Father John Kasper, OSFS
Although a native of Toledo, Ohio, and a 1967 graduate of St. Francis de Sales School where the seeds of his Oblate vocation were first planted, John’s ministry in parochial leadership has spanned the country. After graduating from Niagara University and receiving a Master of Divinity degree at the Toronto School of Theology, he was ordained in his hometown of Toledo in 1979 and first served in parish and campus ministry in Buffalo, NY. In 1980, John and three other members of his province made a bold move to head West and serve in the Diocese of Denver. St. Michael the Archangel Parish in Aurora, Colorado provided a dynamic setting with a collegial staff in a rapidly-growing suburban area. In the span of six years, the parish grew from 200 families to 2200 families. After that intense time, John requested a study sabbatical and moved further West to California to pursue a Master of Theology degree in Worship & the Arts at the Jesuit School of Theology within the Graduate Theological Union of Berkeley.
“California Dreamin’” became more than a hit song by The Mamas & the Papas for John. The Bay Area in Northern California proved a rich setting for creative ministry and an opportunity to bring the spirit of Saint Francis de Sales to many people who were unfamiliar with the gentleness, optimism, and Christian humanism of the “gentleman Saint” who is a secondary patron of the Diocese of Oakland. Since 1987 John has served in three parishes there as Director of Music and Worship at St. Joseph Basilica in Alameda, as Parochial Vicar at Corpus Christi Parish in Piedmont, and, for the past twenty-five years, as Pastor of St. Perpetua Catholic Community in Lafayette. Over the years many Oblate have enjoyed John’s hospitality for a few days or a few weeks and the beauty and culture of the Bay Area, including a visit to the vineyards of Napa and Sonoma.
John resonates with the wide diversity of parish life. No two days are the same and he has enjoyed the various roles a parish priest is required to carry out. Besides the ministry of presiding and preaching at Eucharist and the Sacraments, John has been involved in major capital campaigns and building and renovation projects in each parish setting. Pastoral counseling, preparing young couples for marriage, adult and youth catechesis, serving on Diocesan commissions, liturgical presentations, and workshops throughout the Diocese – all these avenues of service have made parish ministry a challenging and rewarding experience for him. John especially strives to make the Sunday liturgical experience a time of grace and inspiration for each community through beautiful music, an attractive environment, and meaningful preaching that touches the real lives of parishioners. Before he left California this summer to move to the Ohio/Michigan area, John was recognized as “Pastor & Preacher” by Sunday to Sunday, an Emmy-winning video series that documents inspirational preaching with interviews, dialogue, and filming of homilists in action plying their trade. John was also honored for years of service as a Board Member of Hope Solutions, a faith-based organization whose goal is to provide permanent supportive housing and vital services to formerly homeless and vulnerable members of Contra Costa County.
Stained-glass windows at St. Perpetua Church
John is grateful for the many Oblates, parishioners, ministerial colleagues, and fellow clergy with whom he has had the privilege to serve. He said, “Enthusiasm is contagious, and I’ve been fortunate to work with so many creative and enthusiastic people over the years. One of the last collaborative projects I enjoyed was working with design consultants and a glass artist to create a set of large stained-glass windows for St. Perpetua Church based on Psalm 148 and the Canticle of Daniel – “Let All Creation Bless the Lord.” The windows echo the concern Pope Francis expressed in his 2015 encyclical Laudato Si’- “On Care for our Common Home.”
Learn more about Father John:
During the first year of the isolation of the Covid pandemic, Father John stayed in touch with members of the parish through a weekly online message of hope, consolation, and encouragement. Read here: “Lessons Learned” by Father John Kasper, OSFS.
