May 14, 2010
Father Steckler on leave, weekend Masses continue
By PAUL R. LEINGANG (Message editor)
Father Ken Steckler is on administrative leave, according to an announcement at St. Matthew Church, Mount Vernon, and at Holy Angels Church, New Harmony.
The announcement was made at weekend Masses, May 8 and 9.
Weekend Masses will continue as scheduled, according to Father Stephen Lintzenich, di-ocesan director of clergy personnel. Prayer services or Liturgies of the Word will be celebrated on weekdays, he said.
Previously announced Masses were to be celebrated on Wednesday, May 12 and also on Wednesday, May 26.
Father Attila Fröhlich and other available priests will provide assistance at the two par-ishes.
Father Steckler, 46, was ordained July 13, 1996. He was named pastor of St. Matthew Church in August 2002, while continuing to serve as chaplain and teacher at Mater Dei High School in Evansville.
In March, 2005, he was also assigned as pastor of Holy Angels Church in New Harmony, along with continuing res-ponsibilities for the parish in Mount Vernon and Mater Dei High School.
Father Steckler took sabbatical leave in 2008 and hiked the Appalachian Trail. That same year, Father Alex Zenthoefer was appointed as chaplain at Mater Dei (along with Memorial High School), and Father Steckler returned from sabbatical to serve as pastor of the parishes in Mount Vernon and New Harmony.
While he is on administrative leave, Father Steckler will receive mail forwarded to him from the Catholic Center, P.O. Box 4169, Evansville, IN 47724-0169.