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A review of the year 2007 in the church in southern illinois

Story by RAFE MIDDEKE, photos by LIZ QUIRIN
Messenger staff

The word “journey” more than any other, symbolized major diocesan and personal events reported in The Messenger’s pages in 2007.

Five parishes celebrated 150 years of their parishes’ continuing journeys of faith on roads the founders could not have envisioned ¬ but whose faith made the year’s celebrations possible.

The first edition of a shoestring publishing venture was dated December1907, beginning 100 years of The Messenger’s continuous publication ­-- a journey with its own detours and changes.

Educational journeys were continued and begun, individual and organizational anniversaries were celebrated, including Catholic Social Services’ 60th year and Msgr. Maurice Driscoll’s 65 years of priesthood.

Journeys also included consolidations, closings and new locations, jarring and heartfelt in many instances.
End of life journeys included that of Msgr. Angelo Lombardo, whose presence in the lives of many will not be soon forgotten.

In many ways all of these journeys are only symbolic of the many thousands of individual lives whose joys and fears will remain hidden in their own hearts’ journeys.

January
Faith journeys — continuing in anniversary celebrations and beginning or changing course — were documented in January issues of The Messenger.

St. Joseph Parish in Freeburg opened its planned yearlong sesquicentennial celebrations with a Jan. 14 liturgy.
One hundred years ago a young Belleville assistant, Father Francis Tecklenburg, began a shoestring publishing venture. The Jan. 25 issue outlined the journey and the detours of the early years of the diocesan newspaper, published continuously for a century.

St. Elizabeth’s Hospital in Belleville began its palliative care services to meet the needs of patients on a pre-hospice journey.

Catholic Social Services’ Don Bosco Center announced plans to journey to a new location in its services for special needs children.

Also reported in January:
• St. Nicholas parishioner Debbie Schachner continued her cross-country trek to raise funds for a library in Kenya, where she spent time in 2003.

• A Jan. 11 feature recounted the “holiday coping” experiences of the Tip, Monika and Amy Klambery family after the first anniversary of their son’s and brother’s puzzling suicide.

• The annual January Vocations supplement focused on the ministries of Father Dennis Voss, pastor of St. Liborius Parish in St. Libory and St. Anthony’s in Lively Grove, and Sister Janice Yaekel, ASC, currently a member of the ministry team at King’s House Retreat and Renewal Center in Belleville. In previous ministries Father Voss was a hospital chaplain for 18 years, and Sister Yaekel managed an ecological farm called Earthworks.

• The annual diocesan financial report for the July 1, 2005-June 30 2006 fiscal year was published in the Jan. 25 issue.

• In a Jan. 25 special section youth and adults responded to questions about their prayer experiences.

• January obituaries: Sister Mary Pauline Grady, ASC; Brother Leo Rothermich, SM.

February
The continuing journey of Catholic education highlighted the February pages of The Messenger.
The annual Catholic Schools Week supplement in the Feb. 8 issue included a feature on students from Mater Dei Catholic High School in Breese and Gibault Catholic High School in Waterloo participating in the 34th Annual March for Life in Washington, D.C. Three Althoff Catholic High School seniors shared their personal stories of experiences with alcohol, not fitting in, sexual abuse and family divorce with the student body, accepting the mission of telling their stories and challenging their peers.

The Catholic Education Initiative for the Belleville Catholic schools continued with a survey of parishioners in the eight Belleville parishes. The initiative is in its second year of a three-year process assessing the future of Catholic schools in Belleville.

Two parishes paused to celebrate continuing journeys of faith. St. Mary’s in Anna opened its sesquicentennial year with a Jan. 7 liturgy and reception. Holy Childhood in Mascoutah opened a two-fold year of celebration Feb. 4: the parish celebrating 150 years and the church 125.

The first in a series of three installments of Bishop Edward Braxton’s Lenten Pastoral on the meaning of Lent and Easter was published in the Feb. 22 issue.

Also reported in February:
• A Feb. 9 fire gutted the parish center at St. Joseph’s in Freeburg.

