Bishop Thomas John Paprocki recognized three priests for their significant jubilees during a gathering of the presbyterate at Villa Maria Catholic Life Center, according to a May 6 event. The celebration brought together clergy to pray and express gratitude for years of dedicated service.
The recognition highlights the commitment of these priests to their ministry and community. Their decades of service reflect ongoing efforts within the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois to support Catholic education, promote vocations, and foster faith through education and service initiatives, according to the official website.
Father Manuel P. Cuizon, Ph.D., pastor of St. Joseph Parish in Springfield, marked his 25th year as a priest. “Almost 25 years as a priest, I look back at my ordination still with a kind of gentle amazement…I thought the priesthood would be about what I could offer to God. But over the years, I’ve realized that it is all about what God has offered me through the people I serve,” Cuizon said. He described his journey from ordination in the Philippines to serving various parishes in Illinois and emphasized that “the priesthood is not for the perfect but for the willing.” He added: “God does not call the strongest or most impressive…He calls instead those who are open to being shaped by His love.” Reflecting on his vocation, he said: “Even now, after all these years, I still feel humbled that God chose this path for me — and keeps choosing me, day after day.”
Father John Doctor, OFM celebrated his 50th jubilee this year. “These years have been formative in becoming a servant leader for the Franciscan Order and the Church,” Doctor said. Recalling his early calling at age seven and lifelong commitment as a Franciscan friar since entering seminary in 1963, he spoke about guiding young men into religious life and currently serves as Vice President for Mission and Ministry at Quincy University: “Walking with others is what I enjoy most…accompanying our students in discovering…who they are as a special reflection of God’s goodness and beauty.” Doctor said his heart remains rooted in faithfully living out Franciscan values.
Father James Wheeler, OFM marked six decades as a Franciscan priest earlier this year. From directing youth retreats such as Teens Encounter Christ (TEC) programs to serving parishes across multiple states—including many assignments within Quincy—Wheeler reflected on how relationships have shaped him: “From working with teenagers, college students, and parishioners we learn from people we serve,” Wheeler said. “They are God’s gift to us.”
The Diocese of Springfield in Illinois extends across 28 counties with Bishop Paprocki serving as its bishop; it supports 129 parishes throughout central and southern Illinois while maintaining key facilities like its Catholic Pastoral Center according to its official website. The recognition ceremony underscores both individual dedication among clergy members and broader diocesan goals centered on faith formation.
