December 4, 2009
Year for Priests
On the calendar: Praying for priests
By PAUL R. LEINGANG
In conjunction with the Catholic Schools Office, the Message is publishing a calendar for the Year for Priests. Students and staff are committed to pray for a priest each day, and all parishioners are invited to participate.
- Monday, December 7 | Father Joseph F. Erbacher
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Father Joseph F. Erbacher, known to many as Father Effie, was ordained a priest March 25, 1972. His ministry has included parish work, teaching at Wash-ington Catholic High School, and service as Defender of the Bond for the Diocesan Tribunal.
Father Erbacher is pastor of the Catholic Churches of Martin County — St. John in Loogootee, St. Joseph in Bramble, St. Martin in Whitfield and St. Mary in Shoals.
Father Erbacher, 64, is a native of Poseyville. He studied for the priesthood at St. Meinrad Seminary, St. Mary’s College in Kentucky, Notre Dame Seminary in New Orleans and the Pontifical College Josephinum in Worthington, Ohio.
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Father Joseph F. Erbacher, known to many as Father Effie, was ordained a priest March 25, 1972. His ministry has included parish work, teaching at Wash-ington Catholic High School, and service as Defender of the Bond for the Diocesan Tribunal.
- Tuesday, December 8 | Father Tony Ernst
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Father Anthony R. Ernst — Father Tony — was ordained May 9, 1998 and immediately began ministry in multiple parishes. His first assignment was as associate pastor of St. Joseph Church in Princeton and Sts. Peter and Paul Church in Haub-stadt.
He currently is the pastor of three parishes in Gibson County — Sts. Peter and Paul in Haub-stadt, Holy Cross Church in Fort Branch and St. Bernard Church in Snake Run.
Father Ernst, 38, is a native of Jasper. He studied for the priesthood at Mundelein Seminary near Chicago.
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Father Anthony R. Ernst — Father Tony — was ordained May 9, 1998 and immediately began ministry in multiple parishes. His first assignment was as associate pastor of St. Joseph Church in Princeton and Sts. Peter and Paul Church in Haub-stadt.
- Wednesday, December 9 | Father Bernie Etienne
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Father Bernard T. Etienne, one of three sons ordained as priests from a a Tell City family, is currently the pastor of Holy Rosary Church in Evansville and head of the diocesan vocations office.
Coincidentally, Dec. 9 is the day that Father Bernie’s brother, Father Paul Etienne, is being ordained and installed as the Bishop of Cheyenne, Wyo.
Father Bernie, who previously worked for a hospital supply company, went to Mundelein Seminary near Chicago and was ordained June 5, 1993. He was associate pastor at St. Joseph Church in Jasper, then pastor of parishes in Princeton, Oakland City and Evansville.
He also served as chaplain for Southwestern Indiana Teens Encounter Christ — a youth movement started in the diocese under the direction of another Etienne brother, Rick, who had served as diocesan director of the Office of Youth and Young Adult Ministry.
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Father Bernard T. Etienne, one of three sons ordained as priests from a a Tell City family, is currently the pastor of Holy Rosary Church in Evansville and head of the diocesan vocations office.
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Thursday, December 10 | Father Zach Etienne
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Father Zachary J. Etienne, pastor of St. Mary Church in Ireland, was ordained June 5, 2004. His first assignment was associate pastor of St. Joseph Church in Jasper. In 2005, he was named associate pastor of the parish in Ireland, and be-came pastor in 2006.
Father Zach, 45, completed his priestly studies at St. Mary of the Lake Seminary in Mun-delein, Ill. Before entering the seminary, he was in management with Kids R Us, and served on the staff of the development office at St. Meinrad Archabbey.
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Father Zachary J. Etienne, pastor of St. Mary Church in Ireland, was ordained June 5, 2004. His first assignment was associate pastor of St. Joseph Church in Jasper. In 2005, he was named associate pastor of the parish in Ireland, and be-came pastor in 2006.
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Friday, December 11 | Father Paul Ferguson
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Father Paul A. Ferguson, was ordained May 25, 2002, and assigned as associate pastor of Holy Redeemer Church in Evansville. In 2004, he was named associate pastor of three churches in Gibson County, then returned to Holy Redeemer as pastor in July 2006.
Father Ferguson is a native of Bloomfield, and was a respiratory therapist in a Bloomington hospital before entering the seminary. He completed his priesthood studies at Munde-lein Seminary near Chicago.
Coincidentally, Dec. 11 is his birthday; he turns 47.
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Father Paul A. Ferguson, was ordained May 25, 2002, and assigned as associate pastor of Holy Redeemer Church in Evansville. In 2004, he was named associate pastor of three churches in Gibson County, then returned to Holy Redeemer as pastor in July 2006.