Becoming a Priest at Age 71

The bishop knew who he wanted – and he got his man.

That, in a nutshell, is the story of Bishop Dale J. Melczek of Gary, Indiana, and David T. Link, former dean of the Law School at the University of Notre Dame and now, after studying for the priesthood, Father Link. But there’s a great deal more to the story than that, of course, and it goes something like this...

David Link was a family man, with a large family at that. He and his wife had five children and 13 grandchildren, and he found much satisfaction in his work. He had begun teaching at Notre Dame in 1970 and served as dean of the law school there from 1975 to 1999, turning out more than 4,000 future attorneys over the years. They were good ones, too.

Following his own pattern as a young lawyer – he reserved one day a week to see those who couldn’t afford to pay him, and served as cofounder of a center for the homeless in South Bend – they carved out careers marked by pro bono work, civil rights activism, and a view of the legal profession as something noble.

“That all came out of Dave Link’s pulpit,” one of them said.

With his career winding down, Link’s wife, Barbara, suggested that he try prison ministry as a volunteer. Reluctantly at first, then warming to the task, he discovered how much he enjoyed it. At the Indiana State Prison in Michigan City, he found himself teaching “lifers” with no guards and marveled at their eagerness to learn.

“They’re all children of God,” Link told Jeanette Flood of Our Sunday Visitor.

He suffered sad times, too. Barbara died in 2003, and Link stepped up his volunteer work at the prison as a sort of therapy. “I needed to be needed,” was the way he put it.

Meanwhile his work with prisoners was attracting attention, and among those who were impressed was Bishop Melczek. “You’ve been doing a lot of prison ministry,” he told Link. “I need a prison chaplain. Would you consider going into the seminary?”

After prayerfully thinking it over, and discussing it with his own family, he said that indeed he would. He enrolled at Sacred Heart School of Theology in Wisconsin, where he sailed through his courses, and on June 7, 2008, he was ordained a priest by Bishop Melczek in Holy Angels Cathedral in Gary. As promised, the bishop assigned Father Link to the post of prison chaplain – at the age of 71 – and he’s been there since.

“I’m 71 and I finally know what I want to do,” he said at the time. “I’m at the highest point I could ever be.” His enthusiasm for his calling continues to this day, totally unabated.

Father Link is conscious of his family background, and the prisoners know that as well. “I’m old enough to be their dad or grandfather so I’m the one they talk to, and they bare their souls to me,” he said. “I’m privileged – in addition to being their spiritual father – to be able to be their surrogate father too.”

Still, he never loses sight of his main goal, and more than enjoying it, he delights in it.

“I need to bring them hope, and knowledge of eternal life.” He paused. “And I love that.”

(This essay is a recent “Light One Candle” column, written by Jerry Costello, of The Christophers; it is one of a series of weekly columns that deal with a variety of topics and current events.)

Background information:

The Christophers: Christopher Radio & Video