60th ordination
Msgr. William J. Leach
Birthplace: St. Charles
Education: St. Peter High School, St. Louis Prep, Kenrick Seminary
Ordination: March 22, 1958, by Archbishop Joseph E. Ritter
Service in the archdiocese: Missionary apostolate in southern Missouri, 1958-61
Assistant pastor, St. Lucy Parish, Jennings, 1961-69
Associate pastor, St. Boniface Parish, St. Louis, 1969-74
Associate pastor, Christ the King Parish, University City, 1974-75
Associate pastor, St. John the Apostle and Evangelist Parish, St. Louis, 1975-79
Pastor, St. Jude Parish, Maryland Heights, 1979-84
Pastor, St. John the Baptist “Gildehaus” Parish, Villa Ridge, 1984-2001
Senior associate pastor, St. Peter Parish, St. Charles, 2001-04
Senior associate pastor, St. Margaret Mary Alacoque Parish, 2004-present
About Msgr. William Leach: Msgr. Leach served as senior associate pastor at St. Peter Parish in St. Charles from 2001 to 2004; he attended the parish high school there in 1946-47. Pope Benedict XVI named him a prelate of honor, with the title of monsignor, on Sept. 8, 2008.
Father Robert G. Leibrecht
Birthplace: St. Louis
Education: McBride High School, St. Louis Prep, Kenrick Seminary
Ordination: March 22, 1958, by Archbishop Joseph E. Ritter
Service in the archdiocese: Assistant pastor, Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis Parish, St. Louis, 1958-62
Latin America Apostolate, Bolivia, 1962-72
Associate pastor, St. Jerome Parish, Bissell Hills, 1972-74
Latin America Apostolate, 1974-77
Pastor, St. Bernadette Parish, Lemay, 1977-81
Pastor, Sts. Joachim and Ann Parish, St. Charles, 1981-93
Pastor, Holy Family Parish, St. Louis, 1994-99
Pastor, Holy Family Parish, Port Hudson, and administrator, St. Gerald Mission, Gerald, 1999-2009
Retirement, with residence at Regina Cleri, 2009-present
About Father Robert Leibrecht: Father Leibrecht was the first pastor of Sts. Joachim and Ann Parish in St. Charles, serving from 1981 to 1993. Then, he studied at the Vatican II Institute in Melo Park, Calif., on sabbatical in 1993. His brother is Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau Bishop-Emeritus John J. Leibrecht, who served 24 years as bishop (1984-2008).
Msgr. Robert L. McCarthy
Birthplace: Farmington
Education: Saint Louis University (bachelor’s degree, commerce and finance), Kenrick Seminary
Ordination: March 22, 1958, by Archbishop Joseph E. Ritter
Service in the archdiocese: Assistant secretary of archdiocesan cemeteries, 1958-73
Part-time associate pastor, St. Aloysius Parish, St. Louis, 1958-62
Part-time associate pastor, Christ the King Parish, University City, 1962-67
Resident chaplain at Nazareth Convent, 1967-68
Part-time associate pastor, Holy Innocents Parish, St. Louis, 1968-69
Part-time associate pastor, Christ the King, 1969-70
Part-time associate pastor, St. Bridget Parish, St. Louis, 1970-71
Part-time associate pastor, Corpus Christi Parish, Jennings, 1971-72
Part-time associate pastor, Cathedral Parish, St. Louis, 1972-75
Secretary (director), archdiocesan cemeteries, 1973-2008
Pastor, St. Frances Xavier Cabrini Parish, Jennings, 1975-2000
Residence, St. Clement Parish, Des Peres, 2000-09
Director emeritus of Catholic Cemeteries of the Archdiocese of St. Louis, 2008-present
About Msgr. Robert McCarthy: Msgr. McCarthy spent 50 years as a member of the Catholic Cemetery Conference. St. Pope John Paul II named him a prelate of honor with the title of monsignor, on Sept. 29, 1982.
