55 Years

Bishop Victor H. Balke

Celebrating 55 years since ordination in 2013 is Bishop Victor Balke, a Springfield diocesan priest who served as bishop of the Diocese of Crookston, Minn., for over 31 years. He retired Nov. 20, 2007 and moved to his current home in Moorhead, Minn., where he helps out at St. Joseph Parish and "some other places."

St. Joseph is the largest parish in a rather small diocese, he says. "I am enjoying my retirement. I have a good balance now of relaxing, reading and ministering."

A native of Meppen, he was ordained a priest by Bishop William A. O'Connor on May 24, 1958 at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception. His first assignment was associate pastor at Cathedral Parish and chaplain at St. Joseph's Home. He was procurator of the diocesan seminary on Lake Springfield from 1964 to 1970 and the rector of that seminary from 1970 to 1976.

He was appointed sixth bishop of Crookston on July 3, 1976 and ordained and installed on Sept. 2, 1976. During his tenure, Bishop Balke encouraged the evangelization movements of Teens Encounter Christ, Cursillo, Koinonia and Marriage Encounter.

Bishop Balke reorganized the central administration of the diocese, implemented the 1983 Code of Canon Law and codified diocesan policies, encouraged renovation and building improvements in parishes, established an improved retirement program for elderly clergy and a benefit program for all clergy and laity employed by the church in the Crookston diocese.

When Bishop Joseph A. McNicholas died unexpectedly in the spring of 1983, the Springfield diocese was temporarily without a bishop. Therefore, special permission was obtained through the pro-nuncio in Washington, D.C., for Bishop Balke to return to Springfield to ordain Father Gerald L. Bunse, Father Kevin M. Laughery, Father Joseph Molloy and Father Richard Weltin, all priests who celebrated their 25-year silver jubilee in the priesthood in 2008, the same year that Bishop Balke celebrated his golden jubilee.

Bishop Balke returned to the Springfield diocese for another ordination in September 2009. He ordained now-Father Stephen Thompson to the transitional diaconate because the Springfield diocese was between bishops at that time — Archbishop George J. Lucas had already moved on to Omaha and Bishop Thomas John Paprocki had not yet been appointed.

Bishop Balke still has a few relatives living in the Springfield diocese. "I have a brother, Ralph, who is a member of St. Mary's in Alton and my brother-in-law Ellis Holleman lives in Jerseyville," he says. His sister-in-law, Margie Balke, who was married to his late twin brother, lives in Colorado Springs.

Previous commitments will prevent Bishop Balke from attending the celebration in Illinois, but he says he is truly grateful for the invitation. He jokes that since he is remaining in Minnesota, with any luck the snow in his area will be all melted by then.

"Oh, we have had a horrible winter and so much snow this year," he says, adding that as of late April, there was still some of the frozen no-longer-so-white stuff piled up in many areas. "Everybody is so sick and tired of it — even those of us who have lived here for years. We're ready for warmer weather. "

— By Diane Schlindwein

Father Thomas Gallenbach

Nevada is still home for Father Thomas Gallenbach, who is celebrating the 55th anniversary of his ordination.

Father Gallenbach is a Decatur native who was ordained a priest in the Springfield diocese in 1958, but went on to serve much of the last 55 years as a military chaplain in the Air Force. When he retired from the military in 1993, the dry climate in Nevada, where he had been stationed in the early 1970s, appealed to the priest.

"As a kid growing up in Decatur, I was asthmatic. So when I retired, I decided to move to a dry climate to live," Father Gallenbach told Catholic Times, at his golden jubilee celebration in 2008.

While retired from the military, Father Gallenbach continues to serve as an associate pastor at St. Joseph, Husband of Mary Parish in Las Vegas.

Like four others in his ordination class, Father Gallenbach came from St. James (now Ss. James and Patrick) Parish in Decatur. He went to the parish school and then on to St. Teresa High School. Father John Sohm at St. Columcille in Sullivan, was his classmate at both schools, as were Father Robert Rebert and Father David Munn, both of whom are deceased. Another ordination classmate, Father William Kekeisen, who was two years ahead of them at St. James and at St. Teresa, is also deceased. Father David Peters was a member of their St. Teresa class of 1950.

