Born in Chicago and raised in Aurora (St. Therese Parish), Father John Fahnestock, MSC, made his vows as a Missionary of the Sacred Heart on Sept. 13, 1965.

He attended Sacred Heart Major Seminary in Shelby, Ohio, and the Catholic Theological Union in Chicago. He was ordained to the priesthood in 1971.

From 1971-1972, Father Fahnstock taught religion at the MSC minor seminary in Geneva. From 1972-1973, he served at a parish in Pennysylvania, then worked in the MSC vocations office in Center Valley, Pennsylvania (1974-1978).

From 1978-1982, he was at a parish in Rhode Island, and from 1982-1984, he served at Holy Family Parish in Nazareth, Pennsylvania. From 1985 to the present, he has been in the Diocese of San Bernadino, California.

Father Fahnestock is currently parochial vicar for Holy Family Parish in Hesperia, California, and dean (vicar forane) of the High Desert Vicariate (deanery).