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People share memories of Msgr. Bernard L. Voss

Story by LIZ QUIRIN and RAFE MIDDEKE
Messenger staff

"He was one in a million," one woman said at the May 16 funeral liturgy for Msgr. Bernard L. Voss.

Msgr. Voss's brother, Father Dennis Voss was celebrant and homilist at the liturgy.

Commenting in his homily on the fact that his brother celebrated his final Masses on Palm Sunday and Easter at Countryside Manor in Aviston, Father Dennis Voss said he lived the Paschal Mystery - the mystery of dying and rising.

"This dying to self was not just a ceremony for my brother. It was something he lived in his unselfish ministry. He was a man who was willing to lay down his life in a ministry of sacrifice. He was totally devoted to the service of others. He was always willing to go the extra mile for people. He was one who was loved by his parishioners no doubt because they saw that he was laying down his life for them. One person said, there was not an egotistical bone in his body."

Father Dennis quoted a letter from a fellow priest: "Bernie was a great guy. I always liked him. His smile was there. His laugh was deep and good; his heart was warm and welcoming; his personality was uplifting; his understanding was generous. He was dutiful and very present to the people he served. He was among the flock. For this reason he was liked."

Over the last 13 months of his life, Msgr. Voss learned new and difficult lessons. "This last year, my brother showed how to bear suffering without complaining. I really admired the peaceful, patient suffering he endured these past 13 months."

Other people who knew Msgr. Voss were asked to share memories of him.

Joe Hubbard: "He was not only a great priest, but a great man, who responded to the Gospel message in every way, whether listening to someone in need at funerals and baptisms, wherever - he was always ready to respond, always willing to put someone else before himself. He made people feel that was what the church was all about.

"If a priest was needed at a nursing home or hospital at 3 a.m., he was always willing to respond. He was always on call. I can't begin to name the people he responded to. He was always willing, never said no.

"He had a kindness and a gentleness that didn't make people feel threatened," Hubbard said.

Tony Riassetto: "He and I used to go fishing in Waterloo and around Red Bud. He and I had a great time. We caught blue gill, bass and crappie. I did all the sculling and he did the fishing. I had to get him to go when I could to give him a chance to relax.

When Tony and Therese's son died, Msgr. Voss made it his business to go to the funeral even though it was in St. Louis and he did not have to attend, Tony said. "Therese and I thought the world of him. He did so many things for our family without being asked or expected to do so."

Some of those "things" included visiting Tony in the hospital when he was ill. And the Riassettos visited him at Aviston the first time he was there.

"I missed him from the day he got sick," Riassetto said. "I pray for him every day."

Rose Stankey: Mrs. Stankey was a cook at St. Henry School for 30 years. She met Msgr. Voss during the last 10 years of her work at the school. "He was satisfied with anything and everything you gave him to eat," she said.

Not someone who clamored for sweets, Mrs. Stankey persuaded Msgr. Voss to try a piece of rhubarb pie one time. "He said it was the best pie he ever ate. He was so congenial about anything and everything; it was easy working for him."

Doris Oplotnik: "He always had a smile for you, was always joking," Mrs. Oplotnik said. She said she kidded him about being ordained a priest at St. Henry's when the cathedral was being renovated. "I bet you never thought you'd be back here as a pastor some day," she said. He told her he never dreamed he would be back as the "boss."

"He was a very good pastor," she said.

Mearl Justus: St. Clair County Sheriff Justus tapped Msgr. Voss to be a chaplain at the county jail somewhere along the way. Their friendship spans decades with the sheriff saying he took a number of trips with Msgr. Voss, fishing trips among them. Joking, the sheriff said: "He was a lousy fisherman," and added, "he was an all-around nice guy, an outgoing, understanding person. I'm going to miss him."

Lenny Kujawa: Friends for 40 years, the Kujawas - Lenny and his wife, Sharon - have many memories of Msgr. Voss. Lenny met then Father Voss at a Serra Club function while the newly-ordained priest was assigned to St. Augustine of Canterbury Parish in Belleville.

Over the years, Msgr. Voss and the Kujawas have taken many trips together. One that stands out in Lenny's mind is a trip to Alaska. While spending a night in a cabin during the trip, Msgr. Voss woke in the middle of the night and thought he could see the Northern Lights from his bedroom. He opened the door to the cabin and realized it was his porch light, not the Northern Lights. "We laughed about that for the rest of the trip," Lenny said.

The Kujawas remember many trips to New Orleans with Msgr. Voss and trips along the bayous. "He really enjoyed them."

They also took a Panama Canal cruise and stopped in Colombia where they went sight-seeing with armed guards for protection. At one stop Msgr. Voss decided to try snorkeling, Lenny said. He'd never tried that before, and when he surfaced his face and arms were scratched from his close encounter with the reef.

The Kujawas, originally parishioners at St. Catherine Laboure Parish when Father Voss arrived, said he made quick work of the parish debt. In four years he retired a debt of more than $125,000. "We even had a Red Baron Workshop at the parish, Lenny said.

Closer to home, Lenny said Msgr. Voss always enjoyed going home to Germantown to the summer picnics, visiting with the people there, including his brother Regis and sister-in-law, Barb.

Lenny said he could "go on and on" about their travels with Msgr. Voss, including the wedding of his son, Nick, in Cincinnati, Ohio. "He was always invited to family gatherings where he was the center of attention," he said.

The news of Msgr. Voss's death shocked the Kujawas even though they stayed in close touch with him throughout his illness. "I think about him every day," he said.

These few memories of Msgr. Voss demonstrate his great kindness to others, his care for the people of the diocese and his sense of humor. He liked to laugh and, as so many have said: "He was one in a million."