April 2, 2010
The Bishop's Forum
Easter 2010
by Bishop Gerald A. Gettelfinger
Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,
You have responded so very generously to “The Year for Priests” by offering your prayers and sacrifices on our behalf. For myself and on behalf of our priests, I thank you! We need your daily prayers and support especially in difficult moments.
We priests are people just like you. We need each other. When you ache, we do too! When you rejoice, we do too! When you face tough challenges, we do too! When we fail, we need you to tell us face-to-face. We want to be accountable as Jesus challenged Peter time and time again.
This past Tuesday I was privileged, once again for my 21st time, to preside at the Chrism Mass wherein our priests recommitted themselves to carry out the mission of Jesus in our time and place by reason of their ordination to service. I did the same! It is not only my charge, it is my joy!
Lest we forget, there is a large number of our priests who are working in our diocese beyond the voluntary retirement age of 65. These generous priests continue to bear the burdens of parish administration while ministering faithfully to our people!
There is also a sizeable number of those who have retired from administration but continue to serve so generously and faithfully as they provide the sacraments to others without the burden of administration. I am most grateful and so proud of them all. Without their gift of service, many faithful of our Diocese would be inconvenienced to find a neighboring parish for the sacraments.
Then there is another memorable number of priests whom we must not forget. As their lives and energies wane, they need to know that we have not forgotten them. I dare to remember them by name and in seniority order:
Father Clems Hut, age 99, residing in Mesa, Arizona continues to minister to the residents in his retirement home even though in a wheelchair.
Father Jim Rogers, age 96, now resides at The Health Care Center of the Hermitage of the Benedictine Sisters in Beech Grove, Indiana.
Father Adolph Egloff, 95, resides in his family home in Vincennes.
Monsignor Clinton Hirsch, age 92, now resides in Holiday Nursing Center.
Father Robert Deig, age 85, now resides and ministers at the Little Sisters of the Poor in Evansville.
Father Eugene Heerdink, age 84, resides in Jasper while remaining our senior Spanish speaking priest offering the sacraments daily to the Spanish Speaking members of our community.
Father Robert Wannemuehler, age 85, resides in his own home but continues to minister as Chaplain at Deaconess Hospital in Evansville.
Father Sylvester Loerhlein, age 82, now residing at the Providence Home in Jasper.
Father August Busch, age 80, now resides in his own residence while serving as Chaplain to the Poor Clares and in many other ways.
Father John Lefler, age 79, now resides in a retirement center in Boonville.
Father Donald Spaulding, age 80, now residing in his own home in Cannelburg Indiana.
Father Donald Dilger, age 79, now resides in his own home but continues to give lectures on the scriptures and writes for the Message.
Father James Endress, age 76, who resides in Evansville in his own apartment but continues in a most generous way to address any sacramental needs in our diocese including the Sacraments in Spanish. [He does this all from his wheelchair!]
Father Donald Ackerman, [my classmate] at age 75 resides in Jasper and continues to minister on weekends and Holy Days.
Father Kenneth Graehler, age 73, resides in Washington. He continues to assist in celebrating the Sacraments within the diocese.
Father Leo Kiesel, age 73, resides in Loogootee. He continues to be most generous in providing the Liturgy and the Sacraments in the Washington Deanery.
Monsignor Charles Koch, age 73, resides in Indianapolis and continues to minister there.
Father Bernard Lutz, age 73, resides in his family home in Snake Run and continues to serve at the diocesan level as the director of ministry to priests.
Father William Wargel, age 71, resides on Chigger Ridge in Dubois County while serving generously to parishes in need. [He also provides great insights to us priests by providing introductions to the Seasonal Liturgies]
Father Earl Rohleder, age 73, resides in his home in Santa Fe and continues to minister to a parish there. He is also a “scrap metal” artist.
Father Raymond Kuper, age 72, resides in his own apartment in Evansville and is the Sacramental Minister to St. Theresa Parish in Evansville.
Father Theodore Tempel, age 73, omni-present for all ministerial needs while serving as chaplain at the Little Sisters of the Poor at St. John’s Home in Evansville.
Father Ralph Schipp, age 72, lives in Santa Claus and continues to be available for weekend ministry.
Father Joseph Kane, age 69, now resides in his family home in St. Louis, Mo. He has been so generous in returning to our diocese in our need.
Father Bill Dietsch, age 67, lives in Fort Branch and continues to be available to help at parishes in the diocese.
You know them all. They have served the people of the diocese well in their time and continue to serve in this our time.
There is one other that I must not forget. He is my brother priest of the Archdiocese of Indianapolis. He, even though a son of Haubstadt, became a priest of the Archdiocese of Indianapolis when diocesan boundaries were changed in 1944.
Father Hilary Meny, age 95, resides with his family in Haubstadt. He is a most dear friend and priestly brother of mine of the Archdiocese of Indianapolis. I am so very proud to follow his example of generous service as a brother priest. I rejoice most of all with him as he celebrates his 70th anniversary of priesthood!
Brothers and Sisters, you have no idea how important your prayers for us are! Your verbal and silent prayers give us confidence in our ministry. They assist us in keeping our priestly commitments. Thank you!
The Sacred Triduum of Holy Thursday, Good Friday and Easter Sunday provide powerful moments for us all. They are signs of HOPE!
May Simon Bruté, Servant of God, and St. Mother Theodora Guerin inspire us to be faithful to the Gospel!
Have a most Blessed and Joy-filled Easter Time!
Faithfully yours in Christ,
+Bishop Gerald