January 28, 2011
Father Gregory to receive NCEA award as ‘distinguished pastor’
Benedictine Father Gregory Chamberlin greets pre-schooler Caroline Ivie while her mom, Beth Ann, watches. Every school morning, Father Gregory, pastor at St. Benedict Cathedral in Evansville, gives high fives, hugs and handshakes to students at the parish school; he greets many students by name. (Message photo by Mary Ann Hughes) Click for a larger version.
By PAUL R. LEINGANG (Message editor)
“Every single morning at 7:35 a.m., Father Gregory can be found in the central hallway greeting the students, calling them by name, encouraging them, and making their day better because of his presence,” wrote Benedictine Sister Karlene Sensmeier, principal at St. Benedict Cathedral School in Evansville. “You can set your clock by Father Gregory’s presence to the children.”
Sister Karlene’s words are taken from a letter she submitted to the National Catholic Educational Association — which has selected Benedictine Father Gregory Chamberlin to receive a NCEA Distinguished Pastor Award, one of only eight pastors in the United States to receive the recognition.
The award will be presented during the NCEA Convention in New Orleans, during the week following Easter, April 26-28.
This award was established by the 2007 Department of Ele-mentary Schools Executive Committee to acknowledge the outstanding contributions and leadership of pastors.
The letter from Sister Karlene was one of several. Second grade teacher Kelly Coppens described Father Gregory as “a shepherd” who knows his sheep, who enjoys spending time with them — his sheep who know they can trust him.
Tom Miller, a parish council and finance committee member, described his pastor as “a very gentle and humble priest who always manages to ‘get the job done.’”
“As a parent and a teacher, it is heart warming to know that so many students consider Father Gregory someone they can talk to, and count on as a friend,” said Raymond “Pete” Werner.
Several of the letters pointed to the parish and school ac-complishments over the years, ranging from a multi-million dollar addition to the ability to help parishioners and school families cope with life-threatening illnesses.
In his response to the NCEA questions for the nomination process, Father Gregory said he believes that “education in Catholic schools is the best way we can pass on our faith to our children.”
He admitted that he supports Catholic education “with every breath I take from greeting students each morning . . . to supporting fundraisers, attending programs, and supporting a $3.4 million expansion of our school . . . . and being a “partner with our school principal, Sister Karlene . . . .”
A sampling of other responses follows.
“I believe celebrating Mass with students is the center of our faith-sharing each week. We also celebrate together throughout the year in special liturgical prayer services during Advent and Stations of the Cross in Lent.”
“I enjoy visits to the classrooms and feel it is important for both the students and teachers to see me visit their rooms and answer any questions they may have.”
“I love to cook and, likewise, love to eat so joining the students in the cafeteria for one of our cooks’ delicious lunches is always a treat for me!”
“I am not the priest on the stage with the microphone leading the cheer, but I am the priest who is always in the audience at a pep rally, Christmas program, spring talent show, spelling bee, etc.”