A Lifetime of Faithful Service: Fr. John Schuster celebrates 60th year anniversary

As shared by Fr. Raymond Lowing, and transcribed by Sr. Dianne Turner. 

Father John Schuster was born in Cliftonville, Saskatchewan, in 1940, the son of John and Martha Schuster. He had one brother and four sisters. The family moved to Medicine Hat, where Fr. John was educated. Fr. John entered St. Joseph’s Seminary in Edmonton and, after many years of study during the time of the Second Vatican Council, was ordained to the priesthood for the Diocese of Calgary on May 1, 1965. Interestingly, although Bishop Carroll was the bishop of Calgary, it was Archbishop Jordan of Edmonton who ordained Fr. John in Calgary. His cohort of four seminarians from the Diocese of Calgary contained a nephew of Archbishop Jordan. So it was the Archbishop who came to Calgary to ordain them to the priesthood.

​​After his ordination, Fr. John’s first assignment was to be the Bishop’s Secretary, perhaps a foreshadowing of his future work at the Diocese. His first parish assignment was as associate pastor at St. Joseph’s parish in Calgary. 

As the years went on, he was sent as associate pastor at St. Michael’s parish in Pincher Creek, then St. Anthony’s parish in Drumheller. His first appointment as pastor was at St. Peter’s parish in Milk River, where he stayed for several years. After this, he was sent to serve as pastor at St. Augustine’s parish in Taber, and then at St. Rita’s parish in Rockyford, where he oversaw the construction of a new rectory.

Then new responsibilities were on the horizon. Fr. John was sent to study Canon Law at St. Paul’s University in Ottawa. From there he received his licentiate in Canon Law in 1989. This degree prepared him for the next assignment that the Lord had in store for him.

Bishop Paul O’Byrne appointed the newly-trained canon lawyer, Fr. John, as Moderator of the Diocesan Curia. In this role, he oversaw various aspects of the Diocese as assigned to him by the Bishop. The Bishop also appointed him as Vicar General, which assigned him the task of overseeing all Diocesan matters under the direction of the Bishop. He held this office throughout the time of Bishop O’Byrne and Bishop Henry. Fr. John retired as the Moderator of the Curia in 2018.

Since retirement, Fr. John has been involved in the administration of the clergy pension plan. He also took part in a committee composed of clergy and laypeople to establish Dorchester Square as a residence for clergy, some of whom are retired. At present, he is still living in Dorchester Square and is helping to manage the administration of this residence.
Over the years, Fr. John enjoyed travelling and was fortunate to be on several cruises, particularly in Europe. On one of those trips, he visited an area in Ukraine near Odessa, the place from which his immediate ancestors came to Canada. His grandfather was the first in the family to come from Odessa to Canada when the Soviet revolution endangered the people of German background. This experience of connecting with his roots was of great worth to Fr. John. 

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As Fr. John celebrates his 60th anniversary of ordination, we give thanks for his many years of faithful service and quiet leadership, a priest who has devoted his life to God and His Church. May God bless you, Fr. John, with continued strength, peace, and joy in your priesthood. Happy anniversary!