The 18 priests recognized on the following pages have a combined 750 years of service to the Archdiocese of Chicago. One, Father Richard O’Donnell (ordained in 1935) baptized another, Father Gerald O’Reilly, ordained in 1985. The men have served mostly as parish priests, with some also serving as teachers, chaplains and counselors. The Catholic New World congratulates and thanks them. 75th Anniversary Father Richard J. O’Donnell 99, attended St. Bridget and St. Basil schools before entering the archdiocesan seminary system. He attended Quigley Seminary and St. Mary of the Lake in Mundelein. He served as assistant or associate pastor at St. Gabriel (1935-42); Our Lady of Peace (1942-48); St. Bernadette, Evergreen Park (1948-50); St. Ita (1950-1963); and Our Lady of Good Counsel (1963-80), after which he retired. He now resides at Blessed Sacrament Parish. 50th Anniversary Father John“Jerry”Bresnahan 75, attended Ss. Peter and Paul and St. Ailbe schools before entering the archdiocesan seminary system. After ordination, he served as associate pastor at St. Joseph, Homewood (1960-65); St. Andrew (1965-70); St. Germaine, Oak Lawn (1970-71); St. Joseph, Libertyville (1971-77); St. Mary of the Woods (1979-81) and St. Beatrice, Schiller Park (1981-83). He then served as pastor of St. Beatrice from 1983-2005. Father Daniel P. Coughlin 75, attended St. Andrew School before entering the archdiocesan seminary system. After ordination, he served as assistant pastor at St. Raymond, Mount Prospect (1960-65) and Holy Name Cathedral (1965-69) He then served as the founding director of the Office for Divine Worship (1970-84). He took a sabbatical and spent time as a scholar in residence at the North American College in Rome (1985). He served as pastor at St. Francis Xavier, LaGrange (1985-90), serving as a dean for part of that time, and director of the Cardinal Stritch Retreat House in Mundelein (1990-95). He was vicar for priests (1995- 2000) while residing at St. Clement Parish. He has served as the chaplain for the U.S. House of Representatives since 2000. Father Kilian Knittel 75, attended Our Lady of the Mount School in Cicero before entering the archdiocesan seminary system. After ordination, he served as associate pastor at Resurrection (1960-65); St. Louis de Montfort, Oak Lawn (1965-69); St. Edward (1976- 80); Our Lady of the Wayside, Arlington Heights (1982-87); St. John the Baptist, San Lorenzo, Calif. (1982-87); and St. Joseph, Homewood (1990-94). He was pastor of St. Justin Martyr (1980-82) and St. Columba (1994-2005). He will celebrate his anniversary Sept. 12 at 2 p.m. at St. Columba. Father Herbert J. Meyr 74, attended St. Margaret of Scotland and St. Raphael schools before entering the archdiocesan seminary system. He served as associate pastor at St. Teresa (1960-66) and St. James (1966- 71) and pastor at St. Francis de Paula (1971-1988) and St. James, Maywood (1988-2006). Father Cosmo Militello 75, attended Our Lady of the Angels School before entering the archdiocesan seminary system. After ordination, he was associate pastor at St. Simeon, Bellwood (1960-66); Sacred Heart, Melrose Park (1966-73); St. Andrew (1973-80); and St. Priscilla (1980). He served as pastor at Sacred Heart, Melrose Park (1981-2004). He also served as a member of the pastors’ review board. Father M. Cyril Nemecek 75, attended Ss. Cyril & Methodius School (Hermitage Avenue) before entering the archdiocesan seminary system, earning a master’s degree in education and a licentiate in scared theology. After ordination he served as associate pastor at St. Denis (1960-62) and Our Lady of the Mount, Cicero (1962-68). He was associate pastor and resident at Mary Queen of Heaven, Cicero (1968-73) and associate pastor and administrator at Our Lady of Lourdes on Keeler Avenue (1970-79). He was pastor at St. Mary of Celle, Berwyn (1979-1992) and Mater Christi, North Riverside (1992-2004), and he remains pastor emeritus there. He also served as assistant director of the Office of Urban Affairs (1963-64); assistant secretary of the Commission on Human Relations and Ecumenism (1966-72), delegate to the Interreligious Council on Urban Affairs (1968-73); a member of the steering committee of the priests’ senate; a member of the compensation committee for Catholic school personnel, a consultant to Catholic Cemeteries and a member of the pastors’ review board (1987-2009). Father James J. O’Brien 75, attended Our Lady of the Angels School before entering the archdiocesan seminary system. After ordination, he earned a master’s degree in canon law at Catholic University of America. He served as assistant pastor at St. John Berchmans (1960-64); St. Catherine of Alexandria, Oak Lawn (1964-73); and St. Patricia, Hickory Hills (1963-74). He resided at St. Lambert, Skokie (1974-90) and served as associate pastor at St. Juliana for a brief time in 1991. He then served as pastor at St. Eugene (1991-2006). He now resides at St. Monica, and has served for several months as acting Catholic chaplain at O’Hare International Airport. During his ministry he also served as secretary of the Metropolitan Tribunal, presiding judge and defender of the bond and as master of ceremonies for Aux. Bishop Alfred Abramowicz. Father James F. Ouletta 76, attended St. Mel School before entering the archdiocesan seminary system. After ordination, he was associate pastor at St. Peter Canisius (1960-65); All Saints-St. Anthony (1965-71); St. Catherine Laboure, Glenview (1971-78); St. Thomas Becket, Mount Prospect (1978-82); Santa Maria del Poppolo, Mundelein (1988-91); and Prince of Peace, Lake Villa (1995-1999). He was pastor at St. James, Highwood (1982-88) and at St. Dismas, Waukegan (1992- 94). He also served as master of ceremonies for Aux. Bishop John L. May. Father John W. Roller 76, attended St. Catherine of Siena School in Oak Park before entering the archdiocesan seminary system. After ordination, he was associate pastor at Santa Maria del Popolo, Mundelein (1960-61); St. Luke, River Forest (1961-66); St. Ann, Lansing (1966-73); St. Benedict on Irving Park Road (1973-79); St. Athanasius, Evanston (1979-85); and St. Theresa, Palatine (1985-89). He was pastor of St. Thomas Becket, Mount Prospect (1989-2004). He now resides at St. Emily in Mount Prospect. Father Louis J. Zake 75, attended Immaculate Conception School on 88th Street, Quigley Seminary and the University of Michigan before entering major seminary at the University of St. Mary of the Lake. In addition to a licentiate in sacred theology, he holds a doctorate in history from the University of Chicago. After ordination, he was associate pastor at St. Turibius (1960-65) and St. Constance (1965-68). He resided at St. Adalbert (1968-70), St. Mary of Perpetual Help (1970-90) and St. Ann on Leavitt (1990-2004). While there, he also served as administrator. During his ministry, he was also the business manager and history department chairman at Quigley South and theology department chairman at Archbishop Quigley Preparatory Seminary. 25th Anniversary Father John Breslin 51, attended Little Flower School, Quigley South and Niles College before entering the University of St. Mary of the Lake. He served as associate pastor at Joachim (1985-90) and St. Kilian (1990-91) and as pastor at St. Ailbe (1991-2008). He now resides at St. Michael the Archangel (83rd Street). He also has taught at St. Joseph College Seminary and St. Mary of the Lake, been a consultant to Catholic Charities’ family shelter program, and a member of the vocation task force of the Archdiocese of Chicago. He will celebrate his anniversary at 2 p.m. Sept. 9 at St. Michael the Archangel. Father Gene Dyer 56, attended St. Emily School in Mount Prospect, Maine West High School in Des Plaines, and Southern Illinois University, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in radio and television, before University of St. Mary of the Lake. He served as associate pastor at St. John the Evangelist, Streamwood (1985-91), and St. Edna, Arlington Heights (1991-1996). He is pastor at St. Mary, Des Plaines. He will celebrate his anniversary at a noon Mass May 23 at St. Mary. Father Thomas Koys 53, was born in Los Angeles. He attended