ORLANDO | Eight priests currently serving or who have served in the Diocese of Orlando are celebrating their jubilee anniversaries.
Since they arrived at the diocese, they’ve spent their lives bringing God’s love and joy to His people.
In this issue, the Florida Catholic shares brief biographies of the lifelong vocations to the priesthood of four jubilarians. Two of the priests are celebrating their diamond anniversary (60 years) of priesthood in 2026, and two are celebrating their golden anniversary (50 years) of priesthood in 2026.
DIAMOND JUBILARIANS — 60 YEARS
Father Robert Fucheck
Father Robert Fucheck said he had an inkling God was calling him to the priesthood when he was a young boy, and that hunch turned into a definite call that led him on a priestly journey for 60 years.
Father Fucheck was born in North Tarrytown, New York, to a large family of seven children. He attended Catholic school and began his spiritual journey.
“My family was very devout,” he said describing his parents as active in church and steadfast in passing on the faith.
In 1950, his family moved to Florida settling in Masaryktown and attended St. Mary Church. He served as an altar boy helping the Benedictines who staffed the parish from nearby St. Leo Abbey.
He began to feel the call to the priesthood. The Benedictines invited him to attend their preparatory school.
“I was a high school freshman when I felt called,” Father Fucheck said.
He completed four years of studies at St. Leo Preparatory, and upon graduating, began college studies. He was ordained May 1, 1966.
“I have had a good life,” he said about his journey as Benedictine monk, teacher, administrator, chaplain, diocesan priest and even a soccer coach. He confessed he knew little to nothing about the sport. “The Benedictine motto is ‘LBD’ — learn by doing,” he said jokingly. When asked about his favorite role among his list of titles, he did not hesitate to answer. “I love serving people.”
Father Fucheck was incardinated into the Diocese of Orlando in 1979. He served at St. Mary Magdalen in Altamonte Springs, St. James Cathedral in Orlando, and St. John the Baptist in Dunnellon. In February 1985, he was appointed pastor of Our Lady of Lourdes Parish in Melbourne where his mother came to reside. During his eight-year tenure, he was instrumental in helping with the construction of a new church.
Father Fucheck then served at St. Timothy in Lady Lake beginning in 1993. Over the next 17 years, he helped grow ministries. He also assisted with the building of a new church. He retired in 2010.
In his golden years, he is not slowing down and has a busy schedule helping nearby parishes.
“I celebrate Mass and hear confessions,” he said. “I will continue to serve as long as I can. I have a wonderful life. Life has been good. I am blessed and thank God.”
La Salette Father Terry Niziolek
Missionary of Our Lady of La Salette Father Terry Niziolek feels blessed to have been called to the priesthood so many years ago. “I want to say thank you,” he said. “My priesthood is a gift from God for which I am eternally grateful.”
Father Niziolek was born to a Polish family in Chicago, one of three children. He attended St. Pancratius Catholic Church with a school staffed by Franciscan sisters. The Niziolek’s home was located across the street from the church and the Franciscan sisters’ convent.
“The sisters were marvelous,” Father Niziolek recalled. “I believe the nuns loved me.”
Young Terry served the parish and helped the religious sisters by running errands for them.
“People asked me if I was thinking about becoming a priest,” he said. The Franciscan sisters introduced him to the La Salette Congregation.
He entered the La Salette minor seminary at 14. At 21 Father Niziolek professed his first vows. He continued with formation and studies at St. Procopius Abbey and at Marquette University. He was ordained April 23, 1966.
Father Niziolek’s ministry has included serving as a high school teacher and hospital chaplain in Illinois, a pastor in Canada, a shrine director in Wisconsin, and a pastor and associate novice director in Missouri. In 2006 he headed to Florida where he joined Good Shepherd Parish in Orlando, a tenure for which he is especially thankful.
“I love Florida,” he said.
He served as parochial vicar until his retirement, but the young-at-heart and energetic clergyman continues to be active as a priest-in-residence and serving where needed.