• With a new name, a review of allocations and adjusted parish goals, the diocese launched its annual Catholic Service and Ministry Appeal (CSMA) — formerly Annual Bishop’s Appeal and Diocesan Services Appeal. Featured in the kick-off insert were the Office of Worship and the Newman Center in Carbondale.

• February obituaries: Father J. Ralph Arnold; Father Floyd Boeckman, OMI.

March
Parishioners throughout the diocese continued on their journeys of faith during the Lenten season, individually and in parish events.

Parishioners from the nine South of the Forest Cluster (in the seven southernmost counties of Illinois) gathered for a March 13 Lenten service at St. Mary’s in Anna, with Msgr. Bill Hitpas speaking on the sacrament of reconciliation.
On the first Sunday of Lent catechumens and candidates, beginning their final weeks on their journey to the Easter Vigil, gathered at St. Peter Cathedral for the annual Rite of Election.

Almost 400 people participated in the annual Charity Breakfast at the Herrin Civic Center to benefit Catholic Social Services in the Carbondale area.

About 130 people participated in a Catholic Social Teaching seminar organized by the diocesan Target committee and sponsored by the Catholic Campaign for Human Development — focusing on the connection between economic life and faith and morality. In experience the church’s clear teaching is blurred at best.

Korte Construction Co., contractors for the new St. Clare, O’Fallon church, was honored by the United Congregations of Metro East for committing to hiring a minimum of 30 percent women and minority workers.

The second and third installments of Bishop Braxton’s pastoral letter on the meaning of Lent and Easter were published in March issues.

Also reported in March:
• The annual Supplement in Spanish was published in the March 8 issue.

• The annual Scout Religious Award Recognition Ceremony was held at St. Peter Cathedral Feb. 18, with almost 200 Boy and Girl Scouts receiving awards at that ceremony.

• Althoff Catholic High School Gospel Choir members and other students continued liturgy workshops with students at area Catholic elementary schools.

• Progress continued on the new Holy Trinity facilities with the school 75 percent complete and slated for completion before the new school year.

• The St. Andrew Altar Society of Murphysboro presented Doris Pellegrini a certificate of recognition for 72 years of active membership.

• Activities of the Little Flowers Girls Club at Holy Childhood in Mascoutah were noted in March 22 issue.

April
Parishioners throughout the diocese participated in Holy Week and Easter liturgies, continuing their own baptismal experiences of dying and rising with Jesus on their personal journeys of faith.

Representative of catechumens and candidates who became members of the Catholic church at Easter Vigils, four new parishioners shared their stories: Audria Humphrey of St. Francis Xavier in Carbondale; Mary O’Leary of Immaculate Conception in Columbia; Mike Fontanetta Jr. of St. Joseph’s in Marion, and Virginia Combs of Holy Spirit in Carterville.

More than 650 youth and adults gathered for the annual diocesan youth conference with the theme: “Cross Train for God.” The Karen Raymond-Robben Perseverance and Spirit Award was given to Shannon Kalmer of St. Damian’s in Damiansville.

At a special liturgy St. Joseph’s, Benton parishioners celebrated their church’s renovation and the blessing of a new baptismal pool and reconciliation chapel; the former St. Regis Church in East St. Louis was sold to a Baptist congregation.

Also reported in April:
• Looking forward to a new camp season, perennial volunteers from diocesan parishes spent weekends making necessary repairs at Camp Ondessonk.

• The Franciscan Sisters of Our Lady of Perpetual Help presented the annual Pace e Bene award to Linda Burkitt of Christopher, Mary Ford of Centralia and Helen Pagano of West Frankfort.

• Sister Joan Markus, SSND was elected provincial leader of the School Sisters of Notre Dame, St. Louis Province.

• With donations from parishioners, St. John the Baptist Parish in Piopolis switched to corn to heat its school building.

• The recipients of Catholic Social Services’ 2007 Christian Service Award were: Betty Bolt, St. Michael, Paderborn parishioner; Pat Hogrebe, a staunch St. Vincent de Paul supporter; Msgr. Carl Scherrer and Father Clyde Grogan.

