50th Ordination
Father Peter Schavitz
Birthplace: Evanston, Illinois
First profession: 1970
Final profession: 1974
Ordination: 1976
Education: Seminary, St. Joseph’s Edgerton, Wisconsin, 1968
Holy Redeemer College, Waterford, Wisconsin, 1969
Novitiate, Immaculate Conception Seminary, Oconomowoc, Wisconsin, 1970
Bachelor’s in theology, Holy Redeemer College, Waterford, Wisconsin, 1973
Master’s in religious education, Mount St. Alphonsus, Esopus, New York, 1975
Master’s in divinity, Mount St. Alphonsus, Esopus, New York, 1977
Master’s in communications arts, Mount St. Alphonsus, Esopus, New York, 1978
Service in the Archdiocese of St. Louis: Vocation director, St. John Neumann House, St. Louis, 1985-87
Pastor and superior of local community, Mary, Mother of the Church Parish, St. Louis, 1987-90
Mission team preacher, Liguori Mission House, Liguori, 2008-19
Missionary in residence, St. Alphonsus “Rock” Parish, St. Louis, 2019-23
Mission team preacher, St. Clement Redemptorist Community, Barnhart, 2024-26
In residence, St. Clement Redemptorist Community, Barnhart, 2026
Service outside the Archdiocese of St. Louis: Faculty, St. Joseph’s Preparatory College, Edgerton, Wisconsin, 1977-79
Vocation director, St. Henry’s Seminary, Belleville, Illinois, 1979-83
Vocation director, Holy Redeemer College, Waterford, Wisconsin, 1983-85
Director, Villa Redeemer Retreat House, Glenview, Illinois, 1990-92
Mission team preacher, St. Alphonsus Parish, Chicago, 1992-2000
Mission team preacher, St. Michael Parish, Chicago, 2000-05
President, Denver Province Development Office, Denver, 2005-08
About Father Peter Schavitz: He said, “I am most proud of what God has done through me in the 419 weeklong Redemptorist parish missions I have preached. Besides those missions, I have conducted a number of priest retreats, nuns retreats and married couples retreats. For 10 years I also helped present the Worldwide Marriage Encounter weekend throughout the Rockford and Belleville, Illinois, and St. Louis (arch)dioceses. I have also preached throughout the U.S. in parishes at weekend Masses to promote the Liguorian magazine, encourage people to sign up to become Co-Redemptorists in support of our Redemptorist seminarians and done weekend preaching throughout the U.S. to raise funds for our foreign mission work in Thailand, Brazil and Nigeria.”
Father Schavitz died Aug. 5.
50th Profession
Brother Paul Yasenak
Birthplace: Coaldale, Pennsylvania
First profession: 1976
Final profession: 1978
Service in the Archdiocese of St. Louis: Liguori Publications telephone sales, Utah Place, St. Louis, 1996-97
In residence, Liguori Mission House, Liguori, 2005-18
Staff and in residence, St. Clement Redemptorist Mission Community, Barnhart, 2018-present
Service outside the Archdiocese of St. Louis: Staff, St. Joseph’s Preparatory College, Edgerton, Wisconsin, 1973-76, 1979-82
Staff, Holy Redeemer College, Waterford, Wisconsin, 1976-78
Staff, St. Joseph Parish, Denver, 1978-79, 1982-84
Staff, Villa Redeemer Provincial Residence, Glenview, Illinois, 1984-87
Staff, St. Alphonsus Parish, Grand Rapids, Michigan, 1987-91
Staff, Blessed Sacrament/Our Lady of Lourdes Parishes, Chicago, 1991-96
Archdiocese of Detroit coordinator of AIDS ministry, parish nursing and disabilities, Detroit, 1997-2005
About Brother Paul Yasenak: I enlisted in the United States Navy on January 16, 1969, and was honorably discharged on January 6, 1972. I served three tours in Vietnam aboard the USS Forrestal and USS Kittyhawk aircraft carriers. I was serving on the USS Forrestal when a massive fire engulfed the carrier on July 29, 1967. All survivors were awarded the Presidential Unit Citation for Bravery. I also was awarded the Vietnam Service Medal with 3 stars. My favorite part of religious life is living in community. I specifically appreciate our daily prayer life, and I enjoy living in a Redemptorist community where I support my brothers and they support me.
