He Is Years Ahead
Diocesan Press Service. August 12, 1963 [XII-6]
One of Panama's newest priests, the Rev. John B. Fields, is already well acquainted with the district he will serve. Father Fields was ordained by the Rt. Rev. R. Heber Gooden, Missionary Bishop of the Panama Canal Zone on June 1, 57 years after his first arrival in Panama.
Father Fields was born in Gatesville, Tex. and came to the Canal Zone with his parents in 1906. His father was Construction Quartermaster for the Canal. After graduation from the Canal Zone high school in 1920 and the University of Texas in 1924, Father Fields worked with the United Fruit Company in Honduras for one year. He then returned to the United States where he worked for the Texas Highway Department for several years before joining the Texas Highway Patrol in 1938. In 1939 he returned to Panama and worked for the Panama Canal until his retirement in 1962.
After many years of local study under the direction of the Rev. John H. Townsend and while still employed, Father Fields was ordained to the Diaconate by Bishop Gooden in 1961. During this time, he assisted at the Cathedral of St. Luke. In August 1962 he enrolled as a special student in the Seminario Episcopal del Caribe and completed the special course in May, 1963.
Father Fields is married to the former Annette Fillius, employed by the Canal Zone as a medical technologist in Gorgas Hospital Laboratory. The Fields have two children.
Bishop Gooden has announced that the newly ordained priest will be the administrative assistant in the district office and will assist as needed in various churches throughout the district.