• The Spring Senior Living supplement included features on back-to-school grandmother volunteers Sharon Bauer and Brenda Zipfel at St. John the Baptist School in Red Bud; and the Wednesday Work Group at St. Peter Cathedral in Belleville.

• One hundred sixty students from the three Catholic diocesan high schools participated in a leadership skills day led by national motivational speaker, Michael Smith.

• David Harris, Althoff Catholic High School’s interim principal, was named the school’s principal.

• April obituary: Arralean Brown

May
The ordination of two young men and education in many and diverse forums highlighted pages of May issues of The Messenger.

Ordained to the Belleville diocesan priesthood by Bishop Braxton on May 26 at St. Peter Cathedral were Father Steven Beatty and Father Ben Stern. The two young priests credited their former pastors, Msgr. Thomas Miller and Father John Venegoni, with encouraging their vocations.

The Messenger’s annual Graduation supplement included a salute to diocesan salutatorians and valedictorians. For 14 Mater Dei Breese graduates their senior year will be remembered for their 10-day service project in Honduras.
Three graduates — David Brewer of Gibault, Ellen Keefe of Althoff, Emily Toennies of Mater Dei — received the Bishop’s Discipleship Award at a May 3 Baccalaureate Mass at St. Peter Cathedral.

Another kind of graduation was experienced by a small class in Murphysboro, who completed the 14-week Awakenings program for people on parole or probation.

A draft proposal for Catholic education in Belleville’s parish schools was presented, continuing an ongoing study.
Bishop Braxton published a document outlining the need for catechesis necessary to receive sacraments.

Also reported in May:
• St. Joseph, Freeburg parishioners gathered April 22 for a liturgy closing their parish’s sesquicentennial celebrations.
• Bishop Braxton announced the dismissal from the clerical state ex officio of Father Robert Vonnahmen, who had been removed from ministry in 1993.

• St. John the Baptist Parish in Piopolis hosted the annual spring farm blessing.

• A conference on Erasing the Stigma of Mental Illness, cosponsored by the Karla Smith Foundation, was held at Our Lady of the Snows shrine June 2-3.

• In a Memorial Day feature brothers Joe and Bud Kampwerth talked about their memories of their brother Herman, killed in North Africa in 1943. Four of the eight Kampwerth brothers served in World War II.

• Brenda Pehle, parish life coordinator at St. Joseph’s in Lebanon, received Aquinas Institute of Theology’s St. Catherine of Siena Excellence in Ministry Award.

• The National Association for Lay Ministry presented its Tribute Award to Greg Rhode, associate director for Lay Ministry Formation for the Belleville diocese.

• As a 40th anniversary gift to their pastor, Msgr. Bill Hitpas, members of St. Nicholas Parish in O’Fallon helped finance and build a house in East St. Louis.

• May obituaries: Sister Martha Paulus, MMS; Sister Mary Bede Bolzenius, ASC; Father James Donovan, OMI; Deacon Robert Kirchgraber.

June
Eleven diocesan priests celebrated anniversaries of their ordinations at thanskgiving liturgies and receptions at St. Peter Cathedral on May 22 and in local parishes.

Msgr. Maurice Driscoll celebrated the 65th anniversary of his ordination with family and friends in Mobile, Ala., where he resides in an assisted living facility.

Celebrating golden jubilees were Msgr. Vincent Haselhorst and Father Peter Hsu.
Five diocesan priests celebrated 40th anniversaries. They were: Msgr. Theodore Baumann; Msgr. Bill Hitpas; Father Stephen Humphrey; Father Richard Mohr; and Father Edmond Perjak.
Silver jubilarians were: Father Federico Higuera; Msgr. Bill McGhee; and Father John Myler.

In clergy appointments, Bishop Braxton announced the retirement of Father Stephen Humphrey; named Father John Myler the rector of St. Peter Cathedral and former rector Msgr. James Buerster as pastor of St. Boniface in Germantown.

