"I first found out about coming
to
St. John's in the
Christmas Season of 1992. (You were my first Christmas Gift of that
year.) I
became your pastor the Monday of Easter in 1993. (It was a time of
Resurrection
for me personally.) I will be celebrating my last Sunday Masses with
you folks
on Pentecost 2000. (Pentecost reminds us that the Universal Church is
seen and
understood by looking toward others, going beyond ourselves.) The
manifestations of the Lord’s presence are seen through the care of the
Universal
Church.
"My new assignment was presented
to me during Holy Week. (I'm
reminded of Our Lord's statement "not my will but thy will be done,"
as he prayed in the garden of Gethsemane.) My official last day will be
June
15, 2000. This day, falls within the 10th week of Ordinary time, the
readings
talk about the role of the prophet in the first reading and the need
for
reconciliation in the Gospel.
"I'm aware as I go to the next
assignment I will be taking up
my first priestly duties during the weekend of Apostle Thomas who was
told
specifically to believe not because he saw but rather because he had
been told.
"I'm grateful to the people of
St.
John's who have taught me
about the life of prayer and sacrifice. I hope in the years to come
that you
will remember me in your prayers, as I will you. Pray for the "Will of
God."
Father Joe Fink, baptized,
married and buried a few people
from this parish in his six years. He also had a lot of work done on
the old
school building so it could be rented out. He had new lights installed
as well
as new wiring in the Church. He had a new public address system
installed; purchased a new organ and upgraded the choir loft so that
the choir had more room."
Father Fink comes from a family
of ten children; eight of
them are still walking around on earth. Two of his brothers are in
heaven. He
is the oldest of his family, at 45 years this past March 21. (You can
do the
math.) His dad is a carpenter (retired) and his mother is a graduate
R.N. who
was a full-time housewife, mother and overall coordinator through his
childhood. He presently has 23 nieces and nephews ranging in age from
19 down
to one year.
Father Fink was ordained in 1983.
He served as an associate
pastor at St. Peter, Mendota, until 1985; at Most Holy Redeemer,
Montgomery,
until 1987, and at St. Pius X, White Bear Lake, until 1991. Starting in
1991 He
was pastor of St. Thomas, Corcoran, until he came to us in 1993. In
2000 he was
assigned to St. Mary's in Shakopee as their pastor.
Prior to Ordination, the
Benedictine nuns at Sacred Heart
School in Robbinsdale educated him. Father attended Grace High School
for one
year, until he ran out of money and then moved on to Armstrong High in
Plymouth
to complete high school. He graduated from the University of Minnesota
with a
degree in Criminal Justice and Business. Father had a little graduate
work at
the University of Detroit in Management when he was working for Soo
Line Rail
Road as an off line sales manager. His seminary training was at St.
Paul
Seminary.
Father basically held some sort
of job since the third grade
to help supplement and work toward his education at school. (Some of
his best
lessons came from these jobs.) Father has been a paperboy, carhop,
short order
cook, professional baker, bus driver, semi driver, expeditor at a
machine shop,
office manager for a sales office, and finally an "Off Line Sales
Manager," before going into graduate studies at the St. Paul Seminary.
Some of the hobbies that he
enjoys include, biking, hunting
(usually small game), baking, reading, and going to movies. Right now
he’s
trying to learn how to do weight training with aerobic exercise. His
doctor
tells him that he should cook and bake less and exercise more.
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