father Ramsés Mendieta (2017-2018)

6.     Father Daniel Ramos (2018-2021)

7.     Father John Miskin (2019-2022)

8.     Father Omar Galvan (2021-2023)

9.     Father Daniel Wendel (2022-present)

Happy Memorial Day, everyone!

Father John



2025

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2023