Father Gallenbach was 31 when he entered the military service, and 61 when he retired from the Air Force, after serving all over the world — in Vietnam, Taiwan, Thailand and in the Pacific.

— By Cathy Locher

Father David L. Peters

On May 24, Father David Peters will have two reasons to be thankful. He will have been a priest for 55 years and he'll be celebrating turning 81 years old.

It was 1958 when Bishop William A. O'Connor ordained Father Peters a priest for the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception. His first assignment was Blessed Sacrament Parish. He was an assistant there from 1958 to 1962 and then at St. Patrick Parish, Alton from 1962 to 1966.

From 1966 to 1972 he was a chaplain at St. John's Hospital, Springfield and then was co-administrator of St. Anthony of Padua Parish, Effingham from 1972 to 1976.

As a pastor, Father Peters served at St. Michael Parish in Staunton; St. Bernard Parish in Wood River; St. James Parish in St. Jacob; and then spent the last 20 years of his active priesthood as pastor of St. Paul Parish in Highland. He still lives in Highland and sometimes fills in for other priests, as needed.

Father Peters says he looks forward to attending the May celebration for priests and also to seeing at least some of the men he was ordained with. "We've kept in contact over the years, but of course half of us are gone now. There were eight of us ordained together but now we've lost four," he says, speaking of his late ordination classmates Father David Munn, Father Robert Rebert, Father William Kekeisen and Father Donald Meehling.

Six of the members of the class of 1958 were from Decatur, including Father Peters, who has three siblings who still live in that city. "All of them live in Decatur — my brothers who are twins, Larry and Terry Peters, are three years younger than me and my sister, Mary Lou Johnson, who is 13 years younger," he says.

Since his retirement in 2007 Father Peters has kept busy doing a little traveling, playing golf at the Highland Country Club, and remaining active in the Rotary Club. He also enjoys watching the St. Louis Cardinals on television.

Father Peters came out of retirement for a while in 2011 to act as parochial administrator for St. Anthony of Padua Parish in Effingham and Annunciation Parish in Shumway. From 2004 to 2012 he was associate vicar for retired priests. Last year Bishop Thomas John Paprocki appointed him the diocesan delegate for senior priests.

— By Diane Schlindwein

Father John Sohm

Father John Sohm is celebrating 55 years in the priesthood. He was ordained May 24, 1958 by Bishop William A. O'Connor in the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception.

"It seems like we just celebrated our golden jubilee not very long ago," says the still active parochial administrator of St. Columcille in Sullivan.

"When I think back over my decision" (to become a priest) "I think — no, I am sure — I made the right choice," he says. "Looking back, I love it."

Father Sohm says every new assignment he received during his 55 years as a priest brought with it new experiences, new relationships and new challenges. But with age, he admits, there comes limitations.

People need to ask themselves "what really matters, what to focus on and what to let go," he maintains.

Now at 55 years as a priest, rather than run through the long list of places where he has served and positions he had held, Father Sohm says he prefers to share some thoughts with Catholic Times readers.

"Marking 55 years prompts some scattered thoughts," says Father Sohm. "I think of our ordination class of eight. Four are in heaven, and four on earth."

Four members of the ordination class of 1958 have died, two since their golden jubilee celebration — Fathers Bill Kekeisen, Donald Meehling. The other two are Fathers David Munn and Robert Rebert.

"They are face to face with our High Priest," he says. "We four on earth, we count on their prayers of intercession for us. God's providence is so mysterious — why are they there and we are here? Who knows the mind of God?

"As priests our class has known seven popes, and five bishops," he says.

He says he thinks "of what Pope Francis said so simply in five words, after ordaining 10 men on April 21. He told them, 'you are pastors, not functionaries.'"

In "our thoughts are the people who have been so good to us, and for the priestly camaraderie in our diocese," says Father Sohm. "Dominant among all these scattered thoughts is gratitude to God for his sustaining grace."

— By Cathy Locher

50 Years

Father John M. Savoree

Father John Savoree is celebrating 50 years as a priest this month. He was one of three men ordained by Bishop William A. O'Connor on May 25, 1963 at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception.

