Long-time Sacred Heart pastor, Msgr. John retiring

There is a song entitled “What a friend we have in Jesus” that has been sung by a number of entertainers including the late Kenny Rogers and Aretha Franklin as well as Alan Jackson.

In the second verse of the song there is a line that says, “Can we find a friend so faithful.”

Sacred Heart Catholic Church parish pastor Msgr. John Peters is such an individual that fits the lyrics of the song.

Msgr. John, as he is so fondly called, has decided after 50 years in the priesthood as well as the longest serving pastor for Sacred Heart Catholic Church Parish, to retire at the end of the month.

Peters, who turns 75 in October, departs the routine of serving the parish for the past 30 years and will leave behind a legacy that is hard to match by other parish pastors.

Born on Oct. 14, 1948 in Schulenburg, Msgr. John grew up as the only child of John Jr. and Tillie Stock Peters on a farm in the Weimar area.

In his younger years, Msgr. John attended St. Michaels Catholic School and served as an altar server and this is where he became interested in the priesthood.

Peters said during those years while serving daily Mass at 6 a.m., he started to be inclined in pursing a priestly life.

“I served many Masses for Msgr. Anthony Drozd at the 6 a.m. Mass during the week and then stay and go to school,” Msgr. John said. “After Mass the servers would go to the monsignor’s house for donuts and milk before school. I just really admired him (Msgr. Drozd). He was such a great part of our family and the parish.

In addition at that time, Msgr. John said the parish had a seminarian (Father Jerry Cernoch), who he got to know along with his parents very well.

“Those things inspired me,” Msgr. John said. “And, my parents never objected.

Following his completion of the eighth grade in Weimar, Msgr. John entered the seminary where he attended St. John’s Seminary in San Antonio at the age of 14 and attended the ninth through the twelfth grade.

Peters then took college and theology courses at Assumption Seminary in San Antonio and acquired a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology from St. Mary’s University in San Antonio.

Msgr. John continued his theological studies at St. Mary’s as well as the Oblate School of Theology in San Antonio.

On April 26, 1974, Peters was ordained a priest in St. Michaels Catholic Church in Weimar by Archbishop Francis J. Furey.

After his ordination, Msgr. John started a trek in the priesthood that eventually led him to Hallettsville.

His first assignment was at St. Joseph, Yoakum where he served as an associate pastor from 1974-77.

His next two assignments led him to San Antonio as an associate pastor at St. Matthew’s (1977-81), St. Pius X (1981- 82) and in 1982 came back to Yoakum as the parish pastor until 1985. In 1985, Peters next assignment took him to Our Lady of Lourdes in Victoria as its pastor until 1990.

Peters then accepted a different assignment, where he served on the faculty at St. Mary’s Seminary in Houston.

“Serving on the seminary’s faculty for four years and getting to know the guys pursuing the priesthood was a good experience,” Peters said. “But, being in a parish with so many people, it was more like family.”

Msgr. John said he has been really proud about three of his students, eventually named as bishops. Two of his former students, who became bishops, Gary Janak and Michael Boulette. They both serve as auxiliary bishops for San Antonio Bishop Gustavo Garcia-Siller.

In 1994, Msgr. John received his assignment for Sacred Heart and St. Mary’s Catholic Church parishes and the rest you could say is history.

Through those years, Msgr. John could be seen and heard at many functions in the city as well as the church.

The list is unlimited as to the number of couples he married, babies baptized or funerals conducted by Msgr. John.

When asked what were some his fondest memories, Msgr. John said, “The weddings, first communions, the baptisms and even funerals always touched me very much. I felt like part of the people. It was more than conducting the ceremony, but being part of their families.”

In addition, Msgr. John has been very active in church and community functions including several building projects for the parish and Sacred Heart Catholic School, the origin of the Festival of Lights and the Passion of Christ play at the event, the Manna Food Pantry, and many other involvements he has helped in developing and supporting.

Over the years while serving Sacred Heart Parish, Msgr. John said he is most proud of is the cooperation from the people regarding building projects.

“They were always good and we always got it done when we built something,” Peters said. “We always had it paid for and never had to take out a loan and it was due to the people’s generosity.”

Another area spiritually, Msgr. John has been proud of is the establishment of the Adoration Chapel in 2006.

“The Adoration Chapel is a big thing for me,” monsignor said. “I think it has made a big difference not only for the parish, but for the community.”

Peters has also been very involved in many organizations as a member, officer or as a director.

Listing some of his accomplishments including chaplain for the Texas National Guard, Serra Club, state chaplain for the K.J.T., Knights of Columbus Council 2433 and the Hallettsville VFD as its chaplain as well as many other organizations.

Msgr. John received a number of awards and recognitions as well including 2013 Distinguished Alumni Award, 2018 Hallettsville Garden Club Citizen of the Year and induction into the Polka Hall of Fame in March of this year.

In 2001, Peters took on two more parishes as pastor when he was assigned to St. John’s in the St. John community and the Ascension of Our Lord Catholic Church in Moravia.

With those two new parishes added to Msgr. John’s responsibilities, he was very active in leading the parishioners toward improving their parish facilities.

Msgr. John, who for the first 18 years as pastor of Sacred Heart was always known as Father John, but on Aug. 6, 2012 he received a papal designation as monsignor.

It took awhile for the parishioners to get use to calling him Monsignor John, but now that name has become synonymous to everyone.

This past Sunday, the adoration was very evident as a celebration Mass, meal and program was held at the Knights of Columbus Hall in Hallettsville.

Slightly over 1,000 individuals attended the event including four bishops, Victoria diocese Bishop Brendan Cahill, and bishops Gary Janak, Michael Olson and Michael Boulette. There were a vast number of priests, who were friends to the monsignor as well as associates and a large number friends and parishioners, who filled the hall.

The entire event lasted four hours with Chuck Grafe and Laura and Travis Kremling emceeing the program.

It was a remarkable send off to well respected man.

With the tenure of Msgr. John as Sacred Heart pastor coming to an end, he will be replaced by Father Michael Rother.

Msgr. John is very confident in Rother taking over and feels he will continue the spiritual leadership for Sacred Heart parishioners.

“I am very happy Father Michael will be taking over,” Msgr. John said. “I was his first pastor and got to know him quite well. When it came to naming a new pastor, I was very pleased the Bishop assigned him and even prepared him to be here until I retire. I think he is one of the best choices we could have.”

Regarding Msgr. John’s plans for retirement, he will live in his parents home place between Weimar and Columbus.

“The house is where I grew up and its over 100 years old. We have kept it up over the years,” Msgr. John said.

Because he has traveled to almost every place he would like to and because he doesn’t want to deal with airports anymore, Msgr. John doesn’t see himself traveling and plans instead to catch up on his reading. He also will still be available to celebrate masses for area priests while they’re away.

Responding to an interview to arrange a pamphlet that was handed out to those attending Sunday’s celebration, Msgr. John was asked a question, What is his favorite Scripture passage?

Msgr. John said, “John 3:16 ‘For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.’”

Sticking with another St. John bible verse it says, “No one has greater love than this: to lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13) while another verse says, “Jesus is the greatest friend because he laid down his life for us (John 15:19).

No Msgr. John did not lay his life down for us, as Jesus did, but he definitely put his entire career into serving for the good of all.

Best wishes on a well deserved retirement.