Active priest, 98, was devoted to parish

[didymus]

tinyurl.com/2bd8fc

Active priest, 98, was devoted to parish

On Aug. 1, 1944, Heliodore Mejak said his first Mass at Holy Family Church in Kansas City, Kan. Sixty-three years later, the church is looking for a new priest.Mejak, 98, died Christmas Day, ending perhaps the longest tenure of a priest at a U.S. parish. Monsignor Mejak may also have been the country’s oldest active priest, according to the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas.
“To be that old and to continue to function and to care for the community, that certainly shows his dedication and his love for his people,” said Thomas Tank, vicar general of the archdiocese. Mejak became a priest in 1935 and served under seven popes.

I found this on the Cafeteria Is Closed blog. May the good father rest in peace, and younger men be inspired to take his place.

 

[gam197]

That is what the church needs more of - committed priests. I went to a church where the priest was about 88. He took care of a small church yet he did the Masses, had a great mind and handled everything well.

He certainly was an inspiration to me.

 

[Lucania]

tinyurl.com/2bd8fc

I found this on the Cafeteria Is Closed blog. May the good father rest in peace, and younger men be inspired to take his place.

Thank you for sharing this story of such a wonderful, dedicated and holy Priest. My Priest is 76 years old and has been a Priest for 51 years (this year).He has been at my Parish since 1974! He is very traditional and says the only Tridentine Mass in my Diocese of St. Augustine. He is known for truly Catholic homilies, ones that make Cafeteria Catholics skwirm in their pews!

Eternal rest grant unto Father Mejak, O Lord.
Let perpetual light shine upon him.
May the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of
God, rest in peace. Amen.

 

[JimG]

Here are two more links to articles about Father Mejak. I noticed that his obituary was also carried in major newspapers around the country.

I was never in his Strawberry Hill parish, but I did attend Mass there a few times.

kansascitykansan.com/articles/2007/12/29/news/news1.txt

theleaven.com/localloncaric031006.htm

 

[Deacon_Ed_B]

Eternal rest grant unto him of Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him. May his soul and the souls of all the faithful departed rest in peace. Amen
Deacon Ed B