October 21, 2009 // Local
Father Kohrman installed at St. Vincent de Paul, Elkhart
Bishop John D’Arcy, Father Glenn Kohrman, pastor of St. Vincent de Paul, and Father Kevin Bauman, associate pastor prepare to celebrate Mass.
By Denise Fedorow
ELKHART — Bishop John D’Arcy celebrated Mass at St. Vincent de Paul Church in Elkhart on Sunday, Oct. 18, and installed their new pastor, Father Glenn Kohrman.
The bishop told parishioners, “It’s always a great joy to be at St. Vincent’s — the mother parish of Elkhart. I recognize its great history and that the parish always welcomed immigrants and those in need. This parish has always held a special place in my heart.”
He told the congregation how special it was in this Year for Priests that the Lord gave the parish two distinguished priests — one who is an engineering graduate of Purdue and the other a former professor of modern language at Notre Dame.
“St. Vincent’s is being well taken care of by the bishop and the good Lord. You and they together will create a revitalized spiritual growth for the parish,” the bishop said.
During the homily the bishop encouraged parishioners to pray for the priests and pray that more join them. “But not just more priests, more good priests.”
Bishop D’Arcy asked members of the staff, parish council, finance council and school staff to stand and he presented them to Father Kohrman, saying that they would give him advice, assistance and help with the parish.
In return, Father Kohrman pledged to accept that help. “Brothers and sisters in Christ, I pledge to seek your counsel in the pastoral care of the parish,” he said.
Father Kohrman repeated the vows he made at his ordination. At the end of the Mass Father Kohrman expressed his appreciation.
“I thank the bishop for trusting me with the job; I’ll try to be a good steward. Thanks to Father Kevin Bauman, the choir director, the schoolchildren’s choir and to all of you for being here today.”
The bishop also expressed his thanks to the choir and also “the congregation for singing so well and joyfully in English, Spanish, Latin and even Greek!”
A reception was held in the Knights of Columbus hall following the Mass.
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