Precious Blood Parish In Jasper
In 1954:
Pius XII was Pope.
Most Rev. Henry J. Grimmelsman was bishop – the first bishop – of Evansville.
“Ike” was in the White House.
Television was black and white – and only six years old.
And … Bishop Grimmelsman established Precious Blood Parish in Jasper, naming Father Ralph Endress the founding pastor.
Several generations of parishioners, including many charter members, gathered Sept. 7 to celebrate the parish’s 60th anniversary with a Mass that filled the church sanctuary and a dinner that filled the school gymnasium.
“In the third chapter of Ecclesiastes we read, ‘There is an anointed time for everything. There is a time for every event under heaven,’” said Pastor Father Gary Kaiser. “Today is the time for us to honor our past and celebrate the 60 years of ministry to our parish, our local community, our diocese and the universal Church.”
Father Gary recognized and welcomed Father Joe Kane, retired from the Diocese of Evansville, who served 22 years as Precious Blood pastor. He also welcomed Father Jeff Read, recently assigned to the parish as associate pastor. Father Jeff served the parish as a deacon during his fourth year of theology studies at St. Meinrad Seminary.
Father Gary recognized Father Frank Renner, a son of the parish and Pastor of St. Mary Parish in Sullivan and St. Joan of Arc Parish in Jasonville, who returned to enjoy the day with his Dad, Donald. Another son of the parish, Father Gene Schroeder (Pastor of St. Joseph Parish in Vanderburgh County), was unable to attend.
Sister Lucy Lechner, Sister Ida Otto and Sister Gloria Memering also returned for the celebation. Sister Lucy is a daughter of the parish, and her family donated the land for the parish. She and Sister Gloria, who is a former music and choir director at Precious Blood, are Sisters of Providence. Sister Ida is a Benedictine from Monastery Immaculate Conception in Ferdinand. She taught pre-school, kindergarten and day care at Precious Blood. Father Gary recognized them just before he thanked Sister Betty Koressel, pastoral associate at Precious Blood and a member of the 60th anniversary planning committee.
Other members included Ruth and Sid Fritch, Mary and Randy Voegerl, Sue and Greg Schmidt, Kathy Bachman and Sandy Wehr. Ruth Fritch served as emcee for the dinner, and she led the crowd in a lengthy round of applause for the many founding members of Precious Blood who attended.
Sister Betty led prayer before the meal, and she began with the Precious Blood Parish 60th Anniversary Prayer, which she wrote. It appears on page 8 of this issue.
“It’s good to see so many of you here,” Father Gary said to everyone. “We appreciate your time and efforts. You make our parish what it is.
“For the past couple of months, Sister Betty and I have been really moved by the dedication of our parishioners. Volunteers have been numerous, and each has had a work ethic that’s been inspirational.”
Father Joe talked about the Precious Blood “thriving spirit dedicated to Jesus … dedicated to doing Jesus’ work here. That spirit still lives on here.”
The dinner concluded with a number of drawings, including one for the 60th anniversary quilt made by parishioners. Every family also received a copy of a commemorative book created by the committee, with assistance and generous support from Margie Vaught.