St. Mary School in Riverside before Quigley South. He attended both Niles College, Catholic University of America and University of St. Mary of the Lake, where he received a licentiate in sacred theology. He served as associate pastor at St. Jane de Chantal (1985-87); St. Albert the Great, Burbank (1987-92); St. Bede the Venerable (1992-97) and St. Pancratius (1997-99). He has served as pastor of Immaculate Conception (44th Street) since 1999. He also has served as Chicago chaplain to the Couple-to-Couple League, faithful citizenship chair of the priests advisory of the respect Life Office, priestly friend of the Congregation of the Consecrates of the Most Holy Redeemer and spiritual advisor of the St. Vincent de Paul Society. He will celebrate his anniversary June 6 at the noon Mass at Immaculate Conception. Father Gerald O’ Reilly 51, attended St. Ita School, Quigley North and Niles College Seminary before entering the University of St. Mary of the Lake. After ordination, he served as associate pastor at Our Lady of Peace (1985-92), St. Thomas More (2003-04) and St. Daniel the Prophet (2005-present), and he resided at Immaculate Conception (44th Street) (2002-03). He served as pastor at St. Laurence (1992-2002). He also has served as the spiritual director of the Chicago Senatus of the Legion of Mary; vice-chairman of the priests’ advisory board of the Respect Life Office; a Project Rachel post-abortion counselor; a member of the priests’ senate/presbyteral council; a board member of the Association of Chicago Priests; and a teacher at De La Salle Institute. He will celebrate his anniversary with a 10 a.m. Mass May 23 at Our Lady of Peace and a 5 p.m. Mass June 19 at St. Daniel the Prophet. Father Paul G. Seaman 51, attended St. Thomas More, Quigley South and Niles College before entering St. Mary of the Lake in Mundelein. He served as associate pastor at St. Lawrence O’Toole, Matteson (1985-92); pastor at St. Emeric, Country Club Hills (1992-2004); and administrator at St. Cajetan (2004- 05). He now serves as pastor at St. Pascal. He also has served on the Presbyteral Council (2002-04); as a spiritual director for those aspiring to be deacons (2006-present) and dean of Deanery IV-A (2007-present). He will celebrate his anniversary with a Mass at 2 p.m. May 23 at St. Pascal. Father Ronald P. Stake 61, is a lieutenant commander and Catholic chaplain in the U.S. Navy serving in Bahrain. He graduated from Leo High School and earned bachelor’s, master’s and a law degree from DePaul University and Cambridge University in England before entering St. Mary of the Lake University in Mundelein. He also holds a master’s degree in national security affairs from the Naval Postgraduate School. He was admitted to the Illinois Bar in 1976, before taking his degree from Cambridge, and worked as law clerk for the Illinois Appellate Court (1976-80). After graduating from Cambridge with a master’s degree in law, he was an assistant state’s attorney in Cook County (1980- 82). After ordination, he served at St. Barnabas (1985-91); St. Germaine, Oak Lawn, (1991-94); as a visiting scholar at St. Edmund’s College, Cambridge, England (1994) and at St. Ferdinand (1994-96). After being commissioned a navy chaplain in 1996, he served in California, Japan, Great Lakes Naval Training Base in Illinois; aboard the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower, and at the Command Center of the Fifth Fleet in Bahrain. He now serves as Catholic chaplain in the naval support center in Bahrain. Father Ralph H. Zwirn 51, attended Carroll Elementary and Bogan High School and Catholic University of America before entering St. Mary of the Lake Seminary. He served as associate pastor at St. Gall (1985- 88) and continued to reside there while working as a recruiter, teacher and wrestling coach at Quigley South (1988-91) and Archbishop Quigley Preparatory Seminary (1991-95). He then served as associate pastor at St. Mary Star of the Sea (1995-98) and as pastor at St. Turibius (1998-present). He will celebrate his anniversary at a 4 p.m. Mass June 12 at St. Turibius.