38 priest jubilarians celebrate 2,072 years in ministry; Cardinal Maida celebrates 70th

Archbishop Weisenburger gives thanks for the 'incredible efforts, endeavors, successes and blessings' of Detroit's presbyterate

DETROIT — Thirty-eight priests — representing 2,072 years of ministry — celebrated all the graces God has bestowed upon them in their priesthoods during the annual presbyteral jubilee Mass at Sacred Heart Major Seminary on June 2.

From Cardinal Adam J. Maida, Detroit’s fourth archbishop from 1990 to 2009, who celebrated 70 years of the priesthood, to Frs. Frederik Kalaj, Tomek Maka and James Rafferty, who were celebrating 25 years of the priesthood, the day was an opportunity for each man to reflect on the joys, blessings and endeavors of their vocations.

“As we call to mind the anniversary of priestly ordinations, the many, many years of service, I’ve added it up — I think it was added up for me — but I think it’s over 2,000 years that we celebrate this year,” Detroit Archbishop Edward J. Weisenburger said at the beginning of Mass. “It’s a great joy to be here to celebrate this Mass and call to mind all the incredible efforts, endeavors, successes and blessings of our priesthood.”

Archbishop Weisenburger began his homily by reading off the names of some of the priests celebrating 60-plus years of priestly ministry, including Cardinal Maida, 96, and retired Detroit Auxiliary Bishop Francis R. Reiss, 85, who is celebrating 60 years of priesthood. Both were unable to attend the celebration in person.

Archbishop Weisenburger told Detroit Catholic that Cardinal Maida's 70th jubilee — the only Detroit priest to reach that rare milestone this year — is a testament to the great gift of God's providence.

“Seventy years of priestly ministry is an extraordinary witness of faith and fidelity,” Archbishop Weisenburger said. “His love for the people of this archdiocese continues to be a lasting blessing.”

Likewise, Archbishop Allen H. Vigneron, archbishop emeritus of Detroit and Cardinal Maida’s successor, also congratulated the cardinal on seven decades of priesthood.

“Among all the blessings Cardinal Maida has shared with us during his priestly ministry as our bishop, I think especially of the serene joy with which he lives out his daily service of the Lord — a joy that is the fruit of his loving faith in Jesus,” Archbishop Vigneron told Detroit Catholic.

Archbishop Weisenburger briefly preached on the Gospel passage selected for the liturgy (Mark 12:13-17), in which the Pharisees and Herodians ask Jesus whether it is lawful to pay taxes to Caesar.

Archbishop Weisenburger said the Pharisees and Herodians meant to trap Christ with a difficult question, but in His wisdom, Christ pointed to a greater obligation.

“It’s good to remember that the Herodians, their ruling party, were propped up by the Romans, so they had no problem paying the tax,” Archbishop Weisenburger said. “And the Pharisees, even though they have given the taxes bad lip service, they move freely among the people, too, so neither group was particularly upset, even if they grumbled a little.”

Archbishop Weisenburger said that even possessing a Roman coin, depicting Caesar as a deity-like figure, would have been blasphemous to have at the Temple.

“Which is why Jesus says, 'Show me the coin' — and foolishly, one of them who is trying to entrap him pulls out a coin, showing his hypocrisy that’d he’d have this blasphemous coin of a human being claiming to be God,” Archbishop Weisenburger said. “And Jesus, looking at the coin, asks, 'Whose image is on the coin?' before saying, ‘Give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar, and give to God what belongs to God.'”

The archbishop said much of the story focuses on rendering unto Caesar, but that misses a greater point.

“The real issue Jesus was preaching about was that the people should give to God what is God’s,” Archbishop Weisenburger said. “That is really the heart of this Gospel. We're being called into deeper stewardship of life, deeper stewardship of the grace in our hearts, a deeper call into discipleship.”

Archbishop Weisenburger said the Gospel passage was appropriate for the occasion, as it is a continuous call to priests to give their ministry to God and His desires.

“We must be led much more deeply into the mystery of our God, even as we work to lead others more deeply into the mystery of God, as we continue to give to God what is God’s,” Archbishop Weisenburger said. “It’s wonderful to mention the 2,000-some odd years, and it’s wonderful to mention these men by name. But at the end of the day, what we celebrate today is the ministry of Christ, and the call to give to God what is God’s and not be so concerned with what belongs to Caesar.”

Following Mass, the jubilarians gathered for lunch, where many of them spoke with Detroit Catholic about the graces of their ministry.

