January 28, 2011
Pastors serving as chaplains at Mater Dei H.S.
Father Phil Kreilein prays with members of the football team at Mater Dei High School after their regional game. Father Kreilein and pastors from the Westside Evansville Deanery are serving as chaplains at the Evansville school this year. He is the pastor at Resurrection Church in Evansville. Click for a larger version.
By MARY ANN HUGHES (Message staff writer)
There have been nine familiar faces celebrating the student Liturgies at Mater Dei High School this year. They are the faces of the students’ parish priests.
Timothy “Tad” Dickel, the executive director of the Evansville school, said traditionally there has been one chaplain at the school. For many years, there was a full-time chaplain who was a diocesan priest who also taught at the high school. More recently, because of the priest shortage, that became a part-time position.
In 2008 Father Alex Zenthoefer, the associate pastor at Holy Rosary Church on Evansville’s east side, was named chaplain at both Mater Dei and Memorial high schools.
In January of 2010, he was named director of the Diocesan Vocations Office, and remained chaplain at Memorial and associate pastor at Holy Rosary Church.
About that time, Dickel said, “We started looking at creative ways to address this issue be-cause it’s important that young people have exposure to clergy and religious.”
The solution was to ask every pastor in the Evansville West Deanery to become a chaplain at the high school.
“They were all very supportive of Mater Dei, and we thought this might get them more involved.” When asked, they “unanimously agreed.”
The group includes
- Father James C. Blessinger, pastor of Corpus Christi Church in Evansville;
- Father John W. Davidson, pastor of St. Anthony Church in Evansville;
- Father Paul A. Ferguson, pastor of Holy Redeemer Church in Evansville;
- Father Kenneth H. Herr, pastor of St. Boniface Church in Evansville;
- Father Thomas J. Kessler, pastor of St. Philip Church in Posey County, St. Matthew Church in Mount Vernon, and Holy Angels Church in New Harmony;
- Father Phillip J. Kreilein, pastor of Resurrection Church in Evansville;
- Father David H. Nunning, pastor of Sacred Heart Church and St. Agnes Church, both in Evansville;
- Father Edward C. Schnur, pastor of St. Wendel Church in St. Wendel, and St. Francis Xavier Church in Poseyville;
- Father Eugene A. Schroeder, pastor of St. Joseph Church in Vanderburgh County.
This year, the pastors have shared the responsibilities of celebrating Liturgies in the high school and they helped with the Advent programs. “They all have sacramental res-ponsibilities,” Dickel said. They have also talked with the students about vocations.
This fall, Father Kreilein served as the chaplain of the football team. “He stood on the sidelines, and he traveled with the team. He prayed with them before and after games. He really made a commitment to be with the team.”
Father Kreilein said when he signed up to celebrate Liturgies at the high school “I said if any teams want an ‘old man’ I could be a chaplain.”
The football team accepted his offer, and this past fall he led a prayer in the locker room before each game, and then said another prayer on the field after the game.
The response from the football team was “overwhelmingly positive,” he said. “It was very positive.”
He laughed as he said, “The fans even had a cheer for me. It was funny.”
When asked if he will volunteer to be a chaplain again next year, he quickly answered, “Yes!”
“Coach Goebel has already asked me to do it.”
He said, “It’s a neat thing to do. We [the pastors] always knew we were welcome to come to Mater Dei. It’s nice to be there to show support of the school.”
Dickel said another pastor, Father Schroeder, is in the process of making a birthday card with a personal note for every student in the school.
Father Schroeder said, “I've sent birthday cards and anniversary cards to all the parishioners here at St. Joe since I have been here, so it seemed liked a simple thing to do for the students at Mater Dei.
“I'm sure the students appreciate it, although being high school age they are not likely to share a lot with you.
“Once a month I try to spend some time during student lunches talking with the kids and giving out birthday cards. I don't see all the students so the ones I don't see I have the staff at school deliver them.”
He said it takes a “few hours to make the cards, print them and sign them with a personal note. Not a big deal for me. I'm happy to do it.”
Dickel said all the priests “have done things as their schedule has allowed.”
He now attends Westside Deanery staff meetings which has given him “much more contact with all the priests. We make sure we are supporting each other now.”
One topic that has come up is the youth programs at the parishes. “In the past, there was not a lot of collaboration be-tween the youth minister and the high school. We have talked about those relationships, and that’s been a positive change.”
Another positive change that has emerged is that pastors see their high schoolers during the week now. “It’s important for the high schoolers to see their pastor is interested in them, and it creates a relationship.”
Dickel added, “It’s been a really positive change. The pastors have been willing to share their time and talent with us.”
This past week, the pastors were all invited to the long-term planning meetings at Mater Dei. “Their participation is critical,” Dickel said.
Having pastors serve as chaplains has also been positive for the students, he believes. “They like seeing their pastors in action at school.”
Mater Dei senior and St. Wendel parishioner Lauren Martin concurs. "I like the new program because each priest offers a different perspective. It also integrates the feeder schools more."