More than two dozen priests gathered with many fellow priests, deacons and guests on May 22 at St. Basil the Great Church in Brecksville to celebrate significant anniversaries of their ordination to the priesthood.
Bishop Nelson Perez was the principal celebrant. Concelebrants included Bishop Martin Amos, bishop emeritus of Davenport and himself a 50-year jubilarian, and Auxiliary Bishop emeritus Roger Gries. Bishop Amos was the homilist.
Father Dan Schlegel, secretary and vicar for clergy and religious, pointed out that the priests gathered to celebrate their jubilees represent almost 1,000 years of service to the Diocese of Cleveland.
Those celebrating the 60th anniversary of ordination were Father Lawrence A. Bayer, Father Thomas A. McGovern, Father William J. Patrick and Father Jams J. Reymann. Deceased members of their ordination class are Father Ralph A. Bodziony, Father Edward J. Camille, Father Mark A. DiNardo, Father Thomas R. Dunphy, Father John M. Garrity, Father Raymond J. Horley, Bishop A. James Quinn, Father Michael J. Schneid, and Father Joseph A. Yarnovic.
They were ordained on May 24, 1958.
Celebrating the 50th anniversary of ordination were Bishop Amos, Father Jerome J. Duke, Father John R. Hengle, Father Richard E. Hudak, Father Edward J. Kordas, Father James F. Kramer, Father Theodore Marszal, Father Thomas W. McCann, Father James H. McCreight and Father James D. Schorr. Deceased members of the class are Father Edward F. Lajack and Father Kenneth C. Myers.
They were ordained on May 25, 1968, with the exception of Father Schorr, who was ordained on Dec. 7, 1968.
Marking the 40th anniversary of their ordination were Father James T. Klein (Jan. 14, 1978), Father Frederick F. Pausche (March 21, 1978), Father Andrew Knapik (May 28, 1978),