A native of Paris, Father Savoree was raised in St. Mary Parish there, where he grew up with four brothers and two sisters (born over 25 years) just across the street from the church. He attended St. Mary Grade School and Paris High School — and as a junior in high school transferred to St. Henry's Preparatory Seminary in Belleville. He took his studies for the priesthood at the Diocesan Latin School, Springfield, and St. Mary of the Lake Seminary in Mundelein.

After celebrating his first Mass at St. Mary Church in Paris, Father Savoree was assigned as an assistant at another St. Mary Parish — this one in Taylorville. Later, he was also an assistant at St. James in Decatur. In 1967 he was appointed administrator of St. Maurice Parish, Morrisonville, for a short time and then returned to St. James until 1969. He then moved to St. Ambrose Parish in Godfrey until 1971.

During the rest of the 1970s, Father Savoree served at St. Mary Parish, Brussels; St. Denis Parish, Shipman; St. John Parish, Medora; St. Elizabeth Parish, Granite City; and Immaculate Conception Parish in Mattoon. He was pastor of St. Louis Parish in Nokomis from late 1979 to 1984 and also parochial administrator of St. Barbara Parish in Witt from 1983 to 1984. He was pastor of Sacred Heart Parish in Franklin from 1985 to 1990.

For most of the 1990s Father Savoree was parochial vicar of St. Boniface Parish in Edwardsville and then at St. Mary Parish, Pawnee. He spent the last dozen years of his active priesthood as parochial vicar and the parochial administrator of St. Clare Parish, Altamont; St. Anne Parish, Edgewood; St. Bonaventure Parish, St. Elmo; and St. Mary Parish, St. Elmo.

Father Savoree retired in 2008 and moved back to his hometown of Paris, so he could live closer to his family members. He fills in at Masses as needed and helps out St. Mary Parish pastor Father David Zimmerman by celebrating the morning daily Mass every Monday.

A real animal lover, Father Savoree used to raise chickens, but he now lives with his two dogs: a cocker spaniel named Carbo and a mixed breed — formerly abandoned — dog called Wolfie. "I live outside of town and I love having all the wildlife out here. We have deer, ducks, a heron and an eagle," he says. "The other day we had 30 wild turkeys up here in the yard."

Looking back on his priesthood, Father Savoree says, "Mass is the greatest thing. I celebrate Mass every day in my home in a special prayer room. Sometimes my brothers come here for that." His brother Mark lives nearby and his brother Kevin lives mostly in Indianapolis but still has a home in Paris. His sister, Mary Ann Morrisey, resides in Paris as well.

On Sunday, June 16 Father Savoree will celebrate Mass and gather with friends and family at St. Mary Parish in Paris. "I'm going to try to make it more of a family reunion than a celebration for me," he says.

— By Diane Schlindwein

Father Kevin B. Sullivan

Father Kevin Sullivan will celebrate his golden jubilee Mass at St. Mary Church in New Berlin on May 26, the date of his first Mass in New Berlin 50 years ago. He was ordained May 25, 1963, by Bishop William A. O'Connor at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Springfield.

The youngest of nine children of John T. and Mary Grace Leahy Sullivan, he was raised on the family farm. Three of his six sisters, Eleanor Killian, Catherine Hewett and Lori Killian are living; his sisters Marjorie Nafziger, Dorothy Dannacher and Marcella Greazel are deceased, as are his brothers, John T. Jr., and William.

He attended St. Mary Grade School, New Berlin High School, and spent a year at the University of Notre Dame in South Bend majoring in engineering before returning home to enter the diocesan Latin School in New Berlin. He went on to St. Mary of the Lake Seminary, Mundelein, where he earned his philosophy and theology degrees.

"The priesthood was on my mind since childhood," Father Sullivan says. "Father Fanning, our pastor, was the only priest I knew for the first 17 years of my life. I was an altar server for eight years during grade and high school, and played the parish organ for weekday Mass my final years of high school.

"My Mom and Dad were fertile soil for the seeds of God's calling me to priesthood. Every night we had the family rosary at 9 p.m. sharp, and there were no questions about homework or the TV, which was new then. Mom turned off the TV, and we all knelt down. Dad too was 'fertile soil' for my vocation, with his tenor voice. I watched him give of himself regularly to sing at weddings and funerals throughout the area."