“I would say my ministry to married couples and helping lead them to the sacraments and their children has been my greatest joy in the priesthood,” said Fr. Sylvester Taube, 88, who celebrated 62 years as a priest. “I loved encouraging people to find their vocation in life and what the Lord is calling them to be.”

Msgr. Gerald McEnhill, 80, celebrated 54 years of the priesthood and remembers his years in parish ministry at various assignments fondly.

“Just sharing in the sacraments and sharing with the parishioners of the parish,” Msgr. McEnhill said. “That's, that's what it's all about. Obviously, you try to nurture the faith in others, but in the process, you're nurturing your own faith, and so my relationship with God has grown immensely.”

In a special way, Detroit Catholic joins the Church in Detroit in congratulating the following jubilarians who are celebrating 25, 30, 40, 50, 60, and 70 years of priesthood. A brief biography of each jubilarian is below. 

*Fr. Kaiser passed away May 3, 2026

70th Anniversary (Class of 1956)

Cardinal Adam J. Maida

Cardinal Maida, 96, was born in East Vandergrift, Pa., and attended St. Mary’s Preparatory and College in Orchard Lake; St. Vincent’s College in Latrobe, Pa.; St. Mary’s University in Baltimore (licentiate in sacred theology); the Pontifical Lateran University in Rome (licentiate in canon law); and Duquesne Law School in Pittsburgh (doctorate in civil law). He was admitted to practice law before the bar for the state of Pennsylvania, the federal bar in Western Pennsylvania, and before the U.S. Supreme Court. 

He was ordained a priest on May 26, 1956, at St. Paul Cathedral in Pittsburgh. Following ordination, Cardinal Maida served in the Diocese of Pittsburgh as an associate pastor, vice chancellor and general counsel in the diocesan Tribunal, as assistant professor of theology at La Roche College, and adjunct professor of law at Duquesne University Law School. During this time, the legal scholar and future cardinal was an active member of several committees in Rome preparing for the 1983 publication of the Code of Canon Law for the universal Church.

On Jan. 25, 1984, he was consecrated and installed as the ninth bishop of the Diocese of Green Bay, Wis. On May 7, 1990, Pope St. John Paul II named Bishop Maida as the ninth ordinary and fourth archbishop of Detroit. He was installed as archbishop on June 12, 1990, and was named to the College of Cardinals on Oct. 30, 1994. He was elevated to the college during a consistory at the Vatican on Nov. 26, 1994. 

In addition to his responsibilities as archbishop of Detroit, Cardinal Maida served in various appointments to the Roman Curia, including membership on the Congregation for Catholic Education, Congregation for the Clergy, the Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant Peoples, and the Cardinal Commission for the Supervision of the Institute of Works of Religion; as a consultor for the Congregation for the Clergy; and on the Pontifical Council for the Interpretation of Legal Texts. The cardinal also served on various committees at the national level, including as the U.S. bishops’ chairman of the Committee on Canonical Affairs, membership on several other committees, and as one of the founders of a national collection for the Church in Eastern Europe. 

In addition to serving as a board member of many Catholic organizations and apostolates, Cardinal Maida served as chairman of the board of trustees for the Michigan Catholic Conference in Lansing, Sacred Heart Major Seminary in Detroit and SS. Cyril and Methodius Seminary in Orchard Lake.

As a member of the College of Cardinals, Cardinal Maida participated in the 2005 papal conclave that elected Pope Benedict XVI and participated in pre-conclave meetings with other cardinals in Rome before the 2013 conclave that elected Pope Francis, both of which he called “the highlight of my ministry as a priest and bishop in the Church.” Cardinal Maida also kept a close personal friendship with Pope St. John Paul II, and was one of several U.S. bishops who accompanied the Holy Father during his jubilee pilgrimage to the Holy Land in 2000. 

As archbishop of Detroit, Cardinal Maida was a steadfast champion of Catholic education, led interfaith collaboration efforts, and spoke frequently against racism and threats to human life and dignity, including a successful fight against physician-assisted suicide in Michigan.

Cardinal Maida submitted his resignation to the Vatican upon his 75th birthday in 2005, but was asked to remain as archbishop of Detroit until his resignation was accepted in January 2009. On Jan. 29, 2009, he was succeeded as archbishop of Detroit by Archbishop Allen H. Vigneron. 

