For Fr Martin Bugler, despite celebrating his 60 year jubilee as a priest, the call to priesthood is still a mystery. “Priests come from all backgrounds and starting points,” he said in a homily at his Jubilee Mass, “and for most of us, it is still a mystery. Why me? How me? Am I a real priest?”
“It is a special vocation, a call to special service of God’s people. It comes from love of Jesus. It comes from love of the Church,” Fr Bugler added.
Friends and parishioners from a number of parishes in which Fr Bugler served came together on June 15 at St Joseph’s church in Takapuna to celebrate with him. Mass was followed by a veritable feast at the church’s hall.
St Joseph parish priest Msgr David Tonks jokingly warned guests that they couldn’t keep the sprightly 91-year-old priest up until midnight.
Hamilton Emeritus Bishop Denis Browne concelebrated the Mass along with priests from Auckland diocese’s northern deanery.
Fr Bugler thanked the priests for joining him in his celebration. He also thanked and congratulated Msgr Tonks, who was also celebrating the 43rd anniversary of his ordination as a priest.
Fr Bugler also thanked and blessed all he had the privilege of serving.
“To my beloved community, I say thanks, a thousand thanks. And don’t worry. All will be well. It is not the end. It is a beginning,” he said.
Fr Bugler was born on May 10, 1927 in Seariff, County Clare, Ireland.
He received his priestly training at the Redemptorist House of Studies at Cluain Mhuire, Galway and St Patrick’s College seminary in Thurles. He was ordained in St Patrick’s Cathedral in Thurles on June 15, 1958, and was incardinated into Auckland diocese
and began ministry on December 18 of the same year.
He started out as an assistant parish priest in St Mary’s, Hamilton (1959 –1964). From there he was moved to Holy Cross in Henderson as assistant parish priest up to December, 1969, and also served briefly at St Mary’s parish in Gisborne. He was later made parish priest of St Mary’s, Makaraka, in 1970.
Other parishes in which he served included Cambridge, Dargaville, Owairaka, Papatoetoe, Waiuku, Te Atatu, Pukekohe, Helensville and Milford.
Fr Bugler is moving to St John Vianney House in Ponsonby.
Condolences to everyone who knew and respected Father Bugler. He was the Parish Priest of Christ the King Church in Owairaka for many years.
Father Bugler prayed over me when I was 11yrs old, I played up in the church choir at Pukekohe, during church. He caught me, (the others got away!) and I was a bit scared, but he was really lovely and just prayed over me to ask the Lord to strengthen my faith, and take care of me, and then let me go. At the end of the prayer, I asked him “can I go now father” and he said “yes of course”. Not a harsh word was said by him. I ran out of the church, and the other kids wanted to know what happened. My faith blossomed since that day, and at 67 yrs old now, I realise that that day was meant to be, as my faith has grown since that day. I love the Lord, so part of Father’s legacy lives on in me. I remember that day always, and count myself lucky to have Father pray over me. I know that Father is with the Lord right now. Its only recently looking back that I have now understood this. Amazing!!