Fr. Bob Celebrates 25 Years as Priest

Rev. Robert Schlageter, also known as Father Bob, chaplain and director of Campus Ministry, celebrated his 25th anniversary of the priesthood this past Sunday.

The University Mass is supposed to start at 9 p.m., but was delayed ten minutes.
“This is the first time in 11 years that I have been late for a 9 o’clock mass, and on my anniversary! That’s not a good sign,” said Schlageter.

Clad in his familiar Franciscan garb, he told the congregation somewhere between Centennial Village and St. Vincent’s, the notes for his homily had fallen out of his pocket.

“That’s probably a shorter homily for you lucky birds,” he joked. “My guardian angel came down and took them from me.”

During his homily, Schlageter described his journey to the priesthood. Much like his journey to St. Vincent’s for mass, things in Schlageter’s life never went quite according to plan. “In high school, I heard this voice, ‘Be a priest,’ and I’d say ‘No.’  ‘Be a priest,’ ‘No,’ ‘Be a priest,’ ‘Okay!’ ‘Be a priest,’ ‘No!,’” said Schlageter.

“I decided to go into the seminary, get it out of my system and leave,” he said. “And look at me!”
Schlageter has delivered over 500 homilies, twice a week, every week since coming to the University. He says not one homily has been special because he forgets them all.

“Always looking back, I see God’s presence in my life,” he told the congregation. When he was sent to Rome to study in Italy, he thought “they send smart people to Rome! I’m a give me a ‘C,’ 73 kind of a guy.” He was asked to knock on doors, speaking a language he didn’t speak. “It prepared me well for Spellman Hall,” he said.
In every aspect of Fr. Bob’s life, he believes God was preparing him for the University. “Being a priest is all about being in relationship,” he said. “It’s hard to be in a relationship with 3,000 people!”

Schlageter has been an inspiration to many students during his years at the University.

“Words can’t describe how much I love Father Bob,” said Kelsey Flynn, a junior House minister. “I look up to him in my ministry and how I live out my faith because he loves so much and so unconditionally.”

“The homily he gave made me want to be a priest when he said he gets to hold a little baby in his hands and say, ‘who will you be someday?’” said freshman Diane LaCosta.

“Father Bob always goes out of his way to care for the spiritual well-being of the students,” said Rev. Andy Santamauro, assistant chaplain for faith formation and RCIA, who has worked with Schlageter for one year. “I’ve even heard him get up in the middle of the night to go visit a student in the hospital,” said Santamauro. “He really loves these students.”

In his 11 years at the University, Schlageter says he has learned the most important part of life is to discern God’s dreams and to be aware of His presence in life.

“Put yourselves into the river of grace and float down to where God needs you. No matter what happens, God will bring you home,” said Schlageter.

He is looking forward to the next 25 years, in which he hopes to try to decrease, so that God’s will can increase within him.

“Sometimes, I feel like I’m the luckiest man on the face of the earth.  Even the Pope doesn’t have it this good,” said Schlageter.

After encouraging everyone to stick around after Mass for cake, Schlageter took a moment to say thank you.
“Thank you,” he said. “Thank you, for allowing me to be your priest, for trusting us, for all the smiles you give us everyday.”

No, Father Bob. Thank you.

Related posts:

1. Priest, Nun Duo Brew Catholic Message into On-Tap Night Set Students packed Caldwell Auditorium last night for the first “CUA...
2. 75 Year Old Alumnus is Ordained Priest University alumni Father William Spencer was the oldest man to...
3. CUA Celebrates Christmas The University kicks off the Christmas season tonight with the...
4. University Celebrates Its First National Title Tuesday, under overcast skies, hundreds of members of the CUA...
5. Exclusive Interview with Rev. Charles Curran: Benedict XVI; CUA Ties Extend Over 25 Years Pope Benedict XVI has yet to set foot on campus,...

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.