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people of the diocese appreciate priests ministering in their midst

Story and photos by LIZ QUIRIN
Messenger editor

Becoming a priest at 43, Father David Braun, pastor of Holy Cross in Wendelin and St. Joseph’s in Stringtown, said the “priesthood has been good for me, and I hope it has been good for the people.”

These days, in addition to caring for his parishioners, Father Braun receives radiation six days a week while also dealing with Parkinson’s disease.

Although his energy is sometimes drained, he is comforted by his parishioners and his music.
Father Braun has a bachelor’s degree in music and taught organ, piano and beginning guitar near Innsbruch, Austria.

While there, he also directed the men’s and women’s choirs, and members of both choirs sang for his ordination and at his first Mass at his home parish, St. Bruno in Pinckneyville.

Each fall, The Messenger invites parishioners to send comments about the priests in their parishes and those ministering in the broader church to tell us why these men make a difference in people’s lives. We begin with comments from two of Father Braun’s parishioners.

From Norman and Jean Zwilling at St. Joseph in Stringtown:
The parishioners of St. Joseph were so blessed the day Father David Braun came to be our pastor. He shares his time and resources between Holy Cross Parish in Wendelin and our parish, traveling 36 miles round trip every time he comes to celebrate the Eucharist, other liturgies or participate in activities and meetings. Despite serious health problems, he continues his pastoral schedule as closely as time and energy permit to fulfill the spiritual needs of our parish.

He is always smiling, has cheerful words and is ready to share a joke or an anecdote. Those who are ill, the elderly in nursing home and those confined to their own homes eagerly look forward to Father David’s visits. He brings compassion and comfort to them in his visits and through his prayers. We have a great role model in Father David as he accepts his illness and limitations.

Father has meaningful liturgies for the students in religious education. He also trains the servers to be respectful and prayerful. The young children love and admire their pastor. Father David shares his joy of and talent for playing the organ by teaching us new liturgical music to improve our worship services and make them more meaningful.
Our parish is truly fortunate to be under Father David’s care and spiritual guidance. He is a man we all respect and admire.

From the parishes of St. John the Baptist in Piopolis, St. Clement in McLeansboro and St. John Nepomucene in Dahlgren:
Father Joseph A. Lawler has always made himself available in the good times and bad. He goes beyond what he has to do for all three parishes. He helps with any and all jobs. The people of the three parishes appreciate him for all the years, the time and talent and blessings he has bestowed on us. He is more than a priest; he is the leader of all our families.

From Vernon and Ann Mohesky of St. Dominic Parish in Breese:
God has given us a wonderful gift in Father Pat Peter as pastor of St. Dominic Parish. Father Pat is a great leader. He has a willingness to serve and to help the people of the parish in all of their needs.

Father Pat has a special homily for the little children in our parish at some of the Sunday Masses. The children sit up front during the homily and listen intently to Father Pat and answer his simple questions.

Father Ben Stern is a blessing to our parish of St. Dominic. He is friendly and very likeable and he works well with the people in our parish, young and old. We like Father Ben’s down to earth sermons. Father Ben also helps out in some of our cluster parishes.

From John Krebs at St. Mary Parish in Carlyle:
St. Mary Parish is blessed with a very special person in the pastor (Father) George Mauck. It is easy to understand why he is loved by all. Whether he is telling a humorous story in his homily or greeting a visitor after Mass, he is a true disciple of Jesus. He always takes time to listen, to make you feel welcome, to serve his people without hesitation, to be a friend to all — young and old alike. Our lives have been enriched through his teachings. May God continue to (allow Father George to) grace us with his presence.

From Cletus “Skeets” Dumstorff of St. Mary Parish in Carlyle:
St. Mary Parish was truly blessed by the arrival of Father George Mauck in December, 1994. Since that time, the people of St. Mary Parish and the surrounding communities have experienced the kindness and the humor of Father George. He manages to connect to people of all ages, their interests and concerns.

As a member of the parish council, I can say that Father George is a very compassionate person, concerned about the daily lives of all people, not just members of our parish family. We have many religious backgrounds in Clinton County and he treats all with respect and dignity.

It is a pleasure working with Father George because of his desire to have transparency in all the parish operations, including the finances. The parishioners of St. Mary are grateful to have this fine priest and person as our pastor.

From Paulette and Don Sparling at St. Andrew Parish in Murphysboro:
Father Gary Gummersheimer is a wonderful giver of homilies, an uplifting singer and a good listener when he needs to be. We are truly blessed to have him as our priest and shepherd. Thank you for bringing the Scriptures alive by teaching and preaching in both word and personal example. He is the best pastor a deacon has ever worked for.
God has given him a beautiful voice and he uses this gift by raising his voice in song during the celebration of the Mass. This gift helps me celebrate the Mass more fully.

His greatest gift is in his homilies. He uses his homilies as a way to teach but also shares with us powerful insights into God’s message. He helps make the word of God speak to each individual on a very real and practical level.
I never thought that he preaches but rather shares his knowledge and his thoughts. For these things (we) give thanks.

From Alice Wirth at St. Mary in Mt. Carmel:
For Father Bill Rowe: “He will not forget your work and the loshown Him as you have helped his people and continue to help them.” Hebrews 6:10. Thank you Father Bill, for your ever-present wisdom, sense of humor and guidance for all of us at St. Mary’s School. You are a “treasure beyond measure.”

From Carol Waide at Immaculate Conception Parish in Columbia:
Father Carl Scherrer is a one of a kind priest. He is so dedicated and committed to our parish. He tries to meet the pastoral needs of all. I am a teacher in the parish school and Father Carl is over to see us all the time. He makes the staff feel so important to our mission of spreading the Good News. Father Carl ministers to all, even those he has not had close contact with. He will try to make weddings and funerals even for family members of the parishioners.

