Priest celebrates 60 years

MOUNT CARMEL - Serving in any profession for 60 years is a remarkable achievement. But dedicating one's life to God, while preaching His Word and ministering to the needs of His people for six decades is a milestone few priests have been able to attain.

The Rev. Walter Sempko is certainly a rare breed who has just as much love and energy for the priesthood now than he did when ordained on March 25, 1950, in St. Patrick's Cathedral in Harrisburg.

The soft-spoken, humble and humorous priest celebrated 60 years in the priesthood Sunday afternoon with a special Mass at historic Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church. The 87-year-old native of Kulpmont celebrated his anniversary Mass with several priests. Clergy included the Rev. Robert Yohe, pastor of Divine Reedemer Church in Mount Carmel who presented the homily; the Very Rev. Francis Karwacki, pastor of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church, and the Rev. William Waltersheid, diocesan secretary for clergy and consecrated life.

Other priests and religious participating at the 2 p.m. liturgy were the Rev. Andrew Stahmer, pastor of Holy Angels Church, Kulpmont; the Rev. William Haviland, pastor of St. Monica Church in Sunbury, and Deacon Marty McCarthy, who is assigned to Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church.

A nice crowd consisting of Father Sempko's family members, friends, nuns from his parents' home country of Poland, and parishioners from various local and out-of-the-area parishes whose lives have been influenced by the priest attended the Mass and banquet that followed at Lazarski's Banquet Hall.

Virginia Woznicki of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church and Isabelle Amarose of Divine Redeemer Church recited scripture readings, while various members of Father Sempko's family presented the offertory gifts.

McCarthy read the gospel and prayer of the faithful.

The church choir under the direction of Sherry Mroz provided music throughout the Mass and members of the Mount Carmel Knights of Columbus served as an honor guard.

Yohe, who based his homily on the eight beatitudes presented on the Sermon on the Mount, praised his fellow priest for 60 years of love, faith and commitment to God.

He reminded everyone in attendance that everything a priest is and has comes from God. He told Sempko, "You have been serene and steadfast through all the storms in life and have always put God first."

Yohe said Sempko has touched countless lives through his service to God, and love and consolation for his neighbors.

Yohe, who estimated that Sempko has celebrated 30,000 Masses and ministered sacraments to an incredible amount of people during his 60 years in the priesthood, said, "You have nourished God's people with the bread of life - Jesus our Eucharist, and have served as an instrument of Christ's peace."

Yohe thanked Sempko for his six decades of service to the priesthood and his deep devotion to God and the Blessed Virgin Mary, whose assumption into heaven was celebrated Sunday.

He concluded, "Father Sempko, thank you for saying yes to God's call, and may you enjoy many more wonderful years as a priest."

Father Sempko married Yohe's parents and also assisted Yohe in celebrating the couple's 50th wedding anniversary Mass.

Waltersheid, a native of Locust Gap, bestowed his blessings on Sempko on behalf of himself and incoming Bishop Joseph P. McFadden, a former auxiliary bishop in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia who will be installed as the 10th bishop of the Diocese of Harrisburg on Wednesday.

"I want to congratulate you for your wonderful priestly service for the past 60 years," Waltersheid said.

Karwacki offered thanks to everyone who helped prepare the anniversary Mass and banquet and congratulated Father Sempko, who he described as a "dedicated and wonderful priest."

At the end of Mass, Father Sempko thanked Yohe for his beautiful homily and everyone for attending his anniversary liturgy, which featured special reminders of his Polish heritage including a chalice used during his silver and golden anniversaries, Polish vestments, Polish colors and music.

During a brief interview prior to the Mass, Father Sempko thanked God for allowing him to serve as a priest for 60 years.

When asked what the secret was for his longevity in the priesthood, Sempko replied, "Hard work. I worked in the coal breaker during the Depression. We all struggled during those times, but the work ethic I developed has stayed with me throughout my life."

'A lot of mileage'

Sempko is a son of the late Peter and Pearl Sempko, natives of Poland. His three sisters and two brothers are deceased.

After being ordained, Sempko's first assignment was as an assistant pastor at St. Anthony Church in Ranshaw. He has served pastorships at St. Joseph Church in Milton, Our Lady of Mercy Church in Slabtown, St. Joseph Church in Danville and St. John the Evangelist Church in Enhaut near Steelton.

He also has served as an assistant pastor at various churches throughout the Diocese of Harrisburg. The priest said, "I've covered a lot of mileage over the years."

After attending St. Casimir Parochial School in Kulpmont and Kulpmont High School, Sempko completed religious studies at St. Charles Seminary in Philadelphia before being ordained a priest 60 years ago.

Father Sempko said Sister Valentia, a Bernardine Franciscan sister, who was his eighth grade teacher at St. Casimir Parochial School, and the Rev. Alphonse Marcincavage, a former assistant pastor at St. Casimir Church, had a profound influence on him joining the priesthood.

Sempko, who celebrates a Mass in Polish once a month at St. Catherine Laboure Church in Harrisburg, resides at a retirement home for priests in Harrisburg, but still maintains the family's homestead in Kulpmont.