by Father John STURM
I am extremely happy in my vocation. To live and work for the greater honor and glory of
God is filled with countless built-in rewards.
I was well grounded in my vocation. My mother and father were my first channels of grace.
Basic Catholic faith, reading and writing were learned at Most Holy Redeemer taught by the
Sisters of St. Francis. My education continued at Canisius High school and I graduated in
1935. After two years of sports and studies at Canisius College I was convinced that the
Lord was calling me. After much prayer I entered the Society of Jesus, on September 7,
1937.
There is a special place in my heart for the Society of Jesus. In my first year as a
novice I experienced the Society’s love and companionship when my father passed away.
I cannot speak too highly of the friendship, sharing and understanding of my brothers in
Christ. This was notably evident during World War II, when two to three hundred men lived
together for three years at Woodstock College and were never allowed to leave the
property! It was, in its own way, a grace-filled period, teaching me a very valuable
lesson of life: the acceptance of others.
I welcomed my first assignment as prefect of discipline at Canisius High School, which was
my alma mater. Having been newly ordained, I was advised that it might be difficult to
reconcile the responsibilities of Prefect with work as a priest. This was true, but like a
seed buried in the ground, the grace of God was at work. I enjoyed being with the students
and I eventually devoted 20 years of my life to them. One had to rely on the Holy Spirit
in order to stay ahead of 900 young men, some rather mischievous. My line was simple:
“If you want mercy, go to God. I hand out strict justice, don’t beg.”
I was brokenhearted when I left Canisius, but God opened another door called Marriage
Encounter. For me, this was a new and thrilling way to experience the love of God. For 20
years I directed many “encounters”. The love of God, so evident in the love of
these couples, spilled over into my heart and opened it even wider to welcome and embrace
God’s people. My own spiritual life deepened as the Scriptures and the love of these
couples revealed in a profound way the beauty of God’s love and mercy in creation. I
became a new person, a new creation, free in the love of God.
My next assignment was to serve at St. Michael’s Church, and here you will find me
still. Our Jesuit community is yet another source of peace and joy for me. Life for me is
like the ice cream on a piece of apple pie. Our parishioners are models of deep faith and
dedication to prayer. Their personal example and their practice of the sacramental life
have urged me to deepen once again my own spiritual life. Channels of grace again!
I have been and continue to be a happy priest. I enjoy life and the goodness of God’s
earth and people. Golf is my favorite hobby. My life has been filled with many wonderful
surprises. Given other options, I would do it all over again. My heart is grateful to all
whom I have encountered, for they - as channels of God’s grace - have molded me into
the person and priest I am. I have no regrets. Thanks be to God and to our Blessed Mother
and my loving mother and father!
Editor’s note: (Excerpt taken from a story previously printed on Tim
Russert) “Tim did a marvelous job working at the door for us,” Father Sturm
said. “He could really talk to people and sympathize with them.” Both then and
now, Tim knows that’s an ultimate compliment from a man who demands only the best.
“He was the prefect of discipline,” Tim said. “With just one look he could
seriously alter my behavior—or else. It was behavior modification to the
‘nth’ degree. And if you didn’t respond he would use any necessary means to
bring you into line. It worked. It worked in a very strong way.”