His first assignment after ordination was as an assistant at St. James, Decatur, where he says, "I met Father Marty O'Hara, the other assistant at St. James, who would become my best friend and spiritual mentor until his death in 2011. I miss him."

Father Sullivan served as an assistant pastor at Sacred Heart, (now Holy Family) in Granite City, and at the Cathedral and at St. Aloysius in Springfield.

While serving as director of the diocesan Office for Religious Education, he served on the NRE board, the Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, and the Society for the Propagation of the Faith. As director of the diocesan Office for the Missions, he was involved with the Holy Childhood Association, and was appointed to the National Mission Board, which consisted of 18 diocesan mission directors from throughout the nation.

He was pastor of Our Lady of Lourdes, Decatur, and at Our Lady Queen of Peace, Bethalto, and maintains "Our Blessed Mother has played a significant role in my life. First, my home parish is St. Mary's, then it was on to Notre Dame, (Our Lady), two seminaries named for Mary, and most of my parish assignments were named in honor of Mary." Mary Grace was his mother's name; and her mother's name was Anne.

In the St. Anne Chapel at Our Lady of Lourdes, a statue of St. Anne is dedicated in memory of his mother, and at Our Lady Queen of Peace, the church bells are dedicated in memory of his mother and father.

Father Sullivan is retired and lives in Phoenix, Ariz., where he serves as a licensed hospice volunteer and also volunteers several days a week at the St. Vincent DePaul Homeless Shelter there.

"As I look back, I cannot believe it's been 50 years," says Father Sullivan. "At the priests' jubilee day last year, guest speaker Father Dan Coughlin, told us, 'To become a priest is like boarding a train, where God alone knows where it will take you. But God never asks anything of us without promising to be with us on the ride.'"

— By Cathy Locher

25 Years

Father Daniel J. Bergbower

Father Dan Bergbower is approaching his silver jubilee as a diocesan priest. He will celebrate 25 years in late November. While the majority of diocesan priests are ordained in May, Father Bergbower explains that his curriculum at Kenrick Seminary was extended by six months to allow for an acolyte internship.

"They placed us in parishes for six months to live and minister to help us discern our vocations," he says. "This actually turned out very well for I was ordained on Nov. 26, 1988, which was my parents' 33rd wedding anniversary. How cool is that!" His parents, Donald and Donna Bergbower of Effingham, will celebrate their 58th wedding anniversary this year.

Father Bergbower is both a parish priest and a military man. He has served as parochial vicar at St. Ambrose Parish, Godfrey; Our Lady of Lourdes Parish, Decatur; and Sacred Heart Parish, Effingham. He was then named parochial administrator at Sacred Heart, Effingham, and later to St. Anne Parish, Edgewood, and St. Bonaventure Parish, St. Elmo. Beginning in 1995 he was appointed pastor of Sacred Heart in Effingham until 2004, when he became pastor of St. Peter Parish in Quincy.

In 2008, Father Bergbower became a chaplain for the Air National Guard and spent several years in active duty. He then returned to be parochial administer for St. Peter in Quincy for one year. In 2012 he was named pastor of St. Mary Parish in Edwardsville and recently was also named parochial administrator of St. Cecilia Parish in Glen Carbon. He says it is "a great joy" to have been assigned to all those parishes.

Looking back at his youth, Father Bergbower isn't surprised that he ended up joining the military. "My parents met and were married in San Diego when my dad was in the Navy," he says. "My oldest sister was born in San Francisco. My older brother and I were born in Honolulu and my two younger brothers were born in Arkansas when my dad was a Navy recruiter."

When his father retired, the family moved to Newton. "It was natural for me to look for a way to reconnect with my military roots," Father Bergbower says. "While in the seminary I participated in the Air Force Chaplain Candidate program. The Air Force chaplaincy appeared to mirror the life of a diocesan priest most closely.

"A few years after ordination I joined the Air National Guard, which tremendously complemented my ministry and enhanced my life and military roots," he says. "Most recently I spent three years full-time with the Air Force serving in Qatar, Kuwait and Kyrgyzstan supporting our troops flowing in and out of Iraq and Afghanistan. These were ministry-rich environments allowing the sacraments to be provided to our young soldiers heading into harms way."