Since then, Cardinal Maida has continued to participate in the life of the Archdiocese of Detroit, leading a life of prayer and thanksgiving to God.

60th Anniversary (Class of 1966)

Bishop Francis R. Reiss

Bishop Reiss, 85, was born in Detroit and attended St. Stephen and St. Andrew schools; Sacred Heart Seminary in Detroit; St. John’s Provincial Seminary in Plymouth Township; the University of Detroit; the University of Notre Dame; and the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome. 

Ordained a priest on June 4, 1966, in Detroit, he celebrated his first Mass at St. Stephen Church in Detroit. 

Then-Fr. Reiss served as associated pastor of St. Thomas Aquinas Parish, Detroit, from 1966-69. From 1969-82, he served at Sacred Heart Seminary as spiritual director, director of recruitment and admissions, and assistant to the rector-president. During his time at the seminary, he was also associate pastor at Our Lady Gate of Heaven Parish, Detroit (1970-71); pastor of Holy Ghost Parish, Detroit (1978-80); and campus minister of the Gabriel Richard Campus Ministry at the University of Michigan-Dearborn (1970-74). 

He served in the Metropolitan Tribunal (1984-86) and as director of the archdiocesan Department of Education (1986-88) and archdiocesan grievance clerk. From 1988-90, he was academic dean and treasurer of Sacred Heart Major Seminary’s School of Theology. 

He also was administrator of St. James Parish, Ferndale (1985), and Epiphany Parish, Detroit (1985-86). He became pastor of St. Mary Parish, Port Huron, in 1990, serving there until 1993. He also served as pastor of SS. Peter and Paul (Westside) Parish, Detroit (1993-98), and St. Frances Cabrini Parish, Allen Park (1998-2003). He served as vicar of the Port Huron Vicariate (1992-95) and Southland Vicariate (1998-2004), and served on the Priests’ Senate as well as various committees.

On July 7, 2003, Pope St. John Paul II named him an auxiliary bishop of Detroit, and he was consecrated a bishop at the Cathedral of the Most Blessed Sacrament on Aug. 12, 2003. Bishop Reiss served as auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Detroit’s South Region, as judicial vicar of the Metropolitan Tribunal (2009-15), and as moderator of the curia (2008-09). As a member of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, Bishop Reiss served as co-chairman of the bishops’ Midwest Muslim-Catholic Dialogue. 

Bishop Reiss’ resignation was submitted and accepted by Pope Francis on Nov. 11, 2015, upon reaching the canonical retirement age of 75. In retirement, Bishop Reiss assisted at St. Theodore of Canterbury Parish, Divine Savior and St. Damian parishes in Westland, as well as celebrating Masses and administering the sacrament of confirmation. 

Fr. Robert H. Blondell

Fr. Blondell, 85, was born in Detroit and attended Sacred Heart Seminary in Detroit and St. John’s Provincial Seminary in Plymouth Township. He earned a master’s in education from the University of Detroit and continued his education at various institutions including St. Mary’s Seminary, University of Notre Dame, Loyola University and Boston College. 

Fr. Bondell was ordained June 4, 1966, and celebrated his first Mass at St. Philomena Parish in Detroit.

He served as associate pastor at All Saints Parish, Detroit (1966-68), and St. Mark Parish, Warren (1968-73), before becoming pastor at St. Conrad Parish in Melvindale (1973-79). He served as pastor of St. Ephrem Parish, Sterling Heights, for 17 years (1979-96). Fr. Blondell also served as an associate professor at SS. Cyril and Methodius Seminary in Orchard Lake and as a chaplain at St. Joseph Mercy Hospital in Pontiac.

In 1996, Fr. Blondell became the founding pastor of St. Maximillian Kolbe Parish in Macomb. In 2002, he added the responsibilities of administrator of St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Ray Township. In 2006, the two parishes merged to create St. Francis of Assisi-St. Maximillian Kolbe Parish, where Fr. Blondell continued to serve until 2007. From 2007-11, he was pastor of St. Hubert Parish in Harrison Township. 

Despite being granted senior priest status in 2011, Fr. Blondell has continued to serve in various roles, including as administrator of St. Clement Parish, Warren (2011-12); St. Teresa of Avila Parish, Warren (2011-12); Sacred Heart Parish, Dearborn (2012-13); St. Kenneth Parish, Plymouth (2014-15); and St. John Vianney Parish, Shelby Township (2019-20).

