Known as "Iron Mike" for his no-nonsense ways, Msgr. Owens' example and devotion to the Eucharist left a mark on Father Classen.
"I tell people the original seeds in my vocation were planted in serving Mass for Msgr. Owens," said Father Classen. "When he was celebrating the Eucharist, using this very chalice and patent, going through the words of the Eucharistic Prayer, even as a little kid, I was aware that something profoundly sacred was taking place. That was a huge inspiration to me."
The story of how Father Classen obtained the chalice is laced with providence. Nearly eight years ago as a seminarian, Father Classen had been volunteering his summers helping out at St. Charles Borromeo. There, he began talking to parish employee Kathy Kasprzyk, who had worked with Msgr. Owens for years.
"Kathy was Msgr. Owens' number-one fan," said Father Classen. "As I was getting closer to ordination, we were kicking around the idea of tracking down his chalice." Through the help of Kasprzyk and others, Father Classen was able to track down the chalice to Father Thomas Begley, now a retired priest of the archdiocese.
It seemed that Father Begley had a family connection to Msgr. Owens and received the chalice after his own ordination. Father Classen contacted him and discovered that Father Begley had placed the chalice in storage in the midst of a priest reassignment. Sadly, he was unable to immediately locate the chalice.
Six months ago, Father Classen once again crossed paths with Father Begley, where the conversation turned to Msgr. Owens and the missing chalice.