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.”

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.”

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.

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.

Father Cely was born in Colombia one of four children. He was working for American Airlines when he heard God’s call and began discerning religious life. “Surprisingly, although my family was very Catholic, they were not excited at all by my decision to become a priest.”

His call led him to the Order of Preachers (Dominicans) founded by St. Dominic. “I was drawn to this specific order because of their deep commitment to study and preaching” explained Father Cely. “I have always had a hunger for the Truth and a desire to communicate it clearly.” He began living a life committed to prayer, study and evangelization, taking first vows in 1994. He enrolled in philosophy studies at St. Thomas University and pursued theology studies at the prestigious Dominican Studium Generale in Bogota, Colombia. At Pontifical Bolivarian University, among top universities in Latin America, he studied dogmatic theology. In 1998 Father Cely professed perpetual vows of chastity, poverty and obedience. He was ordained to the priesthood on Nov. 4, 2001, the feast of St. Charles Borromeo, patron saint of bishops, catechists and seminarians.

Starting on his new journey as a priest, Father Cely came to work as a missionary in the United States in 2002. He served at the Mission Católica La Guadalupana (Our Lady of Guadalupe Mission) in Ocala describing the mission as a “beautiful, a peaceful place, very simple. The people here have a great love for the mother of God.” He then served as parochial vicar of Blessed Trinity in Ocala while continuing his work in Hispanic Ministry.

In 2012, Father Cely was assigned to St. Mary Magdalen in Altamonte Springs. He was incardinated into the Diocese of Orlando in 2014. He served at St. Mary Magdalen for three years before being assigned as parochial administrator and then pastor of St. Ann Parish in Haines City in July 2015. “This means so much to me,” he said. “I have received so many graces from God in all the years I have lived in the Diocese of Orlando. I want to thank God first, but also Bishop Noonan for his mercy and acceptance and everyone involved in the process. I am joyful and happy to know that I will serve in this diocese for the rest of my life.”

Father Livera was born in Varapuzha, Kerala, India. While still very young, he and his family found it necessary to resettle to a new home. At age 6, following the example of his older brother, Father Livera told his parents he wanted to attend the Carmelite seminary. At age 15 he entered the seminary where.

“We are supposed to be docile to the Holy Spirit and be a good instrument in the hands of God, so He can make use of us in whatever way He wants.”

He was ordained December 26, 2001, in the Carmelite order. After ordination he traveled for three days on a train to Calcutta where Mother Theresa’s sisters were working. Despite recognizing that “the place I was to go was not known to me, and the language and the culture were not known to me,” Father Livera embraced his role as an assistant parish priest at St. John Bosco.

One year later, Father Livera responded to another call to start a seminary in West Bengal. Using the engineering mind inherited from his father he, “started to build a bamboo house for 15 or 16 students. And after one year we changed to a concrete structure.”

Throughout his 25 years as a priest, Father Livera built grottos and seminaries. Before coming to Orlando, he constructed a church with an altar in front of a wall-sized depiction of the Last Supper. Father Livera’s current assignment resulted from a conversation between his provincial and the Diocese of Orlando’s Bishop John Noonan who expressed the need for two priests. When asked if he was ready to go, Father Livera humbly responded, “OK.” “I should confess that this is the most joyful time that I have had in my life because the people here are so loving.”

Recalling the Blessed Virgin’s “fiat” response to the Holy Spirit, Father Livera says, “Mary was able to say, ‘your will be done.’ And after 25 years in the priesthood, I am also able to say with joyful acceptance, ‘your will be done.’”

Father Stephen Ogonwa was born and raised in Nigeria and is a convert to Catholicism. When he was a boy, his eyes were opened to the beauty and rewards of the Catholic Church through conversations and the teachings of Catholic lay people. He was baptized and received his Sacraments at the Easter Vigil in 1983, and from the very start, fell in love with the Holy Eucharist and the Blessed Mother.

He entered minor seminary at age 12. After completing studies and earning degrees, he was ordained Sept. 1, 2001, for the Diocese of Issele-Uku. He has served many different communities and worked in youth ministry. He served at St. Dominic in Boji Owa, Our Lady of Lourdes in Onicha Olona, Mary Immaculate in Ogwashi Uku, and Sacred Heart in Obomkpa in 2004.

In 2008, Father Ogonwa left Nigeria to serve in the Diocese of Orlando. He served at Our Lady of Hope in Port Orange, Prince of Peace in Ormond Beach, Immaculate Heart of Mary in Candler, St. Paul in Leesburg and currently at Blessed Sacrament in Cocoa.

Father Ogonwa shared he’s excited to see what God has in store next and will serve Jesus Christ wherever needed. He feels blessed by his ministry years and the people he has served along the way. He added the number three is very significant in his life. “My life is intricately bound to the Trinity. I was the third child in my family, one of the three priests ordained at the same time in my diocese and the third person from my hometown to become a priest.”

“I am celebrating my silver jubilee of my priestly ordination,” he said. “I feel so happy to see this day to celebrate.”

Father Shaute is a native of Washington state, but he spent his school-age years growing up in Florida. A child of a U.S. Army officer, he lived in many locations by the time his family moved to Miami where they stayed for 14 years.

After high school, he enrolled at Florida International University to study journalism. When his family moved to Georgia, he enrolled at Georgia State University continuing journalism studies and faith formation in a young adult group. After graduating, he worked in various media and writing jobs.

“My dad asked me to make sure I was going in the right direction,” so he took a series of career tests and was surprised at the results. “The secular tests of my interests, skills and personality said I should go into public relations or clergy,” he said with a laugh.

He continued volunteering at his parish. “One of my best friends was the youth minister, who started Life Teen that tripled in size in one year and I had my own spiritual growth,” he said. “Jesus was sending teens as messengers, several of them telling me I had a calling to be a priest.”

In 1995, the college grad went to Rome on a pilgrimage reflecting again on his career choice. A year later, he entered seminary at Notre Dame in New Orleans.

He was ordained June 2, 2001, for the Archdiocese of Atlanta. In Georgia, Father Shaute served at St. Joseph in Marietta, Holy Trinity in Peachtree City, St. Theresa in Douglasville and St. Clement in Calhoun. Due to health issues Father Shaute consulted his archbishop for a temporary assignment in Florida. With Bishop Noonan’s approval he was assigned to St. Mary in Rockledge in 2023.

In a recent message to parishioners, his words reflected his steadfast dedication to priesthood. “Serving the Church is a privilege and honor that comes with the requirement of Christlike behavior,” he wrote. “Word and deed. Conduct of Christ, not conduct of the world. Being an example for others. Being like someone striving for sainthood.”