Father Bergbower says many people have guided him throughout his priestly vocation — his priest friends, the diocesan bishop, diocesan colleagues, parish families, his military family and his personal family. "All these guide and direct me in this vocation. I would say that there were some times that were more challenging and stressful than others but God would always send faith-filled and wise people to lead the way through those challenges. Through faith and prayers in God and each other any dark days were conquered in some miraculous ways."

There are some things that Father Bergbower wants people to know about the priesthood. "As a priest I have been inserted into peoples' lives at the most critical times for counsel, comfort and prayer. It is extremely humbling and ultimately rewarding. The reciprocity of caring for others and being cared for has afforded me a wealth of powerfully fulfilling relationships, life experiences and 'God moments' standing on 'holy ground' with his people.

"Anybody who has even the slightest inclination toward religious life should take a leap of faith and try it. Even if you are not ordained or professed you will be greatly rewarded for any time spent in formation and will be a great asset to God's church," he says.

"Each parish has been filled with kind, fun-loving and faith-filled people who have tremendously impacted my life and have shown me God's goodness in an overwhelming manner," he says. "As new assignments occur I am left with the feeling that my last parish experience could not get any better; yet in God's providence the next parish is filled with even more awesome ministry experiences. It is with great joy and wonderment that I look forward to the next 25 years of ministry with God's people."

Because Father Bergbower's anniversary is still months away, he says plans aren't complete, but a parish celebration is tentatively planned for January 2014 at St. Mary Parish in Edwardsville.

Father Steven Janoski

Father Steven Janoski is celebrating his silver jubilee. He was ordained May 28, 1988 at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception by Bishop Daniel L. Ryan.

A native of St. Louis, he went to Cardinal Glennon College and Kenrick Seminary in St. Louis, and went on to Mundelein Seminary to complete his studies.

"I joined the Springfield diocese through Bishop Ryan," Father Janoski says.

Father Janoski has served as chaplain at Benedictine University in Springfield since 2009. "I spend most of my time today at Benedictine, where I also teach theology," says Father Janoski, who resides in the Christ the King rectory. In 2012 he was also named chaplain at the University of Illinois at Springfield. On Sunday evenings during the fall and winter terms he celebrates Mass at UIS in a classroom set aside for that purpose.

"I love it (serving as a chaplain). There is such a promise, such a hope for the future. It makes me feel old; it makes me feel young. I think there is such a hunger to grow closer to the church, to Christ himself," says Father Janoski.

On Monday mornings during the school year he celebrates Mass at the Dominican motherhouse; Wednesday and Thursday mornings he celebrates Mass at St. Rose Convent, for the Dominicans at Sacred Heart-Griffin High School

"On weekends I help in parishes wherever I am needed," he says.

"There are things I miss about parish life, I love being a pastor. But I also love what I am doing now."

Father Janoski earned his doctorate in preaching from Aquinas Institute in St. Louis in 2003. "The first thing I do is preach to myself. It is a message that I need to hear personally. When I've internalized it, it is a part of who I am and then I can share it."

He says people appreciate simplicity in preaching. Though the Scriptures are rich, but he tries to keep to one main idea. "People tell me 'You have one point and you leave us with something to think about,'" he says.

Earlier in his ministry Father Janoski served as a parochial vicar at Little Flower, Springfield; Our Saviour, Jacksonville; and Blessed Sacrament, Springfield. He was pastor at four Calhoun County parishes — St. Norbert, Hardin; St. Michael, Michael; St. Anselm, Kampsville; and St. Agnes, Belleview; parochial administrator at St. Elizabeth, Marine; St. Gertrude, Grantfork; and St. James, St. Jacob; pastor at St. Jerome, Troy; and taught religion at Sacred Heart-Griffin, in Springfield.

Father Janoski's parents are deceased. He has three sisters, three nieces and one brother-in-law. "Two sisters are still in St. Louis, and one is in Trevor, Mo.," he says.

— By Cathy Locher

Father Joseph Kerber

Father Joseph Kerber was ordained a priest by Bishop Daniel L. Ryan on Nov. 26, 1988 at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Springfield. He is currently on leave for medical reasons, and living in the Alton deanery.

