December 11, 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 14 | Father David Fleck
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Father David Fleck, 60, is pastor of St. John the Baptist and St. Vincent de Paul churches in Vincennes.
He is a native of Huntingburg who studied for the priesthood at St. Meinrad and in Louvain, Belgium. He was ordained Sept. 5, 1975.
In addition to his parish ministry, Father Fleck was a teacher at Mater Dei and Rivet high schools, a member of the Council of Priests, and diocesan Vocations Director.
The new St. Philip Church in Posey County was built during his pastorate there.
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Father David Fleck, 60, is pastor of St. John the Baptist and St. Vincent de Paul churches in Vincennes.
- Tuesday, December 15 | Father Chris Forler
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Father Christopher Forler, 31, was ordained May 31, 2008. He is associate pastor of Holy Redeemer Church in Evansville.
He grew up on a farm near Chrisney, and attended Heri-tage Hills High School. He attended the University of Evansville, where he majored in engineering. He held an engineering position at Crane Naval Base when he made the decision to study for the priesthood. He completed his studies at Mundelein Seminary near Chicago.
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Father Christopher Forler, 31, was ordained May 31, 2008. He is associate pastor of Holy Redeemer Church in Evansville.
- Wednesday, December 16 | Father Attila Fröhlich
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Father Attila Fröhlich, 43, was born in western Hungary. He went to the seminary in Innsbruck, Austria — where he met Father Joseph Kane from the Diocese of Evansville.
He came to visit Father Kane at Precious Blood Church in Jasper for several weeks in 1997, and a short while later, he was accepted as a diocesan seminarian. He was ordained June 9, 2001.
Father Fröhlich has served parishes in Newburgh, Evansville, Rockport and Chrisney.
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Father Attila Fröhlich, 43, was born in western Hungary. He went to the seminary in Innsbruck, Austria — where he met Father Joseph Kane from the Diocese of Evansville.
- Thursday, December 17 | Father Kenneth Graehler
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Father Kenneth Graehler, 72, lives in Washington.
He is a Jasper native who studied for the priesthood at St. Meinrad and in Innsbruck, Austria. He was ordained March 30, 1963.
In addition to his parish work, Father Graehler taught at Memorial, Rex Mundi and Washington Catholic high schools; he was a member of the Council of Priests and a chaplain for the Knights of Columbus.
He has served parishes in Evansville, Boonville, Newburgh, Haubstadt, Washington, Linton, Jasonville, Ferdinand, Rockport, Bicknell, St. Wendel, Sullivan and Jasonville. He retired in November 2002.
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Father Kenneth Graehler, 72, lives in Washington.
- Friday, December 18 | Father Jason Gries
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Father Jason B. Gries, 32, is a Vanderburgh County native who completed his undergraduate work at St. John Vianney Seminary in St. Paul, Minn. His formative years included participation in scouting and the St. George Trek at Philmont with Bishop Gerald A. Gettelfinger.
He completed his preparation at St. Meinrad School of Theology and was ordained June 5, 2004.
After serving as associate pastor at St. John the Baptist Church in Newburgh and at Holy Redeemer Church in Evansville, he was appointed pastor of two parishes — St. Philip Neri Church in Bicknell and Sacred Heart Church in Vincennes.
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Father Jason B. Gries, 32, is a Vanderburgh County native who completed his undergraduate work at St. John Vianney Seminary in St. Paul, Minn. His formative years included participation in scouting and the St. George Trek at Philmont with Bishop Gerald A. Gettelfinger.