Fr. Schaffer to celebrate 40th anniversary

On Sunday, May 7, 2000, the family and friends of Monsignor Gregory Schaffer invite you to come and help celebrate his 40th anniversary of his ordination to the priesthood.

The celebration will be held at his Minnesota home in St. George. A Mass of Thanksgiving will be held at 11:00 a.m. at the Church of St. George with an open house reception following. The family will serve a dinner for relatives, clergy, and invited guests at 3:00 p.m. following the reception.

Father Greg, son of the late Ann and John Schaffer, was born in St. Paul on January 29, 1934, the second of 10 children. He grew up and attended St. Columba parish and school and graduated from the 8th grade at St. Columba before entering Nazareth Hall for his high school years. Following this he went on to the St. Paul Seminary. During these years his family moved from St. Paul to New Ulm and became members of Cathedral of the Holy Trinity parish. A new diocese was established in New Ulm, and because his family lived there, Greg became a New Ulm diocesan priest.

Greg was ordained on February 21, 1960, at St. Mary, Sleepy Eye, by Bishop Alphonse J. Schladweiler. His first and second Mass were celebrated at Cathedral of the Holy Trinity, New Ulm and St. Columba parish in St Paul.

Following ordination, Father Greg was assigned to Holy Redeemer parish, Marshall where he served as an assistant and also a teacher of religion and morals at Holy Redeemer school. In 1963 Bishop Alphonse Schladweiler asked for a volunteer to work in the mission field in Guatemala for 5 years. Father Greg took this challenge and after completing 6 months of study of Spanish, entered the mission field on February 23, 1964.

With an agreement between Bishop Schladweiler and Bishop Angelic Melotto of the Diocese of Solola, Guatemala, Father Greg became a priest of the New Ulm diocesan Mission parish of San Lucas Toliman. Those 5 years have turned into 36 years.

In 1984, Father Greg received "Protanotary Apostolic" from Pope John Paul II through Bishop Angelico Melotto and in 1996 he was recipient of the Distinguished Alumnus of the Year Award given by St. Paul Seminary School of Divinity.

Many projects such as the school, orphanage, and clinic, have been established under the direction of Father Greg with the support of the people of the diocese of New Ulm and friends of San Lucas. Assisting in the Mission work here in the U.S. have been the diocesan Mission directors, Monsignor Arnold Berg and Father Dave Roney, and secretary, Kathy Huebert.

Please join Father Greg in celebrating his 40 years in the priesthood.