Fr. John A. Minkler

WATERVLIET Father John A. Minkler, died Sunday, February 15, 2004. Father Minkler was born in Troy, N.Y. and attended Sacred Heart Elementary School and graduated from Catholic Central High School. He attended Mater Christi Seminary in Albany for his minor seminary (A.A.) and the University Seminary in Ottawa, Canada for his major seminary. (B.A., B.Th. University of Ottawa and B.Ph., S.T.B., St. Paul University, Ottawa). Father was ordained a priest on May 13, 1972 by the Most Reverend Edwin B. Broderick at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, Albany, N.Y. Post-ordination degrees in theology from the University of the State of New York through St. Anthony-on-Hudson Theologate, Rensselaer, N.Y. Father Minkler was the assistant pastor at St. Joseph's Parish in Rensselaer 1972-1979, the diocesan director of Apostleship of Prayer 1974-1980, a member of the Diocesan Family Life Commission of Albany Diocese 1978-1980, auditor of Diocesan Tribunal 1979-1980, assistant at St. Teresa of Avila Parish 1979-1980, secretary to Archbishop Joseph T. Ryan and vice chancellor of the Military Ordinariate, New York City 1980-1984, Defender of the Bond in Court of Second Instance for Military Ordinariate Tribunal 1983-1984, chaplain at Veterans Administration Medical Center 1984-present (Archdiocese for the Military Services). Father Minkler was invested to the Knight of the Holy Sepulchre by John Cardinal O'Connor at St. Patrick's Cathedral, New York City 1998, appointed deputy chaplain to the Sovereign Military Order of Malta by John Cardinal O'Connor 1999, and solemnly professed member of the Secular Order of the Discalced Carmelites. Father Minkler is the son of the late John A. Minkler and Cecelia (Kapela) Minkler. Survivors include his sisters, Patricia Minkler and husband Robert E. Warren, Colleen and Ed Quackenbush; nephews, John (Nicole) Quackenbush, and James Quackenbush; nephew of Edwin and Irene Kapela; and many dear friends. Please have memorial masses offered at St. Joseph's Abbey, 167 North Spencer Road, Spencer, MA, 01562-1233, and all other donations to the Carmelite Monastery, Carmelite Nuns, 428 Duane Avenue, Schenectady, NY, 12304-2691, and the Little Sister's of the Poor, Latham, NY in loving memory of Father Minkler. When remembering our Brother and Friend, please reflect on the following example of how he lived his ministry to Christ: (taken from Liguorian magazine) Father John Minkler responded to a patient's request to see a priest at a VA Hospital in New York. The young man had AIDS. He told his story to Father Minkler, who soon learned that the dying man had been rejected by his family. After administering the sacrament of reconciliation and giving him Communion, Father Minkler called the young man's parents and pleaded with them to come to the bedside of their son, who was quickly slipping away. The young man's mother was at his side when he died. Just before his death, the young veteran expressed his profound gratitude to Father Minkler: Thank you, father, for making it possible for me to see Jesus. That story goes to the very heart of what our brother was about. Condolence page at www.wjlyonsfuneralhome.com