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Happening ... in the Local Church
Meet
the priestAn occasional feature profiling the priests, sisters and permanent deacons who serve the Local Church.
Father Louis Heitz
Otterbein Retirement Home, Cridersville, Ohio
Please tell us a bit about your family background and hometown.
I was born Nov. 5, 1931, into a family of four daughters and four sons, the fifth in ordinal line.
We were farmers, with my father’s major occupation as land surveyor and drainage contractor. Both my father and mother came from very strong Catholic families with a history of architects and teachers. Two of my father’s great-uncles were architects and builders of St. John’s Church in Delphos, Ohio, which has a seating capacity of 1,400 and resembles a cathedral in appearance.
Three of my sisters were teachers at the elementary, secondary and collegiate levels. My youngest sister entered the Sisters of Notre Dame in the Toledo Province. My three brothers served in the armed forces: Navy, World War II; Air Force, Korean War; Army, peace time. I became a life member of the Lord’s army. Three sisters and one brother entered into the marriage covenant, becoming parents of 15 children, followed by 16 grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren. Two brothers are deceased.
Where did you go to school and church? What activities were you involved in?
My elementary education was in St. John’s parish school, Delphos; minor seminary formation at St. Meinrad, Ind.; major seminary at Conception Abbey seminary in Missouri, all 12 years under the Benedictines. My final two years of formal education were at the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C., where I received a master’s degree in social work. I was a member of the Academy of Certified Social Workers for several years until that organization shamefully endorsed “pro-choice” for abortion.
What jobs did you have through the years?
As a farm boy I was involved in all the typical farm work that included raising grain, livestock and fowl. On occasion, we raised lots of cane!
Our farm bordered the Auglaze River, where I spent considerable time with some of my siblings, fishing, swimming and just puttering around as often as we could sneak away from our usual chores.
As a priest of the diocese, I served on the marriage Tribunal as Defender of the Bond, moderator of Boy Scouts and CYO, and taught religion at Central Catholic High School in Lafayette. During my ministry, I served as associate pastor in two parishes for seven years; pastor for 29 years in three parishes, 12 years as diocesan director of Catholic Charities and St. Vincent de Paul. During this time I also served on the Priests’ Senate, Presbyteral Council and chairman of the Task Force for Pastoral Planning.
In my retirement at Otterbein, I celebrate Holy Mass daily in my apartment and on Sundays for all the Catholic residents, hear confessions when requested, and anoint the sick sacramentally. On occasion, I am asked to baptize great-great-nephews and nieces. I call my little congregation the “John Paul the Great Parish.”
What led to your decision to become a priest?
As long as I can remember, I always wanted to be a priest. Much of this inclination was nurtured by the Notre Dame Sisters who could sense a priestly vocation before it even surfaced. Our parish, back then, was blessed with five full-time priests, but I give most credit to my mother and father for their ongoing encouragement, prayers, faith example and support. My sisters and brothers also greatly contributed to my priestly vocation with their prayers, interest and sacrifices.
However, aside from my family, the greatest guidance and strength on my journey was from my pastor, Msgr. Carl Reineck, a great role model, deeply pastoral and always interested in my seminary training and spiritual development. After my ordination, Msgr. Reineck was always most gracious and accommodating when I came home for a visit and to celebrate Mass.
Please tell us about your ordination and first Mass.
My ordination took place in the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception at Conception Abbey. My entire family was present with the exception of my brother, who was in the Army. The ordination Mass was truly inspirational with 10 deacons to be ordained and surrounded by all the Benedictine monks, with beautiful Gregorian chant and majestic organ music.
My first Solemn Mass was celebrated on Palm Sunday with procession through the church, singing of the entire Passion in Latin and Msgr. Reineck as the arch priest assisted by two Benedictine priests as deacon and sub-deacon. The church was packed, the choir rang out, palms waving, large extended family in attendance, all this solemnly followed by a banquet in the Parish Hall with congratulatory speeches and acknowledgements. It was a day to remember forever.
What is the best part of your vocation?
My vacation! Not really. Since I am very limited in my mobility, can no longer drive a car and must use a scooter, power wheelchair, walker and two canes to ambulate, I only move about from my apartment when I have doctor’s appointments, go shopping at Walmart and visit family who live close by. And then a very kind relative provides my transportation. Thanks especially to my niece, Jeanne Hull, who always responds when I need a ride.
I am blessed with many visitors: family members who live close by, a sister in Cincinnati, and a sister in Coldwater, Mich., and also former parishioners from Winchester, Elwood and Muncie.
