He is: Father Gerald Theis, a Society of the Divine Word missionary, actively retired at age 83, after more than 50 years of ministry in Papua New Guinea. Youth: He was born on a farm in Aurora, Illinois, in St. Therese Parish. “My parents were Luxembourgers. I had six siblings, four older brothers and two older sisters. When I was born my dad was a farmer. Mother was God’s gift, and a disciplinarian. She prepared meals every day for the whole family. We had gramma living with us as well. I didn’t always want to be a priest. I wanted to be a stunt pilot. I loved aviation and still do. I never had the opportunity to get a pilot’s license and sobeit. I’m just as happy.” But he flew many trips in light aircraft through the mountains to reach mission outposts in Papua New Guinea. Vocation: “It’s a long story. Soon after my father married in 1920 he lost his entire herd of dairy cattle through sickness. From then on he begged and borrowed to restart. By the time I appeared he had reestablished himself, but in terrific debt until about 1960 when I was ordained. Our family was very poor. But we always had food on the table because we had a 20-acre piece of land that he farmed at night and weekends. We moved outside Bensenville, west of O’Hare Field. When I was in 8th grade I wanted to answer the call of the Lord. One option was diocesan priesthood, which meant Quigley, with the expense of daily train trips. I would never have survived Quigley -- I wasn’t academically bright. I was more of a practical kid. I knew about the Maryknolls, the Franciscans, some of the others. I heard about the SVDs having flying missionaries and I was attracted. At age 13, I left home for the minor seminary where we learned Latin, Greek, German, French and Hebrew. And I took my toys with me. I used to build and fly model airplanes, very simple ones because I never had 10 cents in my pocket. “Throughout the whole seminary I had to struggle, be patient, and study hard. When I was ordained by Cardinal Cody in his first ordination at Techny, I thought, ‘Well, that’s it. I’m sure God wants me.’ From then on I never looked back. Never regretted anything and I’d do the hardships all over again if necessary.” Mission field: They assigned me to Papua New Guinea. God had plans for me because he needed someone practical to go there in 1961. It was a vast area, just opened, where no European or trader had been. After taking a couple of months to learn the pidgin language, the bishop told me, ‘You’re going out west to the last parish. From there you’ll look after this new thousand-square-mile area and make first contact with the people.’ I wasn’t looking for adventure. I knew it would be difficult -- but I didn’t know HOW difficult. No plumbing, electricity, phone or even a stove. I still strongly say my vocation is a vocation from God. I was able to survive alone in the remote area in a bush house for eight years.” The people: “I don’t like the word primitive – they were people of circumstance. They had no choice. I had no choice in being born in Aurora. It was a culture of survival of the fittest. They were still using digging sticks and stone axes. They were enormously strong. They had modesty cover. They were primarily eating what we call sweet potato. Frost would come -- many sufferings. I tried to teach them the basics of our Catholic faith. Tried to make the connection between their belief in spirits and The Spirit. They had a natural informal religion with faith in a higher power. I said the chief of all spirits sent his son to us and he told us about his father in heaven.” In time he was able to start a school, find a teacher, and teach first grade himself. “Every single day I renewed my religious vows.” He was called back to the Diocese of Mt. Hagen in 1969, to be education secretary. He served in many capacities there through the years, and was named vicar general in 1988. “I wasn’t looking for advancement or position. I had many responsibilities in Mt. Hagen. It’s the center for a vast area of churches, an archdiocese. A city? Well let’s say there’s traffic.” Actively retired: “I’m happy here; I was happy there. I help out at St. Nicholas in Evanston where my grandparents and parents were married. I go to St. Joseph the Worker in Wheeling, to parishes in Northbrook, Winnetka and Wilmette , and Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Glenview. Favorite prayer: “Every thought, every breath, every movement of my being for the greater honor and glory of God.”