November 11, 2011
Father Hilary Vieck
Habitat house in Linton is dedicated to long-time pastor
Father Michael Madden blesses the walls of a Habitat house being built in Linton by parishioners at St. Peter Church. The house has been named in honor of the late Father Hilary Vieck, longtime pastor at the Linton parish. Above, with Father Madden are Ray Spencer and Maurice Vieck. Click for a larger version.
By MARY ANN HUGHES (Message staff writer)
Father Hilary Vieck is remembered for doing more for fellowship among non-Catholics in the community of Linton than anyone else, and his legacy continues to flourish.
He arrived in the small town in 1990 after being named pastor at St. Peter Church there. Once in Linton, he established a food pantry for the entire community.
Cathy Burns, a parishioner at St. Peter, said the pantry “has morphed into a ‘Linton Community Food Pantry’ with six area churches working together and another possibly coming on board.
“Father Hilary was such an ambassador for the Church in this community; he did more for fellowship amongst non-Catholics than anyone has ever done here,” she said.
Marcia Waters, the parish secretary and CRE, agrees. “Father Hilary was one in a million.
“He loved everyone, and he could talk to anyone about any topic. He never met a stranger.”
She said the pastor “always wanted to help people, and he really dedicated himself to the food pantry. He also supported all the Habitat houses. Our parish worked at every Habitat house in Greene County.”
So when the idea was raised of building a Habitat house in Father Vieck’s name, the parish answered, “Yes, that would be wonderful!”
Burns explains, “He did so much for those in need here. It’s fitting that the house was dedicated in his honor.”
St. Peter parishioner Martha Roach remembers a Protestant pastor who talked about Father Vieck after his death in 2008. “He said Father Vieck wasn’t just St. Peter’s pastor. He was Linton’s pastor.”
The Habitat house, which was recently blessed by Father Michael Madden, pastor at St. Peter, has 1,300 square feet. It has two-stories, with four bedrooms. The owners, Cindy and John Dieball, and their 10 children are expected to move into their new home around Christmas time.