Father Acrea celebrates 60 years as a priest

April 13, 2022

While Father John Acrea was in high school in Missouri Valley, he had a conversion experience that changed his life.
Someone gave him a book to take home, saying it was about Church history. It was not. “The Quest for Happiness” penned by the Venerable Louis Granada was a text used in religious education.

“When I got home, I wondered ‘What’s in here?’ I opened it up and the first paragraph, the first words I read go: ‘The almighty Father, Creator of the universe, loves you!’” he said.

“It caused an explosion in my heart and that was it,” said Father Acrea. “All of a sudden, I realized God loved me and that changed my life. It was a big stepping stone.” 

  As he reflected on his 60th anniversary of ordination to priesthood, which is June 3, he said he initially didn’t understand why he was called to be a priest. But as time went on, people would share with him the times when he played a meaningful role in their lives.

Father Acrea studied at Mt. St. Bernard Seminary and Creighton University. Bishop Edward Daly had asked him to get a master’s degree in education with a minor in English so he could teach at Dowling High School when it was in Des Moines. 

“I hated English,” he said. But he did what was asked, and found that he liked to teach. He taught for nine years, served as principal for one year, then studied at the North American College in Rome for a year. He returned to teach for another three years before going to parish ministry.

Father Acrea served both urban and rural parishes, having been at St. Pius X Parish in Urbandale, St. Cecilia Parish in Panora and St. Mary Parish in Guthrie Center.

In 1980, he returned to the faculty of Dowling and the St. Joseph Education Center, serving students and adults for nine more years. Though early in his life he wasn’t so sure about teaching, he returned to that ministry time and time again. He fondly recalls becoming a debate coach, having never debated before, and having four state championship teams plus earning fifth in the nation one year. 

In 1989, Father Acrea returned to parish life, serving St. Ambrose Cathedral Parish, St. Mary/Holy Cross Parish in Elkhart, Holy Spirit Parish in Creston and St. Edward Parish in Afton. 

Nine years later, he became the diocesan Vocations director. At the time, there were three seminarians. He pulled together a promotions committee and started looking for innovative ways to reach young men.

Just a few years later, he made local and national news when he launched a website, vocationsonline.com, to recruit seminarians. He wanted to be where young men were spending time, and that was the internet.

After six years as Vocations director, he served as a director of spiritual formation at St. John Vianney Seminary in Minnesota, then retired in 2007.

In his retirement, Father Acrea can be found frequently at Dowling Catholic concelebrating Mass, hearing confessions and assisting at retreats. He was just at the Radix retreat for high school seniors earlier this month.

A celebration for Father Acrea’s milestone anniversary will be June 11 with a Mass at 4 p.m. and a dinner following at the Basilica of St. John. Cards can be sent to him at 915 Ashworth Road, Apt. 204, West Des Moines, IA 50265. 

Another priest, Father Frank Palmer, also celebrates his 60th anniversary of priestly ordination. Read his story here.