Milestone anniversaries

The Catholic Spirit is honored to celebrate the priests who are marking 10, 25, 50 and 60 years of priestly ministry this year. In addition to the jubilarians featured on pages 14-15, the following men are observing these significant anniversaries of their ordination to the priesthood.

Congratulations to all the priests — including those not listed below — celebrating milestone anniversaries this year. Religious order priests, brothers and sisters marking jubilees will be celebrated in the July 13 issue.

10 Years

2013 Ordination

Father Leonard “Lennie” Andrie , 46, has served as a vicar for evangelization at the chancery since 2022 and as parochial administrator and then pastor of St. Therese in Deephaven since 2016. He also ministered at Hill-Murray School in Maplewood as chaplain (2015-2016), St. Joseph in West St. Paul (2013-2016) and Convent of the Visitation in Mendota Heights (2013-2015) as chaplain.

Father Andrew Brinkman , 37, has served as priest in solidum/moderator at Holy Childhood and Maternity of Mary in St. Paul since 2022. He also ministered at Community of Saints Regional Catholic School in West St. Paul (2020-2022), Our Lady of Guadalupe in St. Paul (2015-2022) as parochial administrator and then pastor, St. Matthew in St. Paul (2015-2016), St. Michael in West St. Paul (2015-2016) and Nativity of Our Lord (2013-2015) in St. Paul.

Father John Drees , 36, has served at St. Francis Xavier in Franconia and St. Joseph in Taylors Falls since 2017 as parochial administrator and then pastor. He also ministered at St. Peter in Forest Lake (2016-2017), Holy Name of Jesus in Medina

(2015-2016) and St. Hubert in Chanhassen (2013-2015).

Father Joah Ellis , 36, has served at Our Lady of Peace in Minneapolis since 2016 as parochial administrator and then pastor. He also ministered at St. Michael in St. Michael (2015-2016) and at St. Stephen in Anoka (2013-2015).

Father Spencer Howe , 36, has served as a vicar for evangelization at the Chancery since 2022. He also has ministered at Holy Cross in Minneapolis since 2017, and as parochial administrator and then pastor, Holy Name of Jesus in Medina parish and school (2016-2019), St. John Neumann in Eagan (2014-2016) and Divine Mercy in Faribault (2013).

Father Andrew Jaspers , 44, has served as chaplain for the Curatio Apostolate and at North Memorial Medical Center in Robbinsdale since 2021, and for the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA, since 2018. He also ministered at St. John the Baptist in New Brighton (20212022), Hennepin County Medical Center (2020-2021) as chaplain, St. Stephen in Minneapolis (2019-2021), St. John Vianney College Seminary (2016-2020), the Cathedral of St. Paul in St. Paul (2017-2018), St. Agnes in St. Paul (2016-2017), St. Joseph in Miesville (2016-2017), St. John the Baptist in New Brighton (2014-2016) and St. John Neumann in Eagan (2013-2014).

Father Brian Park , 42, has served as pastor of St. Michael in St. Michael since 2020, pastor of St. Albert in Albertville (20202021), chaplain for NET Ministries (2018) and pastor of Annunciation in Minneapolis (2015-2020). He also has ministered at St. Charles Borromeo in St. Anthony (20132015) and at DeLaSalle High School in Minneapolis (2013-2014) as chaplain.

Father James Peterson , 37, will serve as pastor of St. Odilia in Shoreview (effective July 1). He has served as chaplain for the Serra Club (North Minneapolis) since 2020 and representative for Totino-Grace High School in Fridley since 2019 (also 2014-2015 as chaplain). He also has ministered at Immaculate Conception in Columbia Heights (2018-2023) as parochial administrator and then pastor, the Archdiocesan Mission in Venezuela (2015-2018) and St. Odilia in Shoreview (2013-2015).

Father Andrew Stueve , 50, will serve as pastor of Holy Trinity in Waterville and St. Andrew in Elysian (effective July 1). He also has ministered at Chesterton Academy of the St. Croix Valley in Stillwater as chaplain (March 8-June 30), St. Charles in Bayport (2020-2023), St. Ignatius in Annandale (2018-2020), St. Timothy in Maple Lake (2018-2020), St. Anne in Le Sueur (20152018) as pastor, and Holy Name of Jesus in Medina (2013-2015).

