Somewhere along my life’s journey I discovered that I actually love languages, classical and modern. An added joy of my life has been my activity as a translator, making theology originally in German and French available in English to others. I have had the joy and honor of knowing so many dedicated and outstanding men in the Order, not to mention the many fine lay men and women I have been blessed to have as students as well. I have always wanted nothing more than to teach my confreres, so anything beyond that goal has simply been a serendipitous blessing. Peter’s Regional Seminary, Cape Coast, Ghana, West Africa, and at the Washington Theological Union, Washington, D.C. Anthony-on-Hudson, Rensselaer, New York, at St. I have taught at our Conventual Seminary of St.

I have never doubted or regretted my ministry as a teacher, but have rejoiced in God’s gifts to me and in the Order’s generosity and confidence in me by fostering my academic talents and propensities. These two universities, my fellow students there, and the opportunity to meet Conventual friars and members of other religious communities on an international level were seminal experiences in my life.Įquipped with the appropriate degrees and formed by temperament to teach, research, and write, I have spent the last 53 years pursuing the passion of my life.

The Order permitted me to study theology abroad in Innsbruck, Austria, and Strasbourg, France. The excellent education I received in the Order’s high school, junior college, and college imparted a life-long love of learning I have never regretted and has set me on my path to higher studies and a teaching career as a friar-priest. In this way, too, I got to know the other friars who also encouraged my fledgling vocation. Every week I would report to the rectory for a lesson. Denis Gallagher had encouraged my vocation by the novel tactic of teaching me Latin beginning in the seventh grade. As strange as it might seem nowadays, in the Church of my youth before Vatican II it was not so unusual. I entered the seminary in my sophomore year of high school at the ripe age of 15. Since we worshipped at Our Lady of Angels Church in Albany, New York, ably and lovingly staffed by the Conventual Franciscans, and since we four children attended the parochial school of the same parish selflessly staffed by the Franciscan Sisters of Syracuse, I suppose my joining the Conventual Franciscans was somewhat providentially “predestined.” Be that as it may, I have never regretted this “destiny.” I cannot claim that I have always measured up to her advice, but I keep trying. Later in life, my mother, too, challenged me to be more well-rounded and less rigidly demanding of others. My father was very formative of my faith life and accompanied me to Mass every Sunday. My middle name was given to me in honor of a Conventual Franciscan priest in the then Immaculate Conception Province who was a close friend of our family. Paul is also an avid cyclist, runner, and an “aging” triathlete.My name is John Jude Burkhard, a 79-year old friar of Our Lady of Angels Province. His most recent assignment was Pastor at Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church in Paul has given numerous retreats, presentations, and seminars to both faith-based and healthcare organizations and has served on various community and institutional boards. , in retreat ministry as the Executive Director of the Mount Saint Francis Center for Spirituality in southern Indiana, and parish ministry. Paul worked in Catholic secondary education teaching biology in He was also married for a brief time and has been blessed with the joy of having a son, Jonathan, and a granddaughter, Kendal Grace.Īs a friar, Fr.

Paul had a career in nursing working in critical care, trauma, hospital management, organizational development, and healthcare management consulting.

, and in 2006 returned to the east coast to be closer to his family. Province of the Conventual Franciscans in 1996 and completed his graduate studies in philosophy and theology in 2004 at the Graduate Theological Union in He felt called to religious life at a very young age, but embracing his vocation was a journey that would take many years to realize. In 1958 and lived in various places in the northeast until moving to

Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion.

Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults.

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