Bishop Braxton celebrated a liturgy at St. Peter Cathedral honoring couples celebrating wedding anniversaries.

Also reported in June:
• Ground was broken for the Continuum of Life Care Center, which will minister to the homeless and near-homeless in East St. Louis.

• “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” was Youth Sing Praise’s production at Our Lady of the Snows shrine.

• Ministry to the Sick and Aged held its 29th annual picnic for nursing home residents.

• Summer days came alive with Vacation Bible School activities in many diocesan parishes.
• A Prison Ministry Summit was held at the federal prison in Marion.

• June obituaries: Deacon James Duff Sr.; Sister Mary Conrad Kostelnick, SSND; Sister Joella Hoffmann, SSND; Ermantine Gruninger.

July
Even as traditional summer activities — parish picnics and camp sessions — continued in full swing, the waning days of July were also occupied with preparations for a new school year. The Messenger’s July 26 issue included the annual Back to School section, with Emma and Olivia Melichar getting a preview of the new Holy Trinity School in Fairview Heights, with their mother, Jennifer. New principals at parish schools were introduced.

With an immigration reform bill faltering in Congress, employers of immigrant laborers talked about continuing efforts to address needed immigration legislation in a July 12 feature.

Members of St. Nicholas, O’Fallon youth group helped entertain guests at the annual East St. Louis Senior Picnic, sponsored by Catholic Urban Programs.

Also reported in July:
• Bishop Braxton released a commentary on the Apostolic Letter relaxing celebration of the Tridentine Mass and on a Vatican document responding to questions of Catholic doctrine.

• A July 26 feature on Jon Brough, a St. Luke, Belleville parishioner and police sergeant critically wounded in a siege, blinded and facing multiple surgeries, related the inspiring and tender story of a couple’s love and heroism.

• Matt Thole, a Mater Dei graduate from St. Francis Parish in Aviston, is one of a number of students benefitting from the charitable trusts of sisters Wilhelmine and Dorothy Thole, who were also members of St. Francis.

• The diocesan Ministry to the Sick and Aged sponsored a two-day conference on bereavement June 27-28.
• The Belleville West-End Parish Cluster donated 325 suitcases to the Don Bosco Children’s Center.

• In a mission awareness trip to El Salvador, Lauren Glass and her family met Jose, her sponsored friend through the Christian Foundation for Children and Aging.

• Meredith Memorial Home resident Eleanor Reeb Hermann celebrated her 100th birthday at her life-long St. Peter Cathedral parish and at Meredith.

• St. Agatha, New Athens parishioner Doris Drago participated in her 50th novena to our Lady of the Snows at the Belleville shrine.

• July Obituaries: Sister Virginia Klein, SCSC; Sister Clara Kocher, OSF; Sister Cunegunda Mueller, ASC;

August
Grace-filled and rainbowed journeys of faith and ministry highlighted the Aug. 23 pages of The Messenger — in anniversary celebrations of women and men religious and the final Aug. 18 liturgy at Our Lady of Fatima Parish in Ullin, before its official suppression the following day.

The Messenger’s annual Religious Jubilees supplement recognized the anniversary celebrations of 102 women and men religious. Featured in the supplement were Sister Dorothy Helbling, OSU, and Father Thomas Singer, OMI.

Sister Helbling, celebrating her 60th anniversary, has been and remains an Ursuline presence in Belleville. The Oblate Father Singer, celebrating the 50th anniversary of his ordination to the priesthood, recalled his facilitating and challenging role in avoiding excommunication for fellow Sri Lankan Oblate Tisa Balasuriya, whose doctrinal positions had been challenged by the Vatican.

The journeys of faith of Our Lady of Fatima parishioners in Ullin came to a crossroads after the closing of the Pulaski County parish.

In a vocation feature, Father John Venegoni (who died of cancer in October) talked about encouraging the faith journey of then-high school student Ben Stern, leading to his ordination in May.

Also reported in August:
• Incoming freshmen from the diocese’s three Catholic high schools participated in a liturgy with Bishop Braxton at St. Peter Cathedral.

