Fr. Jerome Pastors 

As with many other members of Council 10243, it’s not just the aroma of booyah that drew Jerry to the Knights--there seems to be a family connection.  Though the memories are a bit faded, he seems to remember his grandfather being somehow involved in the Knights.  Jerry sees the Knights as a good organization and is appreciative of the involvement of the Knights in the local community, especially through outreach programs and youth activities as well as the strong family focus.  He remembers the Knights being quite active in his home parish of Holy Angels in West Bend, Wisconsin.

 

A native of West Bend, Jerry discovered a special spiritual dimension of his life at St. Lawrence High School, where both of his brothers also went.  After that he moved farther away from home and on to St. Norbert College, and partially through the influence of several priests who had been a part of his life, he discerned and followed through on a vocation to the priesthood.  He spent five years at Mundelein seminary in Illinois, a year of pre-theology and four years of theology studies.  Jerry did his diaconate experience at St. Nicholas Parish in Freedom, where he came to understand and appreciate the calling to a life of pastoral service, though he jokes that some of the parishioners there may still be recuperating from his presence.  It was also at St. Nicholas where he came to know one of the less enjoyable areas of the life of the clergy--many meetings.  He graduated earlier this year and was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Green Bay on May 23.  After ordination he was assigned to St. Bernard Parish in Green Bay and soon after was approached about membership in the Knights.

 

His day usually begins around 7:15 AM.  After Mass and breakfast he handles some of the usual administrative duties of paperwork, ‘phone calls and the like.  He also especially appreciates the time he can give to meeting people through visits to the homebound and hospital calls, trying to remember all the names.  Another energizing experience is meeting people before and after Sunday liturgies.  He also enjoys visiting members of the parish and being with the young people, wandering around the school or being on the playground.  The energy and enthusiasm they bring is refreshing, though he admits that he like to give them a hard time occasionally.

 

For relaxation he enjoys bicycling, walking, going to movies and listening to just about any sort of music ranging from classical to contemporary.  At the seminary he considered himself something of a ‘movie guru’ and took on the responsibility of often renting a movie for an evening of entertainment.  He also has a craving for ‘goodies’ and the generosity of many parish members has kept that satisfied.  Jerry is the middle of three brothers and also has an older sister.  While his parents still live in West Bend, he has relatives in Green Bay.

 

December 1998