Fr. Blondell also served as an auditor for the Metropolitan Tribunal (1981-82), as a member of the archdiocesan Presbyteral Council, and as chaplain to the archdiocese’s Council of Catholic Women.

Fr. Paul F. Chateau

Fr. Chateau, 86, was born in Detroit and attended Sacred Heart Seminary in Detroit and St. John’s Provincial Seminary in Plymouth Township. 

He was ordained June 4, 1966, in Detroit and celebrated his first Mass at Guardian Angels Parish in Detroit.

Fr. Chateau served as associate pastor (1966-70) and later co-pastor (1970-71) of St. Martin de Porres Parish, Warren; administrator of St. Joseph Parish, Monroe (1971-72); and administrator of St. James Parish, Ferndale (1979). In 1972, Fr. Chateau began serving as co-pastor of Our Lady of Fatima Parish in Oak Park, becoming its sole pastor in 1979. In 2012, he added the pastorate of St. James Parish in Ferndale, and served as pastor of both parishes until their merger into Our Mother of Perpetual Help Parish in 2014.

Today, Fr. Chateau continues to serve as a priest in solidum for the South Oakland 5 Family of Parishes, which includes Our Mother of Perpetual Help, Transfiguration Parish in Southfield, Our Lady of La Salette Parish in Berkley, and Divine Providence (Lithuanian) Parish in Southfield.

Fr. Sidney J. Eckert

Fr. Eckert, 85, was born in Detroit and attended Sacred Heart Seminary in Detroit and St. John’s Provincial Seminary in Plymouth Township. He was ordained June 4, 1966, in Detroit.

He served as associate pastor at St. Priscilla Parish, Livonia (1967-70); St. Jude Parish, Detroit (1970-71); St. Valentine Parish, Redford (1971-73); All Saints Parish, Detroit (1973-77); Divine Child Parish, Dearborn (1977); St. Anthony Parish, Belleville (1978); St. Mary Parish, Wayne (1978-79); St. Malachy Parish, Sterling Heights (1979); St. Daniel Parish, Clarkston (1979); St. Clement Parish, Center Line (1979); St. Dorothy Parish, Warren (1980); St. Alfred Parish, Taylor (1980-81); St. Patrick Parish, Wyandotte (1981); St. Paul on the Lake Parish, Grosse Pointe Farms (1981-82); St. Kieran Parish, Utica (1982-83); and Guardian Angels Parish, Clawson (1993-98). 

Fr. Eckert served as administrator of St. Mary Parish, Milford (1979); St. Cyril of Jerusalem Parish, Taylor (1979); St. Kevin Parish, Inkster (1979); St. Patrick Parish, Wyandotte (1981); St. John the Baptist Parish, Monroe (1981); St. Benedict Parish, Highland Park (1997-98); St. Brendan Parish, Detroit (1997); St. Claude Parish, Clinton Township (1998-99); Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish, Detroit (1999-2000); St. Francis of Assisi-St. Maximillian Kolbe Parish, Ray Township (2007); and St. Cletus Parish, Warren (2007-11). 

He served as pastor of St. Basil the Great Parish, Eastpointe (1983-89); and St. Maurice Parish, Livonia (2000-06). Fr. Eckert has also served as a chaplain to the U.S. Army and as vicar of the Northwest Detroit Vicariate (1997-98). He was granted senior priest status in 2011.

Fr. James A. Mayworm

Fr. Mayworm, 86, was born in Bay City and attended Sacred Heart Seminary in Detroit and St. John’s Provincial Seminary in Plymouth Township. 

He was ordained June 4, 1966, in Detroit and celebrated his first Mass at Our Lady of the Lakes Church in Waterford Township.

Fr. Mayworm served as associate pastor at St. William Parish, Walled Lake (1966-72); St. Anastasia Parish, Troy (1972-73); St. Michael Parish, Monroe (1979-80); St. Andrew Parish, Rochester (1980-83); and St. Clement Parish, Center Line (1995-96). He served as administrator of St. Clement from 1996-97.

He served as co-pastor of St. Anastasia Parish from 1973-75, and as pastor of St. Lucy Parish, St. Clair Shores (1975-79); Our Lady Gate of Heaven Parish, Detroit (1983-87); St. Barnabas Parish, Eastpointe (1987-92); St. Lawrence Parish, Utica (1992-95); and Sacred Heart Parish, Auburn Hills (1997-2009). 