A native of Kirkwood, Mo., Father Kerber grew up in a family of six boys and three girls. He graduated from John F. Kennedy High School in Manchester, Mo., and went on to earn two undergraduate degrees from Rockhurst University in Kansas City, Mo. — a bachelor of arts in communications and a bachelor of science in business administration for which he served a financial internship in the Office of the Comptroller of Currency — U.S. Dept. of Treasury, as an assistant national bank examiner.

He accepted a managerial position with American Multi-Cinema Entertainment Inc., of Kansas City, Mo., and was transferred to Decatur where he managed the Hickory Point 6 Theatres, until he entered the seminary.

He studied at the Diocesan Seminary of the Immaculate Conception, and then at Kenrick Theological Seminary in St. Louis, where he earned a master's degree in divinity and a master's of arts degree in church history.

He served his acolyte internship at St. Patrick, in Decatur, and his diaconate at St. Kevin Parish, East Alton.

He served in hospital ministry at St. Mary's Hospital in St. Louis and in social ministry with the Rural Parish Workers in Cadet, Mo., in 1988.

Father Kerber celebrated his first Mass at St. Patrick Church, Decatur, and the next morning celebrated Mass in East Alton at St. Kevin.

He served as a parochial vicar at Our Lady of Lourdes, Decatur; Christ the King, Springfield; and at St. Anthony of Padua, Effingham. He was pastor of St. Mary, New Berlin, and Visitation of BVM, Alexander; parochial administrator and then pastor of Sacred Heart, Franklin; chaplain at the Jacksonville Correctional Center; and pastor of St. Cecilia, Glen Carbon, from 2004 until November 2012, when he went on medical leave.

"I was walking five miles a day, but my arthritis and other problems, put an end to that," says Father Kerber.

"After surgery, I am pretty much pain free now, and have been able to celebrate Mass and help out around here at (area parishes), when I am mobile," says Father Kerber. "I've always enjoyed working with the elderly, and since I've spent more time myself in hospitals and in recovery, I am hoping that I have a chance to do more of that in the future."

While still on leave, he visits parishioners, and helps out when he is able. "I did an anointing last night and in May will have first holy Communion at St. Cecilia in Glen Carbon.

"I go to doctors a lot. I'm not bored, I have always been a news-junky, but I've had my fill of watching movies. But I do love the Cardinals."

His leave has given him the opportunity to have a lot more time to be with his family, he says. While his mother died when he was young, and his father and stepmother, both 92, have moved to a retirement home, "of the nine of us (siblings), six of us are in the St. Louis area."

Once featured in a Catholic Times story on priests who have pets — dogs or cats— Father Kerber no longer has pets "except for a couple of fish." But he retains his love for animals. "I've been helping in foster care for Partner for Pets in Troy," says Father Kerber. "It is a shelter that goes around and collects pets who have maxed out their time in animal control facilities, and are set to be euthanized, to find them a permanent home."

— By Cathy Locher

Father Delix Michel

Father Delix Michel, parochial administrator of Ss. Peter and Paul Parish in Alton, on May 7 will have the opportunity for the second time this year to join brother priests to celebrate his silver jubilee.

Father Michel was ordained a priest in the Diocese of Les Gonaives, Haiti, on Jan. 24, 1988. He returned home to Haiti in January to celebrate his silver jubilee with members of his ordination class there. Joining him on his visit were: Msgr. Carl Kemme, vicar general, who represented Bishop Thomas John Paprocki; Deacon John Bretz and his wife Jeannine, from Ss. Peter and Paul; five former parishioners of Father Michel from what was St. Kevin Church in East Alton and Haitian friends from the East Coast.

Father Michel received permission to come to the Springfield diocese in 1994, where he has served as parochial administrator at St. Mark, Venice; St. Kevin, East Alton; Mother of Dolors, Vandalia, and chaplain at the Vandalia Correctional Center, and at St. Joseph, Ramsey.

He served two years as a parochial vicar at St. Charles Borromeo, in Gonaives, and then studied at the Pontifical Biblical Institute in Rome for four years to earn his licentiate in Sacred Scripture.

"Father Michel started a School of the Sacred Heart in Haiti, that now has 400 students in eight grades," says Msgr. Kemme, who told Catholic Times how much he enjoyed visiting the school. To read more about that visit on the web, go to: http://ct.dio.org/diocesan-life/diocesan-life-articles/father-michel-celebrates-priestly-jubilee-in-haiti.html.

