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Holy Trinity Parish and School in Fairview Heights Continue to Take Shape

Story and photo by LIZ QUIRIN
Messenger editor

This November, Msgr. Bernard Voss will celebrate his 25th year of ministry at St. Henry Parish in Belleville, and parishioners hope it will continue for many years to come.

“Sometimes it seems longer,” Msgr. Voss said and laughed. His sense of humor is legendary in the parish and among his many friends.

He arrived at St. Henry’s from the now closed St. Catherine Labouré Parish in Cahokia at the request of then Bishop John Wurm.

“I got here, and it was like starting over,” Msgr. Voss said. The parish was in debt over $100,000, and a younger Father Voss had to borrow money from the diocese to pay the teachers salaries.

“The people really rallied (to raise money and retire the debt),” he said.

Through the years, the parish has changed and eventually the school closed in 2005 due to declining enrollment and escalating costs.

Over the years, classes were combined, but the parish couldn’t keep it open. “It was a tough decision, but people had to face reality,” he said.

On the spiritual side, Msgr. Voss is pleased and “proud of the RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults). The people who have joined the church have become active parishioners. They’re lectors, extraordinary ministers, and one of them is now a parish trustee.”

On week days, Msgr. Voss can look at his congregation and sometimes see close to 100 people attending daily Mass. Yes, he is sometimes “surprised” by the attendance but those who participate in daily liturgies give him a “nice feeling,” he said.

Originally from Germantown, Msgr. Voss loves to garden, and struggles with the critters — mainly squirrels — who want to sample his prize tomatoes during the summer.

The best part about being pastor at St. Henry’s is “to really get to know the people and know the area businesses.”
The worst part, he said is “always the fear of getting stale, that maybe people will get too used to you.”

Most recently, St. Henry’s and Msgr. Voss, hosted a cluster potluck dinner with Blessed Sacrament and Queen of Peace. “We’re being a little proactive thinking about the future,” he said, sharing a business manager among the three parishes. In looking back over these last 25 years, Msgr. Voss said: “I’m very grateful for all the support I’ve received from the parish and the people.”