Father Gerald Burkert celebrates 50 years of priestly ministry

Father Gerald Burkert, center, elevates the Body of Christ during a Sept. 25 Mass at the chapel of St. Paul Hermitage in Beech Grove, where he is a resident and chaplain. Concelebrating the Mass with him are, from left, Father Herman Lutz and Father Elmer Burwinkel, who are also residents at St. Paul Hermitage. (Photo by Sean Gallagher)

(Editor’s note: Three archdiocesan priests are celebrating their 50-year jubilees in 2011. This week, we feature Father Gerald Burkert.)

By Sean Gallagher

BEECH GROVE—When considering how the seeds of his vocation to the priesthood may have been planted, retired Father Gerald Burkert recalled an incident in the first grade at the former Sacred Heart School in Indianapolis.

“My first-grade [teacher], Sister Mary Bede, had what we called a straw Mass,” said Father Burkert. “She [even] had priestly vestments. I guess I was the tallest one in the class, and they fit me. So I ended up being the celebrant. I guess that got me thinking about it.”

After finishing the eighth grade at Sacred Heart, Father Burkert became an archdiocesan seminarian in 1949 and began his formation as a high school freshman at Saint Meinrad Seminary in St. Meinrad.

He was ordained 50 years ago, and celebrated his golden jubilee with gatherings of family members, friends and former parishioners at St. Paul Hermitage in Beech Grove, where he currently resides and serves as chaplain, and at Holy Family Parish in New Albany, where he ministered as pastor from 1983-96.

“I never thought that I’d live that long,” said Father Burkert regarding the golden anniversary of his ordination. “It went around rather quickly, though. You’re celebrating people’s 50th wedding anniversaries. I never thought about my own. And, all of a sudden, it’s there.”

Father Burkert was ordained a year before the start of the Second Vatican Council. So the early years of his life and ministry as a priest were marked by adjusting to the reforms that happened during and after the council.

During much of that time, Father Burkert served as assistant pastor of St. Jude Parish in Indianapolis, ministering with the pastor at the time, Father William Morley.

“When the changes came about [after the Second Vatican Council], we spent time preparing the people,” Father Burkert said. “He gave me a lot of understanding of how to handle a parish.”

After spending two years as assistant pastor of St. Mary Parish in New Albany, Father Burkert returned to St. Jude Parish and served as co-pastor with Father Morley from 1971-83.

In all, he ministered alongside Father Morley, who died in 1985, for 19 years.

“I liked Father Morley,” Father Burkert said. “We got along well together. We had stereo sermons. He’d be at one podium and I’d be at the other, and we’d go back and forth.”

After serving as co-pastor of St. Jude Parish, Father Burkert returned to New Albany as pastor of Holy Family Parish. His last assignment before he retired in 2007 was as pastor of Holy Name of Jesus Parish in Beech Grove.

In all of these parishes, he helped lead the parishioners in making physical improvements to their facilities.

“It made you feel humble because people were doing it,” Father Burkert said. “They didn’t have to, but they were doing it for the parish, not for us [priests]. In every parish I’ve been at, the people have been very kind and generous with their time and their talent.”

While leading parishioners in projects like adding on to schools was important to Father Burkert, celebrating the sacraments, especially the Eucharist and reconciliation, were essential to him in his parish ministry.

“The sacrament of reconciliation is very rewarding,” he said. “It’s very humbling. The people know who you are. You know who they are. And they still go to confession. It shows the strong faith that they have in the priesthood and in Christ.”

When taking a break from parish ministry, Father Burkert loved to travel. He often vacationed with a priest friend, the late Father Patrick Commons. One of his favorite destinations, with its beautiful mountaintop views, was Glacier National Park in Montana.

“Sitting up there on the mountain and looking down, I’d think, ‘Man, this must be like God looking down on his creation down below,’ ” Father Burkert said. “It’s a beautiful park. I’ve been there several times.”

After retiring in 2007, he hoped to do more traveling. But just months after stepping down as Holy Name’s pastor, Father Burkert suffered a stroke while alone at his apartment in Indianapolis.

“I must have been laying on the floor for three or four days before they found me,” he said. “I’m as fortunate as can be.”

Father Burkert recovered from the stroke, but soon moved to St. Paul Hermitage retirement and nursing home. As its chaplain, he regularly celebrates Mass at its chapel and ministers to fellow residents.

Because of the ongoing effects of the stroke, Father Burkert isn’t able to drive to parishes on weekends to provide sacramental assistance.

“My main regret is that I can’t go out and help [priests],” he said. “The guys are having a really rough time.”

After living and ministering as a priest for 50 years, Father Burkert’s advice to men considering a possible priestly vocation is clear and to the point.

“Keep praying,” he said. “That’s the main thing—prayer. And if you’re still thinking about it, try [being a seminarian]. You won’t know unless you try it.” †

---

More about Fr. Gerald Burkert

• Age: 76
• Parents: John and Ruth (Kuchler) Burkert
• Home parish: Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish in Indianapolis
• Seminary: Saint Meinrad Seminary in St. Meinrad
• Ordained: May 7, 1961
• Favorite Bible passage: Parable of the Prodigal Son (Lk 15:11-32)
• Favorite prayer or devotion: Rosary
• Favorite saint: St. Paul (“With everything that he had to go through, it was a tough life. And with all that he did against the Church at the beginning, yet the mercy of God was there.”)
• Favorite author: Tom Clancy
• Favorite pastime: Traveling