Retired priest still serving at 90

Osakis man has been priest for 65 years

By Joe Korkowski, The Church of St. Mary, Alexandria; published in The Central Minnesota Catholic; republished with permission

Retired New Ulm priest Father Fink makes his home near Osakis. Fink is still serving in the area at age 90. Contributed photo

Father Fred Fink is a thoughtful, kind, caring man who has put in countless hours in an effort to help his fellow man. As of Feb. 25, he has been a Catholic priest for 65 years! When looking back at all of those years spent serving the Church, one would think he’s ready to be completely done with any priestly duties. Nothing could be further from the truth.

 “I wish I had, in a sense, the energy back 50 years ago, the spiritual energy and the vocational energy that I feel today,” said Fink. “It’s been a really enjoyable time.”

The motor that propels him to constantly want to grow his spiritual life, and therefore benefit others as a result, is evidenced by his calendar. Although he still fills in at Mass from time to time, both in the nursing homes and in any of the three churches in the Come to the Water ACC, his time is spent contributing to various committees that complement his vocation and serve others. One of those ministries is the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA). Through that program, he can walk along with people hungry to become fully initiated into the Catholic Church. It is part of the main reason he entered the priesthood at age 25. Growing up in Eden Valley, Father Fred was ordained in the New Ulm Diocese and served in a variety of parishes throughout his priesthood. Upon retiring in 2005, at the age of 70, he chose to move up and live by a lake in the Osakis area.

Father Fred Fink is pictured leading a sermon. Contributed photo

He remembers that even though he grew up in a faith-filled home, his understanding of God was limited. One day at seminary, he and a classmate walked by the chapel. The friend said he was going to go in and say “good morning” to God.  Fr. Fred thought that was “pretty gutsy” to just go in and talk to God. He has later come to appreciate having that kind of a relationship. He was so worried about having to be perfect that he didn’t feel worthy of being a priest, but his friendship with their local priest helped him understand that a priest is not someone to put on a pedestal, but someone who could be a friend, a guide, despite not being without flaws. He says he had a spiritual director who taught him how to relax in the presence of God. That God is on his side. That God is a friend. Through this revelation and many other points in his priesthood, he has “come to understand the huge need people have to understand our God better, to understand our Church better. So that God is a real positive force in their life... and that they feel supported by, encouraged by, hope-filled by, that kind of friendship.”

Father Fred Fink is pictured helping at a fundraiser. Contributed photo

Father said his Bishop, years ago, Bishop Lucker, told him, “You never have to be afraid of the truth. The truth of science, the truth of the world, can never be in conflict with the truth of God.”

To learn more about Father Fred’s faith journey, visit https://www.stmaryalexandria.org/father-fred-celebrates-65-years-as-priest/. Thanks to The Central Minnesota Catholic and Joe Korkowski for allowing us to republish the article