Father James W. Lehr, M.M., a native of Elmhurst, and Father Michael O. Zunno, M.M., of Brooklyn, will celebrate their 60th anniversary of ordination as Maryknoll priests on Sunday, June 23. 

After ordination, Father Lehr spent the next 44 years serving in the Musoma diocese of Tanzania. He ministered as a parish priest, seminary teacher and rector, and full-time chaplain in the Musoma Government Hospital.

While Father Lehr retired and returned to the U.S. in 1997, he continued his ministry part-time at Westchester Medical Center, Valhalla, N.Y. He resides at the Maryknoll Mission Center in Ossining, N.Y.

Father Lehr, who is 86, attended St. Bartholomew’s School, Elmhurst, and Cathedral Prep, Brooklyn, before entering Maryknoll.

Father Zunno, was assigned to the Maryknoll Mission in South Korea in 1954. His pastoral work included teaching, relief work among the poor and catechetical work that extended throughout the Diocese of Cheongju.

In 1961, Father Zunno was appointed first consultor to the Maryknoll Regional Superior, and he subsequently served as consultor for a second term of office. In 1966, he became pastor of the Yeong Dong Parish. In 1969, he was appointed vicar capitular to administer the affairs of the Cheongju Diocese until a new bishop was installed 18 months later.  He also served on Maryknoll’s Korea Regional Council for two terms, 1962-67 and 1971-74.

In 1980, he was transferred to the Diocese of Pusan, where his mission work focused on poor working families in Pan Song Parish. In 1984, he became full-time chaplain at Pusan’s Maryknoll Hospital.  

He returned to the U.S. in 2004 to join the Maryknoll Retirement Community at Maryknoll Mission Center, Ossining. He continues his weekend ministry at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, Williamsburg, and has worked part-time in Maryknoll’s archives department. 

Father Zunno attended P.S. 17, Cathedral Prep and College, Brooklyn, before joining Maryknoll.