Celebrating Our Jubilarians

Fr. Donald J. Fitzsimmons, CSV: 70 Years of Religious Life

Fr. Donald J. Fitzsimmons, CSV, celebrates 70 years of religious life this year. He dates his introduction to the Viatorian Community back to 1946, when he arrived at Cathedral Boys High School in Springfield, IL. He entered the community in 1950, along with several of his classmates, and began his university studies. At Loyola University, Fr. Fitzsimmons earned a B.A. in history and philosophy in 1955. After being ordained a priest on May 28, 1960, he later pursued graduate studies in religious education at Lumen Vitae Institute in Brussels and at Catholic University of America in Washington DC. Fr. Fitzsimmons spent the majority of his ministry as a high school teacher and substance abuse counselor. His wit and wisdom made him a good communicator with people and an active listener. For 18 years, he served at Saint Viator High School as a program chair and counselor. From 1988 to 1997, Fr. Fitzsimmons served as a drug abuse counselor at Lutheran General Recovery Center in Vernon Hills, IL. The next three years he worked in the Keys to Recovery Program as a substance abuse counselor at Holy Family Hospital in Des Plaines, IL. Fr. Fitzsimmons retired in 2001 and moved to the Province Center. Over these last 20 years, he has enjoyed his local community, while honing his computer skills and taking in the abundant plants, trees and small wildlife on the peaceful grounds of the Province Center.

Fr. Donald Wehnert, CSV:

70 Years of Religious Life

Fr. Donald Wehnert, CSV, also celebrates 70 years of religious life. In fact, he and Fr. Fitzsimmons were classmates at Cathedral Boys High School and they entered the Viatorian Community in 1950 together. They continued as classmates at Loyola University, where Fr. Wehnert earned a B.A. in sociology in 1955. He would go on for graduate studies at DePaul University and in the early 1980s at Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley, CA.

Fr. Wehnert originally started his ministry in Viatorian high schools, including short stints at Saint Viator High School, St. James Trade School in Springfield and Spalding Institute in Peoria, but the bulk of his years were spent in parishes. Fr. Wehnert started his sacramental ministry at St. Viator Catholic Community and Guardian Angel Cathedral in Las Vegas, from 1964-1970, before spending the next three years at St. Joseph Parish in Springfield, Il and ultimately returning to serve in the Las Vegas parishes until 1981.

Following his year of graduate studies in Berkeley, Fr. Wehnert was assigned as parochial vicar at St. Patrick Church in Kankakee, in 1982. Little did he know that except for one year serving at St. Viator Parish in Chicago, he would remain in the Kankakee area for nearly 40 years, serving first at St. Patrick Church and as pastor of St. Mary Church in Beaverville and St. Martin Church in Martinton, IL. He retired in 2002 and has remained at St. Patrick’s, where he helps in sacramental ministry.

Fr. John Palmer, CSV:

50 Years of Religious Life

Fr. John Palmer, CSV, celebrates 50 years of priesthood. He is a native of Halifax, Nova Scotia, where he was ordained on Jan. 2, 1971. He holds degrees in music from several conservatories, including Acadia University in Nova Scotia, the Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto, Trinity College of Music in London, and Northwestern University. He also earned degrees in philosophy and Latin studies from Loyola University, and theology from Washington Theological Coalition.

Fr. Palmer served as a professor of music at Benedictine University in Lisle, IL, from 1973-2004 while also performing as an organist at venues across the country and in Europe.

Notable concerts include performances at Washington National Cathedral, the Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington and at St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York, as well as the Yorkminster Park Baptist Church in Toronto and St. Paul’s Cathedral in London.

Fr. Palmer continues to perform and he frequently presents master classes in piano for the Illinois State Music Teachers’ Association. For many years he was a weekend assistant at St. Petronille Church in Glen Ellyn, IL but has stepped back during the pandemic. Fr. Palmer stays in touch with his Viatorian Community and actively supports the ministry of Viator House of Hospitality through prayer and financial contributions.

Fr. Erwin Savela, CSV: 50 Years of Religious Life

Fr. Erwin Savela, CSV, celebrates 50 years of priesthood this year. His two longest assignments as a Viatorian have been at Bishop McNamara High School in Kankakee and at Loma Linda University Medical Center in Redlands, CA as a chaplain. During his tenure of 18 years at Bishop McNamara, Fr. Savela taught religion and history, served as athletic director, baseball coach, assistant principal and as principal for nine years. His friends know him for his great sense of humor, his good taste and style, his enthusiasm for sports – especially baseball and the Chicago Cubs in particular. His originality and sense of humor were always obvious in the execution of his duties.

In preparation for his long career, he did undergraduate studies at Loyola University in Chicago and Catholic University of America in Washington DC. He completed a Master’s degree in religious studies at Mundelein College in Chicago and returned to Loyola for courses to certify him as an educational administrator. After one year at Griffin High School in Springfield, three years at St. Viator Catholic Community in Las Vegas and one year at Holy Family Parish in Granite City IL, he moved to Redlands, where he served for 17 years in its 12-Step program, emphasizing its spirituality. “We are called to participate in the healing ministry of Jesus Christ which is to make us whole,” he says. “I am grateful for a community that allowed me to do that – one day at a time.” Fr. Savela retired in 1995 for health reasons and continues to reside in Redlands.