October 30, 2007

Four men to move one step closer to priesthood

James L. Fugle, James W. Kirkpatrick Jr., David E. Tourville and Robert W. Zilliox Jr. all will be ordained transitional deacons on Friday, Nov. 9, by Bishop Edward U. Kmiec. The ordination will take place in the main chapel at Christ the King Seminary, 711 Knox Rd., East Aurora, at 5 p.m.

The men in this year’s class represent a wide range of backgrounds. Their ages range from 27 to 51 and they hail from all corners of Western New York. Although their personal histories may vary, each man has studied at the seminary, participated in field educational assignments and summer ministry, as well as serving a pastoral year at a local parish. They will graduate from Christ the King Seminary in the spring and are scheduled to be ordained to the priesthood in May.

Fugle, a native of Varysburg in Wyoming County, is a graduate of Attica Central School and Canisius College. He also studied with the Art Instruction School in Minneapolis. His employment experience has included working as a subcontractor, nursing home orderly, sketch artist and toll collector.

During his seminary studies, Fugle worked at the Response to Love Center, Bishop Timon/St. Jude High School, St. John the Evangelist Parish and Sisters Hospital, all in Buffalo, as well as St. Elizabeth’s Residence, Lancaster. He spent his pastoral year at St. Andrew Parish, Kenmore.

The youngest candidate, Kirkpatrick, grew up in Lewiston and attended Niagara Wheatfield High School and Canisius College before entering Christ the King Seminary. He has five years of work experience at Yankee Doodle Brochure Distribution.

Kirkpatrick’s filed and summer ministry included time in parishes, health care and social service organizations. He spent a year working at Bissonette House with Sister Karen Klimczak, SSJ; VOICE Buffalo, St. Vincent de Paul, North Evans; St. Benedict, Eggertsville; and Sisters Hospital and St. Francis Nursing Home, both in Buffalo. To gain pastoral experience, he served at St. John the Baptist Parish, Lockport.

After spending several years in food service management, Tourville made the decision to enter the seminary. He began his studies at Wadhams Hall Seminary College in Ogdensburg, moved on to Canisius College before returning to the seminary at Christ the King.

Born and raised in the Rochester-Batavia area, Tourville served at St. Lawrence Parish, Buffalo; St. Gabriel, Elma; St. Amelia,, Tonawanda; and studied clinical pastoral education at Sisters Hospital and Kenmore Mercy Hospital.

The fourth candidate for ordination is a Buffalo native who spent several years as a chef in local restaurants and a country club on the east coast. Zilliox’s resume includes chef duties at Forest Lake Country Club in Columbia, S.C.; the Holiday Inn, Hamburg; and The Pier, Friar’s Table and Ricky O’s Café, all in Buffalo.

His field education assignments were in campus ministry at the State University of New York at Buffalo, and in the Family Life Department in the Catholic Center. Zilliox spent his summer ministry at St. Mary, Medina; Sisters Hospital, Buffalo; Holy Cross, Buffalo; and Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Lake View, where he also completed his pastoral year assignment. He studied at Cardinal O’Hara High School, Tonawanda, Canisius College and Wadhams Hall Seminary College before entering Christ the King Seminary.

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