Fr. Mayworm was granted senior priest status in 2009, but continued to served as administrator of St. Benedict Parish in Waterford from 2013-21. Today, he remains a priest in solidum in the South Oakland 3 Family of Parishes, serving primarily at St. Benedict.

Additionally, he was vicar of the old Birmingham/Bloomfield Troy Vicariate (1974-75) and SERF Vicariate (1979).

Fr. Richard A. Perfetto

Fr. Perfetto, 85, was born in Detroit and attended Sacred Heart Seminary in Detroit and St. John’s Provincial Seminary in Plymouth Township.

He was ordained June 4, 1966, in Detroit and celebrated his first Mass at St. Juliana Church in Detroit. 

Fr. Perfetto served as associate pastor of St. Matthew Parish, Detroit (1966-68); St. Louis Parish, Mt. Clemens (1968-70); and St. Ephrem Parish, Sterling Heights (1970-72). He was pastor at St. Hugh Parish, Southgate (1972-86); and Our Lady of Good Counsel Parish, Plymouth (1986-90). He was briefly administrator of Our Lady of Good Counsel in 1990 before being asked to be the founding pastor of Resurrection Parish in Canton, where he served from 1990-2010. 

He was granted senior priest status in 2010, but later served as temporary administrator of St. Anselm Parish, Dearborn Heights (2011-12); St. Thomas a’Becket Parish, Canton (2013-14); and St. Kenneth Parish, Plymouth (2015). 

Fr. Perfetto has served as vicar of the Southland Vicariate (1979-85); a member of the archdiocesan College of Consultors (1983-85); director of the Sacred Heart Major Seminary Alumni Association (2011-12); a member of the Priests’ Pension Board (2012-15); and as a member of the archdiocesan Presbyteral Council (2023-24).

Fr. Robert J. Rokusek

Fr. Rokusek, 85, was born in Duluth, Minnesota, and attended Sacred Heart College in Detroit, St. John’s Provincial Seminary in Plymouth Township, and the Catholic University of America, where he received a master’s degree in liturgical studies.

Fr. Rokusek was ordained a priest on June 4, 1966, in Detroit.

He served as an associate pastor and teacher of religion in Detroit-area parochial schools before serving 20 years in campus ministry at the University of Georgetown in Washington, D.C. In 1994, he was named executive director of the Council for Religion in Independent Schools, an organization promoting religious and moral education in independent schools. He also served as chaplain at Gonzaga College High School in Washington, D.C., and in several other Washington-area ministries.

Fr. John J. Sullivan

Fr. Sullivan, 86, was born in Detroit and attended St. Cecilia School, Sacred Heart Seminary High School and College in Detroit, and St. John’s Provincial Seminary in Plymouth Township. 

He was ordained June 4, 1966, in Detroit and served his first Mass at St. Mel Parish in Dearborn Heights. 

Fr. Sullivan served as associate pastor at St. Eugene Parish, Detroit (1966-69); St. Pius X Parish, Southgate (1969-70); and St. Lucy Parish, St. Clair Shores (1970-72). He served as pastor of St. Lucy from 1972-75, and later as pastor of St. Mary Parish, Wayne (1975-83); St. Anne Parish, Ortonville (1983-92); Our Lady of Good Counsel, Plymouth (1992-2007); and St. Owen Parish, Bloomfield Hills (2007-09). 

Fr. Sullivan was vicar of the Western Wayne Vicariate (1981-83) and the Lakes Vicariate (1984-90), deacon supervisor, and a member of the Archdiocesan Pastoral Assembly and Archdiocesan Pastoral Council. He was a member of the budget review committee from 1988-90 and the Priests’ Assignment Board from 2002-04. Fr. Sullivan also served as chaplain to Camp Stapleton in Lexington and Camp Ozanam in Carsonville. He was granted senior priest status in 2009.

50th Anniversary (Class of 1976)

Fr. Michael Molnar

Fr. Molnar, 78, was born in Mt. Clemens and attended Sacred Heart Seminary in Detroit, St. John’s Provincial Seminary in Plymouth Township and the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome.

He was ordained Feb. 13, 1976, and celebrated his first Mass at St. Catherine of Alexandria Church in Algonac. 

Fr. Molnar served as associate pastor at St. Suzanne Parish, Detroit (1976-78); St. Fabian Parish, Farmington Hills (1978-79); and St. Bede Parish, Southfield (1979-81). From 1977-87, he served the archdiocesan Metropolitan Tribunal as an associate judge. He was assigned to full-time ministry there in 1981, including duties as an assessor and archdiocesan grievance clerk. 

