Diocese plans jubilee celebration
Globe staff report
Biographies of all nine jubilarians
Posted April 25, 2002

Cathedral of the Epiphany will host the celebration of the Jubilee of Priestly Ordination on April 29. The liturgy celebrates the milestone anniversaries in years of service in the priesthood to the Lord.

Bishop Daniel N. DiNardo, a 25-year jubilarian, will be the main celebrant of the 4 p.m. Mass with Bishop Lawrence D. Soens and eight other jubilarians. Priests of the diocese will concelebrate. Bishop DiNardo will deliver the homily at the liturgy that will mainly be attended by priests and the jubilarians' families.

The Catholic Church traditionally celebrates milestone anniversaries such as the 25th and 50th. In the Diocese of Sioux City, anniversaries in increments of five years above the 50th, such as 55th and 60th, are included in the diocesan celebration. This year there are two priests celebrating 55 years. Past celebrations have honored priests celebrating their 75th anniversary.

"I know the Mass will be beautiful. I look forward to sharing in the occasion with brother priests and fellow jubilarians who have also committed themselves to service to God's people," said Father Timothy Boekelman, pastor of parishes in Moorland, Duncombe and Dayton, who is celebrating his 25th anniversary to the priesthood.

Reflecting on 50 years of priesthood, Father Edmond Adams of Fort Dodge said, "I never felt I was working for the church, but with the church - in service to the people."

He added that if people follow Christ, everything else falls into place in the spiritual sense.

The Diocese of Sioux City has 106 diocesan priests in active ministry; four of these priests are not incardinated - their primary affiliation is with another diocese or religious community. An additional 10 priests of the diocese are in ministry outside Northwest Iowa. The diocese has 44 retired priests.

See the next story for biographies of all nine jubilarians.