The children love his “Homily Bag” and scramble to get chosen to come help him explain his Good News of the day at the children’s liturgies. He comes to the second grade every year when we invite him over to share about what makes him smile. Of course it is always the message of Jesus. He is such a wonderful mentor and example to all. He is a “living the faith” kind of priest. What a joy and inspiration for hope in our chaotic world. We love Father Carl at ICC and ICS!

From Mickey Georger at St. Rose of Lima in Metropolis:
Father Christopher Michael Mujule was sent to shepherd us at St. Rose from Kenya by Bishop (Edward K.) Braxton through yet another wonderful work of God. We are blessed to have daily Mass again and our church is adding members continually. He teaches, challenges and guides us with his homilies and his ministry. We love and appreciate Father Mujule.

From Dennis Grimmer at St. Teresa Parish in Belleville:
Father David Darin has completed his first full year at St. Teresa’s, and the transition has gone very smoothly.
His leadership and sense of stability for the entire parish and the school have been wonderful.
His love of God and his joy in the liturgy and music are inspirational. He has been the rock of our parish.
Father Nick Junker arrived at St. Teresa as associate pastor just this summer. His eagerness and sense of service have been refreshing.

He has done a great job not only at church, but he has become a regular here at school.
The children love his visits to their classrooms and they love sitting with him at lunch time in the cafeteria.
He is truly a blessing for our students and staff.

From the faculty at St. James in Millstadt:
Father Marvin Volk has learned the rare gift of being truly present to people when they are in times of difficulty. He simply is there to let them know that they are not alone. However, when difficult decisions need to be made, he does not avoid them but deals with them no matter what the consequences will mean to him.
At the children’s Masses, he maintains his enthusiasm even when at times the children are a little less than enthusiastic concerning God’s word.
We are blessed to have him as the leader of our parish.

From Evelyn Kuhn at St. Boniface Parish in Germantown:
What can I say about Father Jim Buerster? He is a very pastoral person. He is genuine and humble, very caring and concerned. If he recognizes someone he does not know, he wants to know their name and something about them. The next time he sees that person, he will call them by name.

He is very comfortable around all ages. I see this particularly with the young people in the faith formation program. He encourages our young people to participate in the eucharistic celebrations, so he is very accommodating when we want to include young people in weekend celebrations. I could go on and on.

From Leo Hodapp at St. Joseph School in Freeburg:
Father Mark Reyling has many outstanding attributes. He is a person that has great vision for the parish. So many wonderful things are happening here due to his exceptional leadership. His homilies are simply inspiring and always presented in a fashion whereby the children of our school fully understand how the messages apply to them.
He takes a sincere interest in what the children are doing in school and always has words of encouragement for them. I enjoy working with him as I know what we try to accomplish is always for the benefit of the children of our wonderful Catholic school. We are truly blessed to have a shepherd that tends his flock with care and holiness. Bravo, Father Mark!

From Deacon Ron Karcher, principal at Holy Childhood School in Mascoutah:
As a principal I have worked with Msgr. Marvin Volk, Msgr. Carl Scherrer, Msgr. Bernard Voss, Msgr. Jerry Hartlein and Msgr. Jim Margason. I have found them to be dedicated and hard working pastors who loved their church and its people. They work with the young and old and have a positive attitude toward life and God. They bring a love of Jesus, a sense of humor and are great examples of what a pastor should be.

From St. Polycarp Parish in Carmi:
About Father Stephen Rudolphi, Helen Perdu says he’s all the time visiting the sick and blessing them. He’s a good one to sit and talk awhile, and he’s a good old-fashioned fellow.
Ruth Friedman says he’s a good priest, and the people are glad to have him.
Jeanette Drone says, throughout the years, Father Steve has graciously been a part of our many family celebrations.

From Joan Dohle at St. Mary-St. Augustine School in Belleville:
Mrs. Dohle collected comments from students at the school and shared them with us. Following are comments from some of the classes:
From first- and second-graders: They love Father Stan Konieczny and Father Bill McGhee. They teach about Jesus and God. They like to hear Father Bill play the accordion and like Father Stan’s quizzes and challenges and receiving holy cards from him.

Fifth-graders like Father Bill’s homilies and his “neat accent.” Students also enjoy Father Stan’s interesting homilies. They consider him nice, kind, helpful and funny. Other students like Father Stan’s questions during his homilies and his encouragement to attend weekend liturgies. For some students, Father Stan always seems to be happy and generates enthusiasm for liturgies and attention during his homilies. Father Bill cares for students, visiting them in classes and makes students think about the readings during his homilies.

From eighth-graders: Father Stan and Father Bill are both exceptional priests. They are both kind and caring people, and they rejoice when an achievement is reached.

Both priests have a passion for the church; they love Jesus; and they like to teach us about him.
Everyone at the school thanks both priests for their support and encouragement during this first year at the newly combined school.

From Frances Furlin at St. Andrew Parish in Christopher:
Today we recognize the priests in our lives with gratitude for their sensitive awareness, their values and their heightened perception of understanding.

Three priests have played an important role in my life: Father Steven Poole, pastor at St. Andrew’s, Father Joseph Trapp at St. Joseph’s in Benton and Msgr. Kenneth Schaefer at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel in Herrin.
These priests serve their parishes honorably, and I am grateful to each of them in many ways.
Having worked as secretary to the late Father John O’Keefe for several years, I had the good fortune of meeting and serving with many others.

Some people come into our lives and quickly go; some become friends and stay awhile, leaving good memories; and we are never quite the same because we have made good and lasting friends.
Thank you to all our priests; we do indeed appreciate you all.