Two Viatorian parishes are celebrating their longtime pastors’ many years of faithful service while also welcoming their successors.
At St. Viator Catholic Community in Las Vegas, Fr. Richard Rinn, CSV has retired after 26 years as pastor, and Fr. Edgar Suárez, CSV now begins as pastor. Fr. Rinn quoted the late Br. Bob Ruhl, CSV in saying, “Words are so feeble at a time like this.”
For his last Sunday as pastor, Fr. Rinn concelebrated Mass with (in top left photo) Fr. Larry Lentz, CSV, Fr. Tom von Behren, CSV, Fr. Mick Egan, CSV, current parochial vicar Fr. Dan Belanger, CSV, (in top right photo) and incoming pastor Fr. Edgar Suárez, CSV, with Associate Michael Underwood assisting as deacon.
In his farewell note to the parish, Fr. Rinn shared a few of the many things he’ll miss in retirement. “I am going to miss liturgies at St. Viator, especially the Advent and Christmas seasons and Lent, Holy Week, and Easter. I am going to miss speaking with our parishioners after Mass, and I will always appreciate the support you gave to the parish and me. I am going to miss working with our parish staff, volunteers, parish council and finance council, organizations, school administration, and school foundation committee,” Fr. Rinn wrote.
However, he won’t be far away, having moved into a Viatorian house nearby; meanwhile, parochial vicar Fr. Dan Belanger, CSV and retired Fr. Bill Haesaert, CSV have moved into the rectory with Fr. Suárez. After some time away, Fr. Rinn promises to return as a weekend assistant whose preaching style will remain the same as ever. “You will never escape three-part homilies!” Fr. Rinn joked.
At St. Patrick Church in Kankakee, Illinois, Fr. John Peeters, CSV has retired after 18 years as pastor, and Bishop Christopher Glancy, CSV now begins as pastor there in addition to his role as parochial administrator of Sacred Heart Church in Pembroke Township.
“Working at a parish is basically working with people, trying to be at their service, trying to be with them in good times and in bad, helping them try to grow as Christians and practice their faith,” Fr. Peeters said as part of an episode on his religious life on our Viatorian Voices podcast.
During his last week as pastor, Fr. Peeters visited with the teens participating in Hearts of Hope, who spent a day remulching the playground near St. Patrick Church.
At the Viatorian Assembly last month, Fr. Mark Francis, CSV, Provincial invited Fr. Peeters to say grace before a meal. He introduced Fr. Peeters as the pending “pastor emeritus” of St. Pat’s, where Fr. Peeters will continue living in retirement. With his trademark wit, Fr. Peeters added, “Very emeritus.”
The Viatorian Community offers its thanks and gratitude to Fr. Rinn and Fr. Peeters for their many years’ shepherding these faith communities.