Fr. Molnar was named pastor of St. Leo and St. Benedict the Moor parishes in Detroit (1982-83). In 1983, he went to Rome to complete his graduate studies, and was assigned to the Metropolitan Tribunal from 1985-90 upon his return to Detroit. In 1986, he was named associate director of vocations, in addition to his other duties.

Fr. Molnar served as pastor of St. Boniface/St. Vincent Parish, Detroit (1986-89); St. Theodore of Canterbury Parish, Westland (1989-98); and St. Agatha Parish, Redford Township (1998-2000). From 2000-07, Fr. Molnar was assigned as pastor of St. Ignatius Parish on Grand Cayman in the Cayman Islands, which is under the pastoral care of the Archdiocese of Detroit. Upon returning to Michigan in 2007, he served briefly as associate pastor of Our Lady of Sorrows Parish in Farmington before becoming pastor of Sacred Heart Parish in Grosse Ile (2008-20).

Fr. Molnar also served on the archdiocesan Presbyteral Council (2014-19). He was granted senior priest status in 2020.

40th Anniversary (Class of 1986)

Fr. Alberto Bondy

Fr. Bondy, 83, was born in Detroit and attended St. Edward’s University in Austin, Texas; the University of Notre Dame; and Brooklyn College before entering St. John’s Provincial Seminary in Plymouth Township. He also attended St. Mary’s College at Notre Dame, St. John’s University in Brooklyn, N.Y., Marquette University in Milwaukee and Sacred Heart Seminary in Detroit.

Fr. Bondy was ordained Nov. 22, 1986, at the Cathedral of the Most Blessed Sacrament in Detroit, by Cardinal Edmund C. Szoka.

He has served as associate pastor at Our Lady of Good Counsel Parish, Detroit (1986-87); St. Raymond Parish, Detroit (1987-90); and St. Paul on the Lake Parish, Grosse Pointe Farms (1990-92). Until 2001, he served as pastor of St. Michael Parish in Livonia, then was made pastor of St. Clement Parish in Center Line (2001-05). 

Fr. Bondy served as pastor of St. Anne Parish in Warren from 2005 until 2018, when he was granted senior priest status. In retirement, he served as administrator of St. Kieran Parish in Shelby Township (2019-20). Fr. Bondy also assisted at St. Lucy (Croatian) Parish in Troy, and today serves as full-time priest support to St. Aidan Parish in Livonia.

Fr. James Commyn

Fr. Commyn, 72, was born in Detroit and attended the University of Notre Dame, St. John’s Provincial Seminary in Plymouth Township and Sacred Heart Seminary in Detroit. 

He was ordained Nov. 22, 1986, and celebrated his first Mass at St. Philomena Parish in Detroit. 

He served as associate pastor at St. Regis Parish in Bloomfield Hills (1986-87), St. Frances Cabrini Parish in Allen Park (1987-89), St. Agatha Parish in Redford Township (1989-92), St. Paul on the Lake Parish in Grosse Pointe Farms (1992-93) and St. Augustine Parish in Richmond (1993-96). From 1993 until 2005, he served as pastor of St. Augustine Parish, during which time he also served as vicar of the Old Belle River Vicariate (2002). 

In 2005, Fr. Commyn was named pastor of St. Lucy Parish in St. Clair Shores, where he continues to serve as a member of the in solidum team of priests in the SERF 2 Family of Parishes. Fr. Commyn also served as vicar of the SERF Vicariate (2016-22) and a member of the archdiocesan Presbyteral Council (2018-23).

Fr. Anthony Sulkowski

Fr. Sulkowski, 67, was born in St. Clair and attended St. Mary’s College in Orchard Lake and St. John’s Provincial Seminary in Plymouth Township.

He was ordained Nov. 22, 1986, and celebrated his first Mass at St. Philip Neri Parish in Columbus Township.

He served as associate pastor at St. Linus Parish in Dearborn Heights (1986-87), National Shrine of the Little Flower Parish in Royal Oak (1987-89), St. Andrew Parish in Rochester (1989-93) and St. Martin de Porres Parish in Warren (1993-96). He then was made pastor of St. Mary Parish in Monroe (1996-2002) during which time he also served as vicar of the Old Monroe Vicariate (1999-2002). Fr. Sulkowski served as pastor of St. Louis Parish in Clinton Township (2002-07) and St. Basil the Great Parish in Eastpointe (2007-17). 