• Catholic Social Services celebrated its 60th anniversary.

• The fifth Diocesan Hispanic Youth Day was held in Mt. Vernon.

• The Rev. Gretchen (pastor of Zion United Church of Christ in New Baden and St. George organist for 18 years)) and Paul Sterrett family and their four children performed a concert as an anniversary gift to St. George parishioners. The parish’s church building is 100 years old.

• Dave and Carol Daly and Steve and Debbie Elfrink were recognized at World Wide Marriage Encounter’s regional convention.

• August obituaries: Sister Margaret Mary Kopish, ASC; Sister Ida Marie Gaffney, SSND; Sister Verona Reeb, PHJC.

September
The varied dimensions of parish life were on display in September Messenger issues. Parishioners at St. Bernard in Albers gathered Sept. 9 for a 100th anniversary celebration. Corpus Christi Parish in Shiloh announced a major expansion plan. SS. Peter and Paul in Waterloo purchased land for a new school. On Catechetical Sunday parishes recognized the ongoing ministry of catechists without whom the majority of Catholic school children would not receive formal religious education.
Also reported in September:
• The diocese announced new fraud protection procedures for parishes, diocesan agencies and organizations and installed a toll-free hotline for allegations of fraud.
• The fall Senior Living supplement included features on St. Elizabeth’s Hospital’s senior exercise program and Southwestern Illinois Visiting Nurse Association’s respite program for caregivers of older adults.

• Althoff Catholic High School students heard about choices and consequences when Kelly Craig, paralyzed when the car in which she was a passenger was hit by a drunk driver, addressed the student body.

•The Messenger’s web site was completely redesigned with new entries and links.

• September obituary: Sister Henrietta Wilke, OLVM.

October
The multi-faceted theme of celebration became a recurring motif in The Messenger’s October pages. St. Joseph’s Parish in Olney celebrated the parish’s 150th and the school’s 100th anniversary at an Oct. 7 liturgy, with Bishop Braxton as main celebrant. The first installment of Bishop Braxton’s homily was printed in the Oct. 18 issue.

The annual Priest Appreciation supplement included a feature on the priestly ministry of Msgr. Bernard Voss, pastor of St. Henry’s in Belleville for 25 years, and comments from parishioners capsulizing their pastors’ “best qualities.”

St. Clare parishioners in O’Fallon joined Bishop Braxton in the dedication of their new parish church. “Celebrated” too was the life of Father John Venegoni, 62, who died of cancer Oct. 11.

Also reported in October:
• The U.S. region of the Adorers of the Blood of Christ hosted the annual meeting of the Extended General Council of their international religious community, with participants, from the U.S., India, Italy, Brazil and Central, Eastern and Southern Europe.

• Bishop Stanley Schlarman and Father Elmar Mauer, OMI received the Spirit of TEC (Teens Encounter Christ) Award for exemplary commitment to Catholic youth and young adults.

• The annual Respect Life section included a feature on a family living with a mentally ill child.

•Eight Belleville diocesan diaconate candidates were installed as acolytes by Bishop Braxton.
• Harold and Gertrude Whitten, members of St. Mary’s in Mt. Carmel, where they were married, celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary.

• The Funk Family near Royalton hosted the annual fall harvest blessing.

• A commission was named to investigate the cause for sainthood of Oblate Father John Maronic, founder of the Victim Missionaries, now the Victorious Missionaries.

• October obituaries: Father John Venegoni; Father Thomas Roznowski, OSB; Sister Marie Carolyn Rothermich, SSND.

November
The year 1857 was a watershed year in the development and dramatic growth of the immigrant church in southern Illinois, 30 years before the establishment of the Diocese of Belleville. Five parishes date their histories to 1857; 29 current parishes existed at the time. By the turn of the century, 51 new parishes would be opened, 22 of them by 1870. Bishop Braxton joined parishioners of two St. Mary parishes celebrating sesquicentennial Eucharists — St. Mary’s in Centralia and St. Mary’s in Anna.

