Forty years is a long time to do something. The concept of this amount of time is something that this 31-year-old reporter doesn’t even have the practical experience to relate to. But 40 years is nonetheless the object of a celebration coming this weekend for Father Jerry Kaimann at St. Bonaventure Church in Marceline.
Father Jerry Kaimann came from a fairly religious family, noting that the Church had a great influence in his life from an early age. “My folks were very orientated to the Church,” recalled Father Jerry. “Even during the week, they were involved. I grew up around the Church; faith is very important to my family. Being a priest seemed like a good way to live life.”
It was this decision that affected the rest of Father Jerry’s life. Father Jerry attended Cardinal Glen College in St. Louis and Divinity School at St. Louis University where he studied Theology and Scripture. Father Jerry was ordained on March 14 at Immaculate Conception Church in Old Monroe Mo. by Bishop Michael McCollough. Father Jerry came to St. Bonaventure in Marceline in 2002.
“I have found that, in general, people accept and trust the priest,” said Father Jerry. “You don’t really have to go out and make friends, people generally come to you. You become a part of the family in a lot of cases.”
Being a priest has its benefits, as Father Jerry related: “Being with people at different stages of their lives is very rewarding,” the Father noted. “I am with people for births, Baptism, marriage, and even death.”
Of course, these journeys with his parishioners aren’t always easy. “I suppose the hardest thing to do is to stay positive,” admitted Father Jerry. “You have to put your trust in God; you can see God is working. People can be negative, but you have to be positive.”
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