In 2017, he assumed the pastorship of St. Jane Frances de Chantal Parish in Sterling Heights, where he continues to serve today as moderator of the in solidum team of priests shepherding the Central Macomb 2 Family of Parishes. 

Fr. Sulkowski has also served on the archdiocesan Presbyteral Council (2012-14) and as vicar of the SERF Vicariate (2012-16). 

Fr. Christopher Welsh

Fr. Welsh, 73, was born in Detroit and attended the University of Detroit and St. John’s Provincial Seminary in Plymouth Township. He was ordained Nov. 22, 1986, at the Cathedral of the Most Blessed Sacrament in Detroit.

He served as associate pastor at St. Kenneth Parish in Plymouth from 1986 until 1987, and at St. Regis Parish in Bloomfield Hills from 1987 until 1997. Fr. Welsh served as chaplain at William Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak from 1992 until 2018. He was granted senior priest status in 2022.

30th Anniversary (Class of 1996)

Fr. Mark Borkowski

Fr. Borkowski, 61, was born in Kalamazoo and attended St. Mary’s College in Orchard Lake, St. Michael’s Abbey in Orange, Calif., and SS. Cyril and Methodius Seminary in Orchard Lake. 

He was ordained May 25, 1996, at the Cathedral of the Most Blessed Sacrament in Detroit. 

Fr. Borkowski served as associate pastor of St. Margaret of Scotland Parish in St. Clair Shores (1996-99) and St. Frances Cabrini Parish in Allen Park (1999-2002). He served as administrator and later pastor of Sweetest Heart of Mary (2001-02, 2002-10) in Detroit. During that time, he also served as administrator of nearby St. Josaphat (2003-10) and St. Joseph parishes (2004-10). From 2010-13, Fr. Borkowski served as associate pastor of SS. Peter and Paul (Westside) Parish in Detroit, and as pastor of Our Lady of the Scapular Parish in Wyandotte from 2013-21, later continuing to minister as part of the Downriver 2 Family of Parishes.

Fr. John Riccardo

Fr. Riccardo, 60, was born in Detroit and attended the University of Michigan, Sacred Heart Seminary and the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome.

Fr. Riccardo was ordained on May 25, 1996, at the Cathedral of the Most Blessed Sacrament in Detroit. 

Fr. Riccardo served as associate pastor of Divine Child Parish in Dearborn from 1996-99. He then received his S.T.L. from the Pope John Paul II Institute for Studies on Marriage and the Family in Washington, D.C., before becoming director of the Cardinal Maida Institute at the St. John Center for Youth and Family in Plymouth from 2001-04.

He served as pastor of St. Anastasia Parish in Troy from 2004-07, and as pastor of Our Lady of Good Counsel Parish in Plymouth from 2007-19. In 2019, Fr. Riccardo founded ACTS XXIX, a nationwide apostolate to help equip clergy, lay leaders and parishes for evangelization in the 21st century. As director of ACTS XXIX, he leads clergy retreats, convocations and workshops in dioceses across the country, and produces multimedia evangelization programs, including “The Rescue Project.”

Fr. Riccardo also serves as host of the popular EWTN radio program “Christ is the Answer,” has authored several books on evangelization, and produces a podcast, “You Were Born for This.”

Fr. Robert Spezia

Fr. Spezia, 62, attended Sacred Heart Seminary in Detroit and the Pontifical North American College in Rome. He was ordained a priest of the Archdiocese of Detroit on May 25, 1996, at the Cathedral of the Most Blessed Sacrament. 

Fr. Spezia has served as associate pastor of Guardian Angels Parish in Clawson, and as a weekend associate at St. Margaret of Scotland Parish in St. Clair Shores and St. Thomas More Parish in Troy. 

From 2002 to 2017, Fr. Spezia served full time on the faculty of Sacred Heart Major Seminary as assistant professor of theology, director of undergraduate spiritual formation, and moderator of liturgy. In the latter role, Fr. Spezia supervised the monumental task of rehabilitating the seminary’s main chapel after a ceiling fire caused major smoke and water damage in 2009. He oversaw a team of skilled artists and craftspeople as they cleaned, repaired, and restored canvas ceiling panels, stained glass windows, masonry window surrounds, pews, and religious artwork.

