JOLIET-A typical week for Franciscan Father Medard Buvala, associate pastor of St. John the Baptist parish and associate director of the Franciscan formation program at St. John the Baptist Friary in Joliet, include presiding over masses held at the parish, University of St. Francis, Villa Franciscan and Essington Place in addition to teaching two classes a week in Psalms and religious life to men in the candidacy program of the Franciscans. He also finds time to celebrate mass at parishes where he is needed and read great literary works such as Leo Tolstoy's "War and Peace."

Father Buvala's activities may resemble a typical priest, but over the last 60 years of his priestly ministry, he has proven himself to be a "super priest," according to Bishop Joseph L. Imesch, who was among 700 faithful who marked Father Buvala's jubilee June 29 at St. John the Baptist Church. Franciscan Father Kenneth Capalbo, provincial vicar for the Sacred Heart Province, and about 30 Franciscan friars were also present to celebrate the occasion.

"He's a perfect example of a minister-always willing to give of himself," continued Bishop Imesch. "Thank God for people like Medard." The leader of the diocese expressed his admiration for the 87-year-old priest who is still faithfully serving the Lord as he is one of the 10 oldest Franciscan priests in the Province of the Sacred Heart that stretches over 20 dioceses and archdioceses in the United States.

The only missing ingredient in his priestly ministry is a heavenly voice, admitted Father Buvala. The fact that his singing voice suffers because he has only one fully functioning lung does not prevent him from kneeling to the floor to genuflect in front of the altar.

He recounted the interesting turn of events in his life with the Catholic Explorer. In the midst of World War II, Stephen Buvala was ordained June 24, 1943, as Father Medard Buvala. The young, energetic priest was eager to serve as a missionary in China. Wartime conditions and the rise of communism in the newly formed People's Republic of China prevented him from traveling to the Asian country. Instead, he trekked to Bastrop, LA, and attempted to start a church for the African-American community. Upon his arrival at his first assignment, he discovered a slight problem-there was no parish.. He explained that it was during the days of segregation and the town had an established church for "whites only." Father Buvala decided to respond by taking his missionary work to the streets. He recalled that he stood outside the storefronts of barbershops, restaurants and other business establishments to preach the "good news" and to incite community action. Father Buvala remembered his first goal was to build a good Catholic school for children and then a parish would follow. He eventually received a donation $30,000 to name the parish Our Lady Help of Christians. "I'd name it anything for $30,000," laughed Father Buvala.

He was making progress on the ambitious project of establishing a school and church when tragedy struck Father Buvala. He contracted tuberculosis and fought for his life during a three-year stint in the hospital. Despite having just one functioning lung among other physical complications related to the fight with tuberculosis, Father Buvala has managed to minister to thousands of faithful over six decades.

Although Father Buvala served several parishes in Illinois, Ohio and Wisconsin, he's also been involved in assisting men in formation. He recalled serving as the director of St. Joseph Seminary in Montrose [sic] Ill., during the 1960s when the Second Vatican Council was held. Father Buvala remembered how the opportunity to thoroughly study the fresh documents excited him as he attempted to implement the changes at the seminary level. "Vatican II I enjoyed to no end. It was something I looked forward to, but didn't know it," he recalled.

Father Buvala reflected upon the joys of working with men in discernment. He said, "You get to see the growth as they come into a way of life that touches them. It's like being a first-grade teacher who sees a girl progress with reading; you feel good because you helped them."

Father Buvala not only encouraged men in formation, but also influenced many people of the parishes he served over the years. The unique diversification found in parish life is something that Father Buvala treasures. Celebrating sacraments, preaching the Gospel message-which motivates people in the pews-and teaching the Bible are among the many tasks a parish priest is required to perform for the church of people from all different races, background and economic levels. He said, "Every church is a microcosm of the church at large."

The man who now credits Father Buvala as a crucial factor in his decision to enter the priesthood, Franciscan Father Edward Boren, pastor of St. John he Baptist Parish, gave praise to the elderly cleric. He said Father Buvala not only continues to provide a great service to the Joliet community, but he also applauded his efforts as an inspiring individual. Father Boren explained that he first met Father Buvala when he was 9 years old and the "young priest" was among the Franciscan friars who served at his home parish. Father Buvala headed the Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults among other ministries.

Father Boren was honored to host the celebration of Father Buvala's ministry June 29 at his parish in Joliet, a parish where the jubilarian has served for over 14 years in many capacities. He's ministered to parishioners on their deathbed as well as played the role of a comic devil in a parish appreciation dinner talent show.

Father Buvala was also pleased to celebrate his anniversary on the feast of Saints Peter and Paul because in some small way it seemed to bring him home again, he said. He explained that his family moved to northern Wisconsin when he was a child and they found a spiritual home at a Slovakian church, SS. Peter and Paul Parish in Moquah, Wis. He received his first Communion, made his first confession and presided over his first mass at the parish. It was also the site of his parents' funeral mass. Stephen Buvala was born Dec. 19, 1915, in Pittsburgh, Penn. His father quit the steel mills in Pennsylvania and the Buvala family moved to the Midwest with the dream of supporting itself by owning 40 acres of farmland. Father Buvala laughed as he pointed out that the property happened to be all forestland, so his father ended up working at a DuPont factory. However, the family managed to harvest a crop of good, faithful Franciscans. Father Buvala's mother was a Third Order Franciscan and his brother, Father Andrew Buvala, dons the Franciscan habit as well. Father Andrew Buvala currently serves the Native American community in the Diocese of Gaylord, Mich., but he traveled to Joliet to mark the special day with his brother.

Reflecting on his many years of service that have spanned the course of the dramatic changes brought about by Vatican II, several wars and society as a whole, Father Buvala admits that he would change on thing-his lack of flexibility. As an example he recalled an instance several years ago when he refused to offer a man absolution because he didn't feel he was sincere in his confession.

While Father Buvala was not proud of that moment, he also recalled many moments when he has experienced great joy and fulfillment in the reconciliation room as a priest. He said, "It's when you're able to life and help a person accept the forgiveness of God, when people fall to joy rather than sadness."