Reverend Schotzko to celebrate 25th anniversary

Father Philip M. Schotzko will celebrate his Silver Jubilee as a priest of the New Ulm diocese on June 9, 2002, at St. Mary parish, Bird Island.

The 10:30 a.m. Sunday liturgy will be the gathering point for family and out of town friends who want to attend. There will be a luncheon in the church hall for family and visitors immediately following the Mass. An open house reception and picnic will be held on the parish grounds from 2:00 - 5:30 p.m. with a program scheduled for 3:00 p.m. in the church hall. Food and beverages will be provided for the afternoon.

Father Phil was ordained on Pentecost Sunday, May 29, 1977, at St. Raphael Church, Springfield. Over the past 25 years he has served in the following assignments: Associate pastor at Holy Redeemer, Marshall, 1977-1980; Graduate School and Alexian Brothers chaplain in Chicago, IL, 1980-1981; Associate Pastor at Holy Trinity Cathedral, New Ulm, 1981-1984; Associate Pastor at San Lucas Toliman Mission in Guatemala, 1984-1990; Pastor of St. Michael, Gaylord and St. Francis, Winthrop, 1990-1991; and Pastor of St. Mary, Bird Island, 1991-present. During these last eleven years, he also served at St. John in Hector, first as Pastor and then as Sacramental Minister.

All are invited to help Father Phil celebrate his 25th anniversary to the priesthood.