Ater decades of working as a Roman Catholic priest in Western Pennsylvania, John Geinzer decided to join the Navy. It was an unusual career choice for a 57-year-old, but a love of the sea and a desire to give back to his country led Geinzer to serve a seven-year stint in the military. Now back in the Pittsburgh area, Father Geinzer has been the priest at St. Barbara’s Church in Collier Township since last year. He took time out to talk to the South Fayette Source recently about what it’s like to be a priest these days – on land and at sea.

Photo: John Geinzer outside St. Barbara’s in Collier

How did you decide to enter the priesthood?
I first thought about it when I was in seventh grade. I went to St. Luke’s in Carnegie, which was a co-ed high school. I did all the things high school boys did, including going to dances – in fact, the girl I took to the prom now attends church here with her husband. After high school, I applied to the Diocese of Pittsburgh. It’s four years of school, like any other college, then four more years of graduate school. I spent those four years in Rome.

Did you have to learn Italian?
The classes were taught in Latin.

What is the biggest misconception people have about the daily lives of priests?
People think that we don’t have anything to do between masses. It’s kind of a humorous misconception. In church, that’s what they see you doing, so that must be all that you do. A good portion of the day is actually administrative. I don’t think most of us priests like this, but it’s a necessity – budget management, bill paying, that sort of thing.

What is your average day like?
I’m up around six; then I have a mass at seven. I probably spend most of the morning getting things ready for the weekly bulletin, reading mail, and handling administrative matters.Then I’ll visit Country Meadows, St. Clair Hospital and the homes of people who can’t come to church. In the evenings, I might meet with the pastoral council, or a couple who want their child baptized.

From 2000 to 2007 you left Western Pennsylvania to serve as a Navy chaplain. How did that come about?
I wanted to become a Navy chaplain to do something to express thanks to those who defend our freedoms, especially freedom of religious expression. It was the only assignment I’ve ever asked for as a priest, although I did have a few other motives. I love ships. I love to be on a ship at sea and look out to the horizon. It makes you think, “Who made this?”

Where did the idea come from?
One day I received a letter that a rabbi sent out to Catholic priests noting the shortage of Catholic chaplains in the Navy.The age cutoff for Catholic priests is 55, though. I was 57. But then there was a series of unusual circumstances that ended up with me accidentally meeting an admiral in Turtle Creek. I walked into a church office to see somebody else and the admiral happened to be there.We talked, and he promised to write a letter on my behalf, and advising me that the Navy would welcome me as a chaplain if the bishop would give me permission.

Do they put you through basic training?
There was an 11-week training course. Mostly classroom work, but some physical training as well. Part of it was learning how to handle a fire on a ship and plug leaks.The classroom part of it was learning how to work within an institution versus within a congregation, and working with people of various faiths.

Then the Navy assigned you to a ship?
For two years, I was stationed at a base in Sardinia in the Mediterranean.Then I was stationed aboard the USS Essex, which ported in Japan.The Marines had about 20 helicopters and 6 Harrier jets onboard. I lived right beneath the flight deck, so when they were landing, it was hard to talk. I lived on the Essex, but on weekends I would be flown to two other ships to conduct masses for the Catholic sailors. Overall, though, the work was more ecumenical, working with lots of people of different faiths and backgrounds, or no faith at all. I liked that. I have a lot of training from Duquesne University in counseling, and I think I was able to help.

How has the job of a priest changed over the years?
Since I came back from the Navy, the biggest changes I’ve noticed are all the precautions to prevent child abuse.We have to make sure that if anyone has any regular contact with children – even if it’s a Sunday school teacher, a church usher, or a lector –that they get screened by the Pennsylvania state police for a criminal background check and a child abuse clearance.

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