Archbishop Emeritus Elden Francis Curtiss is pictured before an April 16 Mass at St. Patrick Church in Fremont. The Mass celebrated milestone anniversaries for priests. SUSAN SZALEWSKI

Encountering Jesus

Still in awe: Archbishop Curtiss among jubilarian priests

April 17, 2026

by Susan Szalewski

After 68 years as a priest and 50 years as a bishop, Archbishop Emeritus Elden Francis Curtiss remains awed and amazed.

Daily – with rare exceptions – the archbishop has offered Mass since his priestly ordination in 1958. There, he said, a miraculous thing happens: Jesus uses the hands and lips of His priest to transform bread and wine into the Body and Blood of Christ.

“It’s amazing,” the 93-year-old said, a priestly miracle that should never become routine.

Archbishop Curtiss spoke before priests gathered with him for a special Mass – held Thursday, April 16, at St. Patrick Church in Fremont – marking milestone ordination anniversaries.

Archbishop Michael G. McGovern was the main celebrant, with Archbishop Emeritus George J. Lucas, Archbishop Curtiss and other jubilarians concelebrating. A dinner at St. Patrick Parish followed.

Archbishop Curtiss’ longetivity as a priest and bishop is rare, having been a priest under eight popes and a bishop under six of them.

The latest of the popes, Leo XIV, forwarded a personally signed letter for Archbishop Curtiss’ episcopal anniversary. During a ceremony after Mass, Father Scott Hastings, archdiocese vicar general and moderator of the curia, read the letter, along with a letter from Cardinal Christophe Pierre, apostolic nuncio to the United States until his recent retirement.

Archbishop Curtiss and Father Michael B. Malloy, who also celebrated a golden anniversary, each received a standing ovation during ceremony.

Father Malloy was present despite complications from a stroke several years ago. His friend, Father Frank Baumert, pushed Father Malloy in his wheelchair up the main aisle, where Archbishop McGovern greeted him.

In advance of the Jubilee Mass, the golden jubilarians – along with the priests celebrating silver (25-year) anniversaries – provided some brief thoughts about what the priesthood has meant to them.

Archbishop Michael McGovern and Archbishops Emeriti George Lucas and Elden Curtiss (center) pose for a photo with (from left) Jesuit Father Timothy Lannon, Father Vincent Sunguti, Father Kevin Joyce, Father Michael Malloy, Father Dan Andrews and Father Jim Keiter. SUSAN SZALEWSKI

50 years

Episcopal ordination

Archbishop Emeritus Elden Francis Curtiss

“Out of my 68 priestly years, 50 have been as a bishop. It was that initial ordination as priest that was foundational to my episcopal ministry and has guided my life and my relationship with our High Priest all these years.

Priestly ordination

Father Michael B. Malloy

From Father Frank J. Baumert: “Because Father Malloy has had a stroke and hasn’t been able to communicate very well these past years, I offer these thoughts for him.

“Father Mike loved his 45 years as a priest. Coming from his farm boy background, seminary was a series of adventures. He was an avid reader and used all of that information in his homilies, but yet was able to give very practical theological reflections and insights for life. He loved his time in the rural areas where he could get to know everyone in the communities he served in. He was always very approachable and easy to talk to, so he became friends with everyone around him. As Pope Francis would say, he was a pastor and shepherd that truly smelled like his sheep. And he was a great friend.”

25 years

Father Daniel R. Andrews

“One of the greatest joys of priesthood has been teaching people how to pray and making the parish a school of prayer.”

Father Kevin J. Joyce

“Priesthood is an absolutely wonderful vocation. Twenty-five years ago, on my ordination card I selected the Scripture from Gal. 2:19-20, ‘Yet I live no longer I, but Christ lives in me.’ The more he lives within me the more love, fire, joy and gratitude I have in serving his people.”

Father James E. Keiter

“Priesthood has been a great gift and blessing. To become a part of parishioners’ lives in the most impactful way, by being an instrument for Jesus for Him to encounter them and win their heart. Then walking with them to be built up as a missionary disciple to do the same with others. Jesus said, ‘I pray that my joy may be in you and your joy may be complete.’ We get to as Priests, be Jesus’ instrument in placing that joy in people’s lives.”

Father Vincent Sunguti

“My priesthood has been generally a life of joy that I find in doing that which I happily chose to do. I have always felt honored to become God’s instrument to reach out to all despite my weaknesses. Therefore, priesthood for me is a life of self-emptying to those given to me, and in return, I find some gratification just like a loving father enjoys his fatherhood to his happy family. In my past 25 years as a priest, I have been surprised by Joyful welcome that I have received in most places that I served. It means a lot to me.

“The beauties of my priesthood have been witnessing to the faithful God’s presence through celebration of the sacraments, accompanying them in joyful moments, being available during difficult times. I have always enjoyed the fraternity of my brother priests, and last but not least, is my family support that has been my pillars of my stability in priesthood.”