Franciscan Media Celebrates Fr. Jack's Work
Fr. Jack Wintz, OFM, reminisced about some of his favorite stories and photos.
November 19, Franciscan Media had a retirement party for Fr. Jack Wintz, OFM, to celebrate his more than 40 years of writing with the company. Fr. Dan Kroger, OFM, Publisher and CEO of Franciscan Media and the Employee Committee provided a Skyline Chili luncheon. (Every Tuesday Jack continues his tradition of having Skyline with some staff members.)
The staff of Franciscan Media enjoys a Skyline Chili lunch
John Feister, Editor-in-Chief of Franciscan Media, recounted how Fr. Norman Perry, OFM, called a young friar who was teaching literature in the Philippines to come to Cincinnati to head up a new project entitled Catholic Update. This publication reached millions of Catholics throughout the United States and the English speaking world. Forty years later Jack is passing the baton on to author Joan McKamey.
Tom Shumate, Chief Operating Officer of Franciscan Media, recalled how Fr. Jack taught him literature as a freshman in high school and how he truly impressed him with his Franciscan spirit. Tom thought Fr. Jack was always chasing the stars with interviews with actors such as Gene Kelly, Martin Sheen and Brooke Shields—all of which he crafted into popular stories in St. Anthony Messenger.
Fr. Jack visits with Martin Sheen and son Emilio Estevez on the movie set of 'The Way'
But in addition to his gifted writing skills, folks remembered Jack for being a real team player and helping others to pull together to have a great magazine and a great place to be creative.
Jack met the challenge of developing Friar Jack’s E spirations, even though he didn’t understand the Internet very much at the time. Now his popular electronic column reaches over 30,000 subscribers a month. That’s quite an achievement! Other friars are continuing his e-newsletter endeavors.
When Fr. Jack took the podium, he showed off his photographic skills with two cover stories that he was very proud of—one on Hiroshima and one on St. Anthony. He enjoyed the international travel. The trip to Nagasaki and Hiroshima had a profound impact on him. He met survivors of the atomic blast and interviewed them for his cover story.
He was also touched by a trip to Nicaragua where he visited Fr. Oscar Romero’s tomb and spoke with people who knew him intimately.
Tom Shumate, Chief Operating Officer of Franciscan Media gives Fr. Jack a retirement gift.
In Chile he was in a crowd of protestors of the Pinochet regime when they were tear-gassed, and he had to run away with his eyes burning from the chemicals. He turned all these travels into significant articles for St. Anthony Messenger.
Fr. Jack had an exciting and fulfilling ministry at Franciscan Media and he is very grateful for his friends and colleagues who worked together side-by-side over the years.
Fr. Jack's books and audio tapes from Franciscan Media.