25 Years 1998 Ordination

Father Joseph Johnson , 52, has served as a member of the Pastors Review Board at the Chancery since 2019 and pastor of Holy Family in St. Louis Park since 2012. He also has ministered at St. Patrick in Edina (Jan. 3-April 3), the Cathedral of St. Paul in St. Paul (2006-2012) as rector, the Cathedral’s St. Vincent de Paul campus (2004-2012) as pastor, the chancellor’s office (2004-2006) and St. Olaf in Minneapolis (1998-2004).

Father Biju Mathew , 53, has served as parochial administrator of St. Boniface in Minneapolis and as chaplain at M Health Fairview St. Joseph’s Hospital since 2019. He also has ministered at St. Matthew in St. Paul (2020-2022), HealthEast St. Joseph Hospital (2018-2019) as chaplain, University of Minnesota Medical Center, Fairview (2018) as chaplain, St. Boniface in Minneapolis (2017-2020), St. Mary in St. Paul (2009-2017) as pastor, and Regions Hospital in St. Paul (2008-2009) as chaplain.

50 Years

1973 Ordination

Father Jose Gutierrez , 90, retired in 2001 after serving at St. Margaret Mary in Golden Valley (1999-2001), Serra Clubs (1999-2002) as chaplain, St. Bernard in St. Paul (19951999), the Archdiocese’s Hispanic Ministry Leadership Team (1995-1999), Most Holy Trinity in St. Louis Park (1994-1995) as pastor, St. Francis Xavier in Franconia (19931994) as pastor, and St. Raphael in Crystal (1990-1993). As a religious order priest, he served at St. Raphael (1990-1992), Our Lady of Guadalupe in St. Paul (1989-1990), and St. Boniface in Minneapolis (1984-1989) as pastor.

60 Years 1963 Ordination

Father Thomas Hunstiger , 86, retired in 2002 after serving at St. Gregory the Great, St. Leo and St. Therese, all in St. Paul, since 1993 in roles including pastor, administrator, canonical administrator and senior parochial vicar. He also served as pastor of Holy Spirit in St. Paul (1984-1993; also assistant priest in 1963-1964), Immaculate Conception in Faribault (1976-1984), Immaculate Heart of Mary in Minnetonka (1972-1976) and St. Stephen in Minneapolis (1970-1972). He was a chaplain at the Army Reserve Hospital at Fort Snelling and served at Most Holy Trinity in St. Louis Park (19691970), St. Austin in Minneapolis (1964-1969), St. Charles Borromeo in St. Anthony (1963) and St. Luke in St. Paul (1963).

Father George Kinney , 86, retired in 2007 after serving as pastor of St. Thomas the Apostle in Corcorcan since 1994. He also ministered at St. Joseph the Worker in Maple Grove (1979-1994) as pastor, St. Paul in Zumbrota (pastor) and St. Mary in Belvidere (1974-1979), All Saints in Lakeville (1971-1974), Our Lady del Valle, Latin America apostolate, Archdiocese of Ciudad Bolivar, Venezuela (1970-1971), Immaculate Heart of Mary in Minnetonka (1968-1970), Sacred Heart in Faribault (1968), Immaculate Conception in Faribault (1966-1968) and St. Mark in St. Paul (1963-1966).

Father Kenneth Pierre , 86, retired in 2003 after serving as pastor of Annunciation in Minneapolis since 1991. He also ministered at St. Peter in Mendota (1982-1983), Immaculate Heart of Mary in St. Paul (1982), St. Peter in North St. Paul and St. Joan of Arc in Minneapolis (1981-1982). He served as chaplain for Serra Clubs (1974), rector of St. John Vianney College Seminary (1971-1981) and director of the Consultation Services Center at the archdiocese (19711991), and he served at Nativity of Our Lord in St. Paul (1963-1964).