“Being a member of a religious community that was founded upon a message of reconciliation has given me an appreciation of a Gospel, a Church, a ministry of mercy that my community shares wherever we serve and in a special way in the Sacrament of Reconciliation,” he explained. “I am extremely thankful for my priesthood.”
GOLDEN JUBILARIANS — 50 YEARS
Father Robert Markunas
Born in Worcester, Massachusetts, to Lithuanian parents, Father Robert Markunas was one of three children. He said his family’s household was always filled with joy, and he credited his parents for his love of the faith and his desire to become a priest to serve the Church.
“My parents went to Mass every Sunday,” he said. “Before we went to the beach, we went to Mass.”
Father Markunas was a young boy when he felt called to be a missionary priest, so after receiving approval from his parents, he entered the seminary at 14, to become a member of the Priests of the Sacred Heart. He was ordained Nov. 13, 1976.
“I never left the United States, but I have probably celebrated more Spanish Masses than English ones,” he said with a chuckle. “I have always worked with people from the Hispanic community. I am grateful. They put their heart and soul into celebrating at Mass and into their faith.”
His priestly journey began after ordination in Milwaukee serving in a parish and in Hispanic ministry. Sent to Texas, he served parishes and missions in Brownsville, Raymondville and San Antonio, where he continued his ministry to Spanish-speaking families and individuals.
Father Markunas then came to Florida to be near his parents who had relocated to St. Petersburg. In 1993, he arrived in the Diocese of Orlando to serve in farmworker ministry and was appointed director of Hispanic Ministry in 1995. He helped launch Catholic radio programming in 1996. He was director of the diocese’s Spanish “Radio Paz Orlando” broadcasting throughout Greater Orlando. The ministry on the airways was a significant presence in the area touching souls.
Father Markunas was incardinated into the Diocese of Orlando in 1998. He has served at St. Isaac Jogues in Orlando, St. Mary Magdalen in Altamonte Springs, and Our Lady of Grace in Palm Bay. Although he retired in 2018, he assists at several parishes.
“God gives me an opportunity with another ministry. I am helping funeral homes,” he said, explaining about his efforts to help grieving Catholics, who have lost loved ones, with support, prayers and comfort.
Father Fred Ruse
Humble, kind, and caring are just a few of the adjectives people use to describe Father Fred Ruse. A simple man, he sees himself as a “missioner” and not much different than the pauper in Mark Twain’s “The Prince and the Pauper,” still fascinated that Jesus should call him to serve God’s children.
Born in Texas and raised in Daytona Beach, he graduated from Father Lopez High School and entered the seminary at 17. After studying in five seminaries, he was ordained May 4, 1976, at what was then St. Charles Borromeo Cathedral in Orlando. He served at Our Saviour in Cocoa Beach, Holy Name of Jesus in Indialantic, the Basilica of St. Paul in Daytona Beach, St. Matthew in Winter Haven, St. John Vianney in Orlando; and in the Diocese of San Juan de la Maguana in the Dominican Republic. He spent time as associate director in vocations. For decades, Father Ruse has advocated against the death penalty, visiting those on death row and attending prayer vigils for those being executed.
Although retired from his last position in the Dominican Republic in 2016, he continues to make trips to the mission territory to celebrate Sacraments and take part in liturgies during Easter and Christmas.
“It was (a) pure ‘gift’ to me to go to our sister diocese and spend those 10 years living with the people as their priest. Upon arriving there, I quickly discerned that I felt that with that opportunity, I was beginning to be a priest perhaps for the first time; I felt in fact like a brand-new priest,” he recalled in a reflection he wrote of his 50th jubilee.
In honor of the anniversary, he is making a pilgrimage to the first seminary he attended, St. Gregory Seminary/Mount St. Mary’s Seminary/The Athenaeum of Ohio in Cincinnati, Ohio. Although only there one year, he found it very formative.
“I had never, ever had an experience like that,” he recalled.
He reflects on his life with gratitude for parents, siblings, and the models of faith that surrounded him in his priestly life. “I am in awe that I am participating in such a ministry. In all my fiber and bones, however, I am of the conviction that it is not ‘mine’,” he said.
By Linda Reeves, Florida Catholic correspondent, March 19, 2026