— By Cathy Locher

Father Joseph Ring

Father Joe Ring celebrates 25 years as a priest this month. He was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois on May 28, 1988 at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception by Bishop Daniel Ryan.

Father Ring's first assignments were as parochial vicar at St. Mary Parish, Taylorville, and Church of the Little Flower, Springfield. In 1991 he was appointed pastor of Forty Martyrs Parish in Tuscola, where he served for over four years. In September 1995 he was named pastor of St. Charles Borromeo, Charleston, where he served until 2007. While in Charleston, he spent two years as chaplain at the Catholic Newman Center at Eastern Illinois University.

In 2006, Bishop George Lucas appointed Father Ring the vicar for the clergy for the Springfield diocese. He also served in that capacity under Bishop Thomas John Paprocki until 2012. As vicar for clergy he was responsible for working with the bishop on various clergy personnel issues. In part, he planned and coordinated the annual clergy retreat, convocation, days of prayer and priest jubilee celebration. He was responsible for bringing the priests the two-year program Good Leaders, Good Shepherds.

In 2007, Father Ring became pastor of St. James Parish in Riverton and priest moderator for Resurrection Parish, Illiopolis. He served in those parishes until 2012. For the last 10 months, Father Ring has been pastor of Christ the King Parish in Springfield. "Christ the King is the first parish where I have pastored a school, so I've been getting to know the kids and that's been nice. I get over to the school and sometimes go the cafeteria to visit them," he says.

He is also the diocesan director of the Department for Pro-Life Services, Charity and Justice, where he has recently led the new Diocesan Collection for Justice and Hope.

Presently he also serves as a part-time learning leader for Catholic Leadership Institute, presenting the Good Leaders, Good Shepherds program to priests across the country.

Father Ring has served on the Diocesan Commission for the Liturgy, Priests Personnel Board, Presbyteral Council, Illinois Catholic Health Association Committee of Healthcare Vicars and Ethicists, adjunct faculty to the diocesan deacon formation program, bishop's delegate to the Medical Moral Committee at St. John's Hospital, corporate board of directors for Springfield Catholic Charities and priest representative to Catholic Conference of Illinois Board of Directors.

Since his ordination Father Ring has earned a master's degree in human resources development (1990) and a master's degree in theology in liturgy from the University of Notre Dame in 1999.

Beginning in 1994 until 2010 he served as a consultant to the Hospital Sisters Health System in Springfield, providing consultation and educational services in the area of human resources development. "I found this work particularly satisfying in that it was a marriage of my human resources background with theology. I presented conferences for hospital system personnel in the area of spiritual and human development with the focus on ministry and mission. In May 2006 I began an education component on Ethical and Religious Directives for Catholic Health Care Services."

Father Ring calls St. Mary in Paris his home parish, where his mother Evelyn is an active member. He has many happy memories of the priesthood and naturally those memories include family and parishioners. "The memorable and fun times have been the weddings of my younger sister and brother, and more recently several nieces and nephews," he says. "One of the coolest things was when St. Charles Parish hosted the Notre Dame Folk Choir for a concert and the parish choir joined in."

He also fondly remembers leading alternative spring break trips with EIU students, taking summer classes at Notre Dame, and attending Catholic HEART Workcamp with a youth group. He has enjoyed singing with the Illinois Symphony Chorus, the Eastern Illinois University choral ensemble and the Christ the King Parish choir. When he can take time off work, Father Ring enjoys bicycling and snowboarding.

Speaking of the priesthood, he says, "These 25 years have been rich and satisfying because of God's grace and blessing. I have been humbled and challenged in sharing ministry with amazing women and men. I can hardly imagine a more life-giving vocation.

"When I was ordained I said that good liturgy is key to the life of a parish. I am convinced of that even more so today," he says. "It remains my passion. I am filled with gratitude, as Mary said in her Magnificat; I want to 'Tell out my soul the greatness of the Lord.'"

Father Ring will celebrate with his parish after Sunday morning Masses on May 19. A special Mass and reception with his family and out-of-town friends will be held May 26.

— By Diane Schlindwein