Fr. Recker is glad to be back in town

NORWALK — Father Anthony Recker is back in town and is glad to be here. Recker, who took the reigns as pastor of St. Paul the Apostle Roman Catholic Parish at the beginning of this month, spent four years as pastor of St. Mary Mother of the Redeemer Parish, from 2012 to 2016. "The real advantage of coming back to Norwalk is knowing a lot of people already," Recker said. Recker, who was most recently assigned to All Saints Parish in Rossford, joins Fr. Michael Bialorucki, and steps in for the retired Msgr. Ken Morman. "I love Msgr. Ken," said Recker, who recalled having become friends with Morman during his training at St. Mary's Seminary. Morman was in residence there as dean of men and lived in a neighboring dormitory room. "I was ordained in 2009," Recker said. "This is my third parish." Recker's first assignment was at St. Joan of Arc Parish, in Toledo's South End. He was then assigned to St. Mary's and later transferred to All Saints. While in Norwalk, he said, many of his duties overlapped with the three area Catholic parishes; St. Mary, St. Paul and St. Anthony (Milan.) "There are a lot of shared ministries," he said, explaining that priests from the three parishes were heavily involved in their running and that of the Norwalk Catholic School on a daily basis. Recker's first inclination, however, was not to become a priest, but to heal others physically. The fifth of six children of a close-knit family from Napoleon, the future priest studied medicine at the former Medical College of Ohio, in Toledo, now known as University of Toledo Medical Center. He graduated in 2003, as a Doctor of Medicine. Though he felt called to serve God and his fellow man early in his studies at MCO, Recker said, he was committed to finishing the program. During his time at the seminary, he earned the designation, "infirmarian," combining the terms, "infirmary" and "seminarian." "During my first year in medical school, I felt a calling to the priesthood," he said. "I loved it," Recker said of medicine." Recker said about medicine. "I felt called to it, but I felt something missing." The young doctor knew he had to explore his other calling. "As soon as I stepped foot in the seminary, I knew it was right," he said. "I was at peace about it. It was the right thing to do. "I was never out of school until I was 33, but I don't regret any of it." Recker was enthused with his return. "I grew up in a small town, where faith was important," he said. "I love being a priest and I'm excited to be here with the people of Norwalk."