60th Profession
Brother Terrence Burke
Birthplace: Detroit
First profession: 1966
Final profession: 1970
Service in the Archdiocese of St. Louis: Staff, local community treasurer, St. Alphonsus “Rock” Church, St. Louis, 1970-82
Local community treasurer, Maintenance, 1990-2019
Staff and in residence, St. Clement Redemptorist Mission Community, Barnhart, 2019-present
Service outside the Archdiocese of St. Louis: Staff, St. Joseph’s Preparatory College, Edgerton, Wisconsin, 1966-67
Sacristan, St. Alphonsus Parish, Grand Rapids, Michigan, 1967-70
Staff, Immaculate Conception College, Oconomowoc, Wisconsin, 1970
Finance office, Sacred Heart Retreat Center, Rolling Meadows, Illinois, 1982-90
Father Gary Lauenstein
Birthplace: St. Louis
First profession: 1966
Final profession: 1969
Ordination:
Education: Bachelor’s in philosophy, Immaculate Conception Seminary, 1968
Master’s in divinity, Mount St. Alphonsus, 1972
Spanish language studies, Universidad de Madrid, 1975
Secondary education certification, University of Wisconsin, 1975
Spiritual direction certification, Aquinas Institute, 2005
Service in the Archdiocese of St. Louis: Director of formation, St. John Neumann House, St. Louis, 1992-2002
Vocation director, 2002-05
In residence, St. Clement Redemptorist Mission Community, Barnhart, 2025-present
Service outside the Archdiocese of St. Louis: Faculty, St. Joseph’s Preparatory College, Edgerton, Wisconsin, 1972-80
Parish priest, Holy Redeemer Parish, Detroit, 1980-83
Pastor and local superior of the community, Our Lady of Peace Parish, Greeley, Colorado, 1983-90
Pastor and local superior of the community, St. Joseph Parish, Denver, 1990-92
Novice director and local superior of the community, North American Novitiate in Glenview, Illinois, 2005-10
Novice director, North American Novitiate, Toronto, Ontario, Canada 2010-14
Mission preacher, Berkeley, California, 2014
Pastor, St. Mary’s Assumption Parish, Whittier, California, 2014-15
Local superior of the community and member of the New Evangelization Initiative, St. Mary’s Assumption Parish, Whittier, California, 2015-19
Parish priest, Immaculate Conception Parish, Bronx, New York, 2019-23
In residence, St. Alphonsus Parish, Minneapolis 2023-25
About Father Gary Lauenstein: A prolific writer, Father Lauenstein has contributed articles to a variety of publications, including The Greeley Tribune, Our Daily Bread, Our Sunday Visitor, Marian Helpers and Liguorian magazine. He has produced a variety of materials for Liguori Publications, including Spanish-language bulletins. He authored “Fully Devoted: The Hispanic Apostolate of the St. Louis Province of Redemptorists” (1996) and “Nuestras Historias: Tales of North American Redemptorists in Hispanic Ministry” (2000) for the Redemptorists, and “The Heart of Holiness” (Ignatius Press, 2015). He also did the English translation of “Redemptorists of Cuenca: Six Martyrs of the Spanish Civil War” (Liguori Publications, 2020).
60th Ordination
Father Richard Mevissen
Birthplace: St. Cloud, Minnesota
First profession: 1961
Final profession: 1964
Ordination: 1966
Education: Graduate studies at Manhattan College, New York, 1967-68
Graduate studies in religious education at The Catholic University of America, Washington, D.C., 1980s
Service in the Archdiocese of St. Louis: Parish priest, St. Gerard Majella Parish, Kirkwood, 1982-84
Director, superior of local community, St. John Neumann House, St. Louis, 1987-92
Retired, St. Clement Redemptorist Mission Community, Barnhart, 2022-present
Service outside the Archdiocese of St. Louis: Faculty, Holy Redeemer College, Waterford, Wisconsin, 1968-82
Pastor and superior of local community, Holy Name Parish, Omaha, Nebraska, 1984-87
Staff, Picture Rocks Retreat House, Cortaro, Arizona, 1992-93
Director, Picture Rocks Retreat House, Cortaro, Arizona, 1993-94
Administrator, Picture Rocks Retreat House, Cortaro, Arizona, 2006-08
Parish priest, Holy Redeemer Parish, Detroit, 1994-95
Superior of local community, Holy Redeemer Parish, Detroit, 1995-99
Administrator, chaplain to Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, Hofbauer Residence, Hamtramck, Michigan, 1999-2006
Denver Province provincial vicar, Denver 2008-10
Retired and staff resource, Pagani House/Redemptorist Retreat Center, Oconomowoc, Wisconsin 2011-22