History and development were also celebrated by the diocese’s Catholic Social Services in the opening of a new regional office in Mt. Vernon and the dedication of the social services’ new quarters for the Don Bosco Children’s Center.

The Guatemala Mission Society ended its 40-year history of support for diocesan missions in Guatemala, especially in the Jalapa diocese, and raising thousands of dollars, with a final liturgy and luncheon. Support of Guatemalan parishes will continue through sister parish relationships.

Also reported in November:
• Judges and attorneys joined Bishop Braxton in the celebration of the first annual Red Mass (celebrated to coincide with the opening of the Supreme Court) at St. Peter’s Cathedral.

• Catholic Fraternal Life continued the tradition of a home build, originally with Habitat for Humanity. This year’s home with 50 volunteers was built in Mt. Vernon.

• Members of the former Assumption High School graduating class of 1957 returned to their alma mater, now a state minimum security prison, as part of their anniversary celebration.

• Laurie Edwards was named the new diocesan respect life coordinator.

• The Belleville Diocesan Council of Catholic Women gathered for its 81st annual convention at St. Nicholas Parish in O’Fallon.

•The Builders’ Club at Immaculate Conception School in Columbia included the “Animals for Others” (which provides pigs and chickens for poor families) program in Belize as one of their service programs.
• The Catholic Campaign for Human Development distributed $21,000 to 14 grant recipients.

•Debbie Schachner, a St. Nicholas, O’Fallon parishioner, completed a 4,800 walk across America, raising $59,000 to build a library in Timau, Kenya, where she had been a volunteer.

• Nine teachers received an award for ministering in Catholic education for 25 years at the annual Diocesan Education Convention.
•Parishioners of St. Paul Parish in Johnston City celebrated a “Burning of the Mortgage” day, after completing payment of $270,000 borrowed in 2000 to build a parish center.

•The Messenger published its first Faith in the Marketplace supplement, recognizing business leaders who take their faith to work with them, and featuring T.J. Norrenberns, Holy Childhood, Mascoutah grocery store owner; Mark Krones, Holy Spirit, Carterville realtor; Roy Schmidt, St. Mary’s, Mt. Vernon auto dealer; and Barb Koester, St. John the Baptist, Red Bud concrete business owner.

• Glenn Schott retired after 47 years as a coach, teacher, administrator and mentor at Althoff Catholic High School.
• November obituaries: Msgr. Angelo Lombardo; Sister Dolores Kriegler, OSM; Sister Louise Delagrange, SSND; Sister Carol Reeb, SSND; Sister Clara Amann, SSND; Marguerite Voelker.

December
Two parish celebrations linked the hope of faith past and future. Holy Childhood Parish in Mascoutah celebrated 150 years of faith with the closing liturgy of its sesquicentennial year. In Fairview Heights Bishop Braxton joined parishioners of Holy Trinity parish to dedicate their new church, embracing the promise of the future.

The Dec. 20 issue included The Messenger’s Christmas supplement with greetings of Christmas peace and blessings from organizations and advertisers. The supplement included food for body and soul with Christmas features and readers’ favorite recipes. Readers shared special memories of heirloom nativity sets.

Also reported in December:
• Bishop Braxton ordained the Rev. Mr. Nicholas Junker to the transitional diaconate.

• The Agency Accountability and Allocation Committee reported on progress in evaluating distribution of Catholic Service and Ministry Appeal funds.

• Bishop Braxton introduced Father Urban Osuji, CM, MA, a Nigerian priest, to the diocese.
• A report on a Guatemala visit to sister parishes, highlighted by Bishop Braxton’s address to a Jalapa diocesan assembly, was featured in the Dec. 20 issue.

• St. Joseph’s, Freeburg parishioners Dawn Mueller, and her friend, Susan Gass developed a “care package” ministry for families admitting children to a hospital in emergency situations. The Muellers’ adopted children, all with special needs, assist in packaging. The ministry was adopted by St. Joseph’s small Christian communities.

• The new Continuum of Life Care Center in East St. Louis, designed to provide services for street people and after care for homeless residents, is taking shape.