The first annual Father Robert Franzen Memorial Golf Tournament was held Sunday, June 14, at Edgewood Golf Course in Auburn. Father Franzen was pastor and then parochial administrator of St. Joseph the Worker Parish in Chatham from 1990 until he retired in 2007. Shortly after retirement, Father Franzen was diagnosed with cancer and later passed away on Oct. 11, 2008.

The outing — held the day before what would have been Father Franzen’s 82nd birthday — went like clockwork, said Father John Nolan, now pastor at St. Joseph Parish. He thanked Dave Schwegel for his efforts in coordinating the event, with the assistance of Harlan Meister.

Father Nolan celebrated Mass in the banquet room at the country club, which was followed by a lunch donated by County Market and prepared by members of K. of C. Holy Family Council 4179. Golfers, who paid $65 to participate, teed off after Mass and lunch were over. About six hours later awards were presented and an Italian dinner was served.

While Father Franzen was pastor, St. Joseph Parish had held nine golf outings, with proceeds from those outings being donated to the Diocesan Priest Retirement Fund. In Father Franzen’s honor, one half of the proceeds from this year’s outing were donated to the priest retirement fund, while the other half were donated to the St. Joseph Parish youth group, to help pay for those attending Catholic Heart Work Camp.

“I had two checks — each in the amount of $2,750 — to present, thanks to this golf outing,” Father Nolan said.

Nearly 100 different sponsors contributed to the event, said Schwegel. “Everyone (both golfers and volunteers) went home with prizes in their hands and smiles on their faces,” he said. In all 144 golfers (including Father Franzen’s nephew and great-niece) participated in the outing and about 40 more people volunteered, he said.

Schwegel said the memorial golf outing will be an annual event that will always be held in mid-June.