Back to the question. The best part of my sharing in the eternal priesthood of Jesus Christ is the privilege of celebrating the sacraments, namely baptism, reconciliation, holy Eucharist and anointing of the sick.
When I was in a parish, I was in seventh heaven when I celebrated first holy Communion. I always had a dialogue homily with the kids sitting on the floor around me. Their answers, comments, and sometimes unusual behavior were most interesting. Like the first time a first communicant got peeved with her brother who was sitting on the floor behind her and kept pulling her ribboned pigtail. She finally stood up and hit him on the head with her purse. I’m sure our Lord laughed with the rest of the congregation.
I always questioned the children about the sacrament of Eucharist and holy Communion. Then I gave them the floor to question their parents, which they thoroughly enjoyed. Very interesting exchanges!
Being the only priest in the Otterbein Retirement Home, I sometimes am called to anoint a dying resident with the sacrament of the sick. This could be at any hour of the day or night. It is so rewarding to be able to do that. Then there are times when a resident in taken to the hospital and I’m asked to do the same. I had the privilege of anointing my 80-year-old brother before his heart surgery here in Lima and a brother-in-law in Cincinnati who survived three “Code Blues.” What could be a greater blessing for me and those I minister to? In addition to these privileges, I celebrate the Sunday liturgy every week for all Catholic residents here. My nephew and his wife, David and Debbie, always assist me at Mass as readers and extraordinary ministers of holy Communion. My brother, who lives only four miles from Otterbein, frequently joins us, as well as other relatives.
During Advent and Lent, I have been asked to join all the priests in the Lima area for communal confessions.
I have baptized several great-great-nephews and nieces as well as children of Winchester parishioners. So, you see, my priestly ministry is still alive, thanks be to God.
What do you look forward to each day?
Certainly, I look forward mostly to celebrating Holy Mass in my apartment. Since I am alone I can spend all the time I wish during the liturgy, especially at the consecration of bread and wine and then thanksgiving after Mass. No complaints about length of time.
What is the most important thing you have learned about people?
I would say the most important thing I have learned is the genuine desire people have to know, not just about Jesus, but to know Jesus on a personal basis. As a consequence, their love for our Lord is expressed in their readiness to help others. The genuine goodness of people is evidenced everywhere: in their deep appreciation of their Catholic faith and the gift of sharing in the fullness of Christianity. Their love for Pope John Paul the Great and now for Pope Benedict XVI inspires them to be humbly proud of being a Catholic in the midst of such a violently radical atheism. To be firmly anchored on the rock of Peter and the Magisterium is such a mighty and solid foundation of their life.
Who are your favorite authors?
My favorite authors are Father Richard John Neuhaus, David McCullough, Raymond Arroyo and Matthew Kelly.
What are your three favorite books?
The most recent interesting books I’ve read are 1776 by David McCullough; A Mighty Fortress — A New History of the German People, by Steven Ozment, and Death on a Friday Afternoon by Father Neuhaus.
What is your favorite prayer?
The Book of Psalms.
If you could have a conversation with any five individuals, living or dead, who would they be?
Moses, St. Augustine, Martin Luther, Pope Pius XII and Leonardo da Vinci.
Who, among the priests of the diocese, do you admire most?
The priests of the diocese I admire most are Father Bill Grady and Father Leo Piguet — two tremendously dedicated priests to their very last breath, still active as pastors in spite of severe health problems. Among my brother priests I admire most are our young associates and pastors, with particular mention of Father Brian Dudzinski, whom I remember as associate pastor at St. Mary’s in Muncie, and his great work with the deanery, CYO and his priestly demeanor at all times and his love for our youth sharing their activities.
As a footnote, I have been blessed with wonderful assignments in my 50 years as a priest. My first pastor was Father Leo P. McHale at St. Ann in Lafayette. He was a wonderful rectory priest, very hospitable to my family and the source of endless very funny stories. It would take a book to record them all.
Finally, I was on cloud nine when I celebrated my golden jubilee as a priest. That cloud took me first to St. Lawrence, Muncie, April 15, 2007, where I was pastor 15 years, then to Winchester, where I was pastor seven years, and at which Bishop Higi was a concelebrant together with Bishop Carl Mengeling of Lansing, Mich., a close friend and classmate at St. Meinrad. Cloud nine finally floated me to St. Joseph Parish in Elwood on June 8, 2007, where I was pastor seven years, my first pastorate.
I loved all the parishes equally but with special emphasis on St. Lawrence, where the parish school children were absolutely delightful, loving and respectful.