Kansas pastor believed to be oldest active U.S. priest dies at age 98

Published: 2008-01-09

KANSAS CITY, Kan. (CNS) -- When he died on Christmas Eve at age 98, Msgr. Heliodore N. Mejak, pastor of Holy Family Parish in Kansas City, ended a marathon of priestly ministry that lasted 72 years. He was believed to be the oldest active Catholic priest in the United States -- and some say the world. He spent 63 years at Holy Family. He served under seven bishops, and seven popes led the church during his priesthood. "You never worried with (Msgr.) Mejak around," said Father Ron Livojevich, who grew up in Holy Family Parish and is pastor of the Church of the Nativity in Leawood. "We always thought that he'd live forever." Bernice Anzek, a longtime Holy Family parishioner and parish volunteer, said the monsignor had several explanations for his long-term assignment. "I think they forgot about me, so I just stayed on," he once said. He would explain that "the bishop didn't ask me to move, and I never asked the bishop to move." But he also would simply say: "I like it here and I want to stay here." His last Mass was celebrated on the morning of the day he died.

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