In 2017, Fr. Spezia was appointed as vicar for clergy and consecrated life for the Archdiocese of Detroit, a role in which he continues to serve today. Beginning July 1, 2026, Fr. Spezia will serve as full-time priest support to the South Oakland 7 Family of Parishes, serving primarily at St. Fabian Parish in Farmington Hills.

Fr. Spezia also has served on the Priests Pension Board, Presbyteral Council, and as chaplain and later board president for Camp Sancta Maria in Gaylord. In 2017, Fr. Spezia also helped lead a team of priests and laypeople organizing the liturgy for the beatification of Blessed Solanus Casey at Detroit’s Ford Field. 

25th Anniversary (Class of 2001)

Fr. Frederik Kalaj

Fr. Kalaj, 69, was born in Albania and attended Sacred Heart Major Seminary in Detroit. He was ordained a priest on June 2, 2001. 

During his first priestly assignments, Fr. Kalaj served as associate pastor of St. Patrick Parish in White Lake (2001-05) and St. Lawrence Parish in Utica (2005-06). Fr. Kalaj later served as pastor of St. Joseph Parish in Erie (2006-13), St. Nicholas Parish in Capac (2013-15), St. John the Evangelist Parish in Allenton (2013-15) and St. Cornelius Parish in Dryden (2013-15). He also served as vicar of the Thumb Vicariate from 2014-15, while serving as a member of the Presbyteral Council.

Fr. Kalaj became pastor of St. Paul Albanian Parish in Rochester Hills in 2015, adding responsibility for Our Lady of Albanians Parish in Southfield in 2022 as a member of the in solidum team of priests serving the South Oakland 6 Family of Parishes. Today, Fr. Kalaj serves as pastor of both St. Paul Albanian and Our Lady of Albanians parishes.

Fr. Tomek Maka

Fr. Maka, 49, was born in Poland and came to the United States in 1998 as part of a foreign-exchange program with Sacred Heart Major Seminary in Detroit. He was ordained a priest on June 2, 2001.

After ordination, he served on the faculty of SS. Cyril and Methodius Seminary in Orchard Lake before moving to parish ministry as associate pastor of the National Shrine of the Little Flower Parish in Royal Oak (2004-07) and St. Patrick Parish, White Lake (2007-08), before becoming pastor of Immaculate Conception Parish in Ira Township (2008-12).

Answering a calling to serve his country, Fr. Maka was commissioned as an officer in the United States Navy in 2015, hearing God’s call to minister to the United States military’s 1.8 million active-duty Catholics and their families as a chaplain, a ministry he continues to fulfill today.

Fr. James Rafferty

Fr. Rafferty, 64, attended Sacred Heart Major Seminary in Detroit and was ordained a priest on June 2, 2001. 

During his first priestly assignments, Fr. Rafferty served as associate pastor of St. Hugo of the Hills Parish in Bloomfield Hills (2001-04) and St. Anastasia Parish in Troy (2004-05). 

Fr. Rafferty served as pastor of St. Mary Parish in Rockwood (2005-13) and as administrator of St. Victor Parish in Gibraltar (2010-13), before the two parishes merged in 2013 to create St. Mary, Our Lady of the Annunciation Parish in Rockwood, with Fr. Rafferty becoming pastor of the newly formed parish. Fr. Rafferty continues to serve St. Mary, Our Lady the Annunciation Parish today as a member of the in solidum team of priests pastoring the Monroe 1 Family of Parishes. 

Other jubilarians this year

In addition to those celebrating milestone jubilee years in 2026, Detroit Catholic and the Archdiocese of Detroit also honor all of those priests celebrating jubilees greater than 60 years. They are:

• Fr. Leo Sabourin (68 years)
• Fr. Donald Walker (68 years)
• Fr. Arnold D'Achille (67 years)
• Fr. John Phalen (67 years)
• Fr. Thomas Sutherland (66 years)
• Fr. Joseph Gagnon (65 years)
• Fr. Donald Worthy (64 years)
• Fr. Stephen Reckker (63 years)
• Fr. Joseph Romano (63 years)
• Fr. Julian Chmura (62 years)
• Fr. Lawrence Kaiser (62 years)*
• Fr. Thomas Lumpkin (62 years)
• Fr. Thomas Meagher (62 years)
• Fr. Raymond Sayers (62 years)
• Fr. William Sinatra (62 years)
• Fr. Sylvester Taube (62 years)
• Fr. Victor Clore (61 years)
• Msgr. Anthony Tocco (61 years)

*Fr. Kaiser passed away May 3, 2026