Burrows looks back on 20 years of publishing

By ROXANNE DASS, Star Press Union reporter

William Burrows

After 20 years in the publishing business, a former son of Belle Plaine has retired. Former Belle Plaine resident and Catholic priest William Burrows retired from his position as managing editor of Orbis Books, a publishing company located in Maryknoll, N.Y.

Burrows, known as Bill to family and friends, has traveled the world as a missionary, priest and editor, but still regards Belle Plaine as his home.

“As a former Plainsman, I always hold a spot for Belle Plaine in my heart,” he said.

Burrows was born and raised in Belle Plaine. It’s really no surprise he eventually ended up in the publishing world because his family used to own the Belle Plaine Union from 1912 to 1969, when Don Magdefrau bought it.

Before his return to publishing, Burrows felt called to ministry. He said his biggest influence was the former Belle Plaine priest, Father Ed Flynn.

“I was really drawn to the priesthood because of Father Ed Flynn,” said Burrows. “He always had a great love for missions and he spoke highly of the Divine Word Mission.”

Burrows left Belle Plaine in his junior year of high school and eventually joined the priesthood when he was ordained in Rome in 1971. Burrows then joined the Society of the Divine Word because of its ties to mission.

“I was more interested in the order and mission instead of the dioceses,” said Burrows.

Burrows got his chance to work in mission when he was assigned to go to Papua New Guinea from September 1972 to February 1977.

Burrows spent half his time teaching at a seminary and the other half of his time living in a rural bush mission. He taught theology at the Holy Spirit Seminary in Bomana - the seminary of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands. The seminary was administered by the Society of the Divine Word, but was staffed with several other orders including Marists, Missionaries of the Sacred Heart, Franciscans and Capuchins. He traveled to Wewak for pastoral work in the bush.

During his time in Papua New Guinea, the nation gained its independence in 1975.

“It was a very exciting time to be there,” he said. “Several of my students helped in the battle for independence.”

Burrows left Papua New Guinea in 1977 to pursue a doctorate in theology at the University of Chicago. During his studies, he wrote several scholarly articles based on his experiences in Papua New Guinea.

Although he intended to return to Papua New Guinea, he never did. Burrows instead took up pastoral duties.

In 1985, Burrows made the decision to leave the priesthood after he met and married the love of his life, Linda. Although Burrows had left the priesthood, he wanted to teach and still be involved with mission, but he said he ran into some roadblocks.

“When I left in 1985, Pope John Paul II made it clear he didn’t want Catholic colleges to hire ex-priests,” said Burrows.

Burrows said he wanted to use his training and background, but didn’t know what to do until he received an answer to his prayers. Burrows said he was on a train to Chicago when he reached his lowest point.

“I was reading the Chicago Tribune and all of a sudden I just put the paper down. I prayed ‘Lord, I don’t know how to get back into mission and the church. You need to find a way for me,’” he said. “After I finished the prayer, I just started to cry.”

God must have been listening, said Burrows, because three weeks later, he received a letter from Orbis Books asking him to fill the position of managing editor.

“They were asking for someone with my exact training, I couldn’t believe it,” he said.

In 1989, Burrows began his 20-year career at Orbis Books. Through his years at Orbis Books, Burrows has edited 334 books – 30 percent of the total output of the publisher – in the areas of interreligious dialogue, missiology and world Christianity. As editor, Burrows also wrote and published several books of his own.

“Bill’s books and the authors he has nurtured, constitute a veritable community marked by intelligent, ecumenical and faithful dialogue about the most crucial challenges facing the church in the 21st century,” said Orbis Books publisher Robert Ellsberg.

While Burrows loved his position as managing editor, he said he still missed some aspects of the priesthood.

“I really did love being a pastor and the involvement of pastoral ministries,” said Burrows.

But Burrows admits he would not have been able to enjoy the many opportunities he experienced in the publishing world.

“I was able to do scholarly work and because of my position, I was able to travel to Rome and other places and I was able to meet and speak with different cardinals and bishops,” he said.

Burrows is also grateful for the chance to meet and work with several authors.

“It was exciting work because I got to deal with older people who really knew their trade and topics, but I also worked with newly graduated authors who brought new insights and ideas,” he said. “The past 20 years have truly been rewarding.”

Burrows doesn’t plan to sit still now that he has stepped away from his 20 years as editor. He jokingly said he is only “half retired.” Burrows still helps with editing on a part-time basis with Orbis and he is working on several books. His biggest project was assigned to him by his old order, the Society of the Divine Word. Burrows will write a history of the order’s involvement with the people of Papua New Guinea from 1896 to 1996. Burrows was also appointed research professor of missiology at the New York Theological Seminary in New York City.

Burrows and his wife Linda live in Cortlandt Manor, N.Y. When Burrows isn’t busy editing and writing, he enjoys reading, woodworking, traveling and cooking.

UPDATED July 8, 2009 9:40 AM