News

Later vocation gives longer perspectives

By Judy Russell
Compass Correspondent

	Fr. Dave Duffeck

The Lord pursued David Duffeck until the Kewaunee native finally said "yes" to seminary and priesthood.

"All of us (seminarians) have strange, long stories as to how the Lord calls us, but there's beautiful moments," said Fr. Duffeck, 49, a graduate of St. Meinrad School of Theology who was ordained to the priesthood June 3.

Armed with degrees in marketing from Fox Valley Technical College and business administration from Marian College, he worked as a retail manager at Race Office Products in Oshkosh, and later in sales for Wald Wire of Oshkosh. He "never felt the call to get married," but was much involved in volunteer work through which he developed close relationships with people of various backgrounds and circumstances.

He supervised Habitat for Humanity projects, worked with the Boys and Girls Club Alumni, taught religious education at St. Raphael Parish in Oshkosh, led adult Bible study and worked with retreats, including TEC (Teens Encounter Christ). In 1998, he accepted the offer of his pastor, Fr. Dan Felton, to be facility manager at St. Raphael.

Related articles: from June 9, 2006 issue: • Cathedral overflows for ordination of three to priesthood • New priest first wanted the American dream     (Fr. Quinton Mann) • Compass article leads to answering the call     (Fr. Walter Stumpf) • Editorial -- Time to congratulate from May 26, 2006 issue: • Three to be ordained to priesthood June 3 from Dec. 23, 2005 issue: • photo of three after being ordained transitional deacons from Dec. 16, 2005 issue: • Next step toward priesthood (includes     biographies of the three)

"The longer this went on, people would say to me, 'Have you ever thought about priesthood?' and I would say 'No' and walk away. Then someone would say, 'I think you should consider it,' and I would make myself busier! Then one day I was driving, with music on, and I started to cry. I went to my apartment, got down on my knees, then went and called. I went through the paperwork and discernment for two years and then said, 'I have to go' - so I did," Fr. Duffeck said.

Ministry is like food to Fr. Duffeck. "This is probably the best decision I ever made. When I'm not doing ministry, I feel empty."

"Many people - about 50 - influenced my choice to become a priest. Fr. Dan was one of them. He was a wonderful mentor. He told me what to expect in the seminary and he was dead-on," he said.

When asked about being an older priest, Fr. Duffeck responded, "You're real. You've worked for a buck. You can related to the people in their life circumstances. You're speaking truth and life - you're not just putting out platitudes. You can meet people where they're at."

At St. Meinrad, he said he loved the "wonderful blend of young and older. I got to hear what youths were thinking. We (older seminarians of pre-Vatican II) understand how the last 40 years unfolded, where they never lived it. It was a nice balance to strike."

"When you're an older seminarian, you have to study a little harder than the rest, but I did well," Fr. Duffeck said. "The Benedictine monastery and seminary are noted for liturgy and prayer. The Spirit imbibes the place. I love the Benedictine influence - it's all about community. It forces you to change all the nuances of your behavior. You get well-grounded in life."

His studies in Christian spirituality began one summer at the Institute for Priestly Formation at Creighton University, Omaha, in "a concentrated, beautiful program. Last summer, I went back to Creighton to continue work on my master's in Christian spirituality. I need four weeks to finish my master's."

Along the way, Fr. Duffeck had back surgery for a ruptured disc. He still deals with its effects. There were doctors, therapy, ups and downs. "I went through whole cycles, but this gave me a much deeper understanding of where people in the hospital are at."

As a deacon awaiting ordination to priesthood, he worked with Fr. Bob Stegmann, pastor of St. Josaphat in Oshkosh, assisting at daily and weekend Masses, giving homilies, visiting nursing homes and hospitals. "He's encouraging. It's been wonderful. I came here my pastoral year after back surgery. I've been with the parish through deaths, funerals, baptisms," Fr. Duffeck said. He loves bicycling and is slowly getting back into that. He's also an avid reader and a former rugby and football player.

At the time of this interview, he didn't know what his first priestly assignment would be - he will be parochial vicar at St. Mary and St. Francis Xavier parishes in De Pere. "Regardless of what your assignment is, you're doing the Lord's work - heart, mind and soul. You've committed yourself to the church. The point is you keep your focus on Christ. It's not just doing things - if your stop praying and do it your way, your ministry dries up."

Fr. Duffeck, the third of eight children, said he wants to offer a Mass at the nursing home in Kewaunee where his father resides, and in Combined Locks for a prayer group with whom he used to work.