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father john venegoni dies oct. 11

Story and photo by LIZ QUIRIN
Messenger editor

It's been a long, short journey home for Father John Venegoni who died Oct. 11 at the Siteman Cancer Center at Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis. He was 62.

Granted a medical leave of absence July 10, Father Venegoni resigned as pastor of St. Teresa and St. Luke parishes, both in Belleville.

A memorial Mass was celebrated Oct. 14 at St. Teresa's with Msgr. James Buerster principal celebrant and homilist. A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated Oct. 15 at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Parish in Herrin with Bishop Edward K. Braxton principal celebrant and Msgr. Kenneth Schaefer, homilist.

Father Venegoni was born April 4, 1945 in Herrin to Ben and Minnie Sartore Venegoni. An only child, Father Venegoni and his parents moved to Christopher when he was 10, and he grew up, he said in an interview earlier this year, attending Catholic schools.

While he said he thought about being a priest as a young man, he put that hought from his mind, and instead, went to college, majoring in mathematics and German. Later, he received a doctorate in educational administration and spent 23 years teaching at Herrin High School, never quite forgetting about his thoughts of perhaps becoming a priest.

By 1990, his desire to become a priest was translated into seminary studies and ordination June 3, 1995 by Belleville's then Bishop Wilton Gregory. He was 50 years old and looking forward to many years serving as a priest in the Belleville diocese.

He began his priestly ministry at St. Peter's Cathedral in Belleville and was appointed pastor of St. Bruno's in Pinckneyville a year later. In 2003 he was appointed pastor of St. Teresa's in Belleville and canonical pastor and sacramental minister of St. Luke's, also in Belleville, in 2004.

Later, in 2004, he was diagnosed with cancer and began treatments. Eventually, he moved to the cathedral rectory to recuperate from chemotherapy treatments and the effects of kidney problems. Father Venegoni said the illness affected his prayer life. "Spiritually there were times I prayed like crazy, and other times I couldn't pray at all," he said in an earlier interview.

Throughout his illness, Father Venegoni was cared for by his fellow priests and especially former parishioners.
Before his death, Father Venegoni was able to drive his car again, something he wanted to do when he was still living at the cathedral.

Eventually he moved to the Hincke-Sense Residence for retired priests. He was preceded in death by his parents.
He is survived by cousins, other relatives and many friends.

Interment was in San Carlo Catholic Cemetery in Herrin.