February 19, 2010
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 during the Year for Priests. Students and staff are committed to praying for a priest each day, and parishioners are invited to participate.
- Monday, February 22 |
Father John Schipp
- Father John H. Schipp, 71, is a native of Ferdinand who studied at St. Meinrad Seminary. He was ordained May 23, 1964, and was assigned as an associate pastor to St. Joseph Church, Jasper.
After first being named associate pastor of Holy Redeemer Church in Evansville in 1970, he was appointed co-pastor of the parish in 1971.
He was appointed pastor of Holy Cross Church in Fort Branch in 1980; of Holy Family Church, Jasper, in 1986, and to his current position at St. Francis Xavier (the Old Cathedral) in Vincennes in 1994. He also serves as sacramental minister of St. Thomas Church, Vincennes.
- Father John H. Schipp, 71, is a native of Ferdinand who studied at St. Meinrad Seminary. He was ordained May 23, 1964, and was assigned as an associate pastor to St. Joseph Church, Jasper.
- Tuesday, February 23 |
Father Ralph Schipp
- Father Ralph H. Schipp, 71, is a native of Ferdinand who studied at St. Meinrad Seminary. He was ordained May 27, 1965.
His early assignments included ministry at St. Wendel Church, in the diocesan chancery office, at Magister Noster Latin School and Memorial High School, both in Evansville, and at St. Mary’s Hospital in Evansville.
He was pastor of Bernard Church in Rockport in 1971, co-pastor of Holy Family Church in Jasper in 1975, then chaplain at St. Mary’s Hospital and diocesan Coordinator of Health Affairs in 1982 and diocesan spiritual director for Cursillo in 1986.
In 1989 he was appointed pastor of St. Philip Church in Posey County; then returned to St. Mary’s Medical Center as chaplain in 1991.
From 1998 until his retirement in 2005, he served as pastor of Sacred Heart Church in Schnellville.
- Father Ralph H. Schipp, 71, is a native of Ferdinand who studied at St. Meinrad Seminary. He was ordained May 27, 1965.
- Wednesday, February 24 |
Father Damien Schmelz, O.S.B.
- Father Damian Schmelz, 77, made his profession as a monk of St. Meinrad Archabbey on Aug. 6, 1956. He was ordained a priest May 3, 1958.
He did graduate studies at Purdue University, earning a master’s in plant ecology in 1964 and a Ph.D. in 1969. He taught biology at St. Meinrad High School and College for nearly 40 years
He was recently inducted into the Indiana Conservation Hall of Fame and recognized for extraordinary contributions to the conservation and preservation of natural, cultural and historical heritage.
In 2007, Father Damian was awarded a Lifetime Conservation Achievement Award by the Indiana Wildlife Federation for his work as a member of the Indiana Natural Resources Commission since 1976 and as co-author of Natural Areas of Indiana, published in 1969. The work served as a guide for the creation of Indiana’s Natural Preserves.
Father Damian is also known for his research in Indiana old-growth forests. As chairman of a blue-ribbon committee assigned to study controlled deer hunts in Brown County State Park, he and other state wildlife experts determined that the hunts would thin deer herds and prevent destruction to the flora of the state park.
Since 2001, he has served as pastor of St. Henry Church in St. Henry.
- Father Damian Schmelz, 77, made his profession as a monk of St. Meinrad Archabbey on Aug. 6, 1956. He was ordained a priest May 3, 1958.
- Thursday, February 25 |
Father Gene Schmitt
- Father Eugene R. Schmimtt, 48, is a Poseyville native who studied at Sacred Heart School of Theology in Hales Corners, Wisc., He was ordained June 3, 2000.
He was first assigned as associate pastor of Holy Redeemer Church in Evansville, then in 2002 as associate for three parishes in Gibson County — Sts. Peter and Paul in Haub-stadt, St. Joseph Church in Princeton and Blessed Sacrament Church in Oakland City.
He was named pastor of the parishes in Sullivan and Jason ville in 2002, and then in 2006 to his current position as pastor of St. Bernard Church in Rock-port and St. Martin Church in Chrisney.
- Father Eugene R. Schmimtt, 48, is a Poseyville native who studied at Sacred Heart School of Theology in Hales Corners, Wisc., He was ordained June 3, 2000.
- Friday, February 26 | Father Ed Schnur
- Father Edward C. Schnur, 56, a native of Evansville, studied at St. Meinrad Seminary. He was ordained June 1, 1991.
In his first assignment he was associate pastor for the Washington Catholic Commun-ity, then named pastor of St. Bernard Church in Rockport in 1994, adding pastoral responsibility for St. Martin Church in Chrisney in 2001.
Since 2005, he has served as pastor of St. Wendel Church in St. Wendel and St. Francis Xavier Church in Poseyville.
- Father Edward C. Schnur, 56, a native of Evansville, studied at St. Meinrad Seminary. He was ordained June 1, 1991.