50th ordination
Father Robert L. Banken
Birthplace: Leslie
Education: St. Louis Prep South, Cardinal Glennon College, Kenrick Seminary and Saint Louis University Divinity School
Ordination: May 11, 1968, by Archbishop John J. Carberry
Service in the archdiocese: Associate pastor, St. Clement of Rome Parish, Des Peres, 1968-72
Associate pastor, St. Thomas the Apostle Parish, Florissant, 1972-75
Associate pastor, Our Lady of Lourdes Parish, Washington, 1975-79
Resident chaplain, St. Mary of the Angels Convent, Richmond Heights, and assist at Barnes Hospital, 1979-89
Pastor, St. Francis Borgia Parish, Washington, 1990-94
Senior priest in service, Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish, St. Louis, 1994
Chaplain, U.S. Navy Reserves (lieutenant), Quantico, Va., 1994-98
Pastor, St. Sebastian Parish, north St. Louis County, 1998-2005
Chaplain for health care centers in the Northeast County Deanery, 2005-06
In residence, Our Lady of the Rosary Parish, Spanish Lake, 2005-06
Pastor, St. Francis of Assisi Parish, Portage des Sioux, and Immaculate Conception Parish, West Alton, 2006-2018
Retirement, with residence at Regina Cleri, 2018-present
About Father Robert Banken: Father Banken is from village of Leslie, population 171 in the 2010 census. Leslie is near the far-western edge of the Archdiocese of St. Louis, between Beaufort and Gerald on U.S. 50 in Franklin County. It’s in the parish boundary of St. Gerald Parish, which has 248 parishioners among 93 families.
Father George P. Brennan
Birthplace: St. Louis
Education: St. Louis Prep, Cardinal Glennon College, Kenrick Seminary and Saint Louis University Divinity School
Ordination: May 11, 1968, by Archbishop John J. Carberry
Service in the archdiocese: Associate pastor, St. Sabina Parish, Florissant, 1968-70
Associate pastor, St. Stephen Protomartyr Parish, St. Louis, 1970-75
Associate pastor, All Souls Parish, Overland, 1975-80
Associate pastor, St. Frances Xavier Cabrini Parish, Jennings, 1980-81
Associate pastor, Our Lady of Mercy Parish, Hazelwood, 1981-88
Associate pastor, Transfiguration Parish, Florissant, 1988-89
Pastor, Holy Innocents Parish, St. Louis, 1989-2001
Senior associate pastor, St. Monica Parish, Creve Coeur, 2001-07
Retired with private residence, 2007-present
About Father George Brennan: Father Brennan’s younger brother is archdiocesan priest Father Eugene Brennan, who was ordained two years later, in 1970.
Father James L. Gahan
Birthplace: St. Louis
Education: St. Louis Prep, Cardinal Glennon College, Kenrick Seminary and Saint Louis University Divinity School
Ordination: May 11, 1968, by Archbishop John J. Carberry
Service in the archdiocese: Associate pastor, St. Rita Parish, Vinita Park, 1968-71
Faculty, Rosary High School, 1971-84
Part-time associate pastor, Our Lady of Fatima Parish, Florissant, 1971-74
Associate pastor, St. Louise de Marillac Parish, Jennings, 1974-77
Part-time associate pastor, St. Casimir Parish, Hathaway Manor, 1977-81
Part-time associate pastor, Our Lady of Fatima, Florissant, 1981-1984
Faculty, Duchesne High School, 1984-2012
Part-time associate pastor, St. Robert Parish, St. Charles, 1984-85
Part-time associate pastor, St. Charles Borromeo Parish, St. Charles, 1985-87
Part-time associate pastor, Sts. Joachim and Ann Parish, St. Charles, 1987-2012
Associate pastor, Sts. Joachim and Ann, 2012-17
Retired, with residence at Sts. Joachim and Ann, 2017-present
About Father James Gahan: Father Gahan served as a teacher for 41 of 49 years in active ministry — from 1971 to 1984 at Rosary High School and from 1984 to 2012 at Duchesne High School.
Father Robert J. Menner
Birthplace: St. Louis
Education: St. Louis Prep, Cardinal Glennon College, Kenrick Seminary and Saint Louis University Divinity School
Ordination: May 11, 1968, by Archbishop John J. Carberry
Service in the archdiocese: Associate pastor, Our Lady of Mercy Parish, Hazelwood, 1968-73
Latin America Apostolate, 1973-77
Associate pastor, Immaculate Conception Parish, Arnold, 1977-79
Latin America Apostolate, 1979-85
Associate pastor, Assumption Parish, O’Fallon, 1985-86
Latin America Apostolate, 1986-92
Pastor, St. Pius V Parish, St. Louis, 1994-95
Latin America Apostolate, 1995-2004
Senior associate pastor, St. Joseph Parish, Manchester, 2004-05
Associate pastor, Parroquia Maria Reina, La Paz, Bolivia, 2005-08
Senior associate pastor, St. Joseph Parish, Manchester, 2008-2010
Senior associate pastor, Parroquia Maria Reina, La Paz, Bolivia, 2010-12
Senior associate pastor, St. Charles Borromeo Parish, St. Charles, 2012-16
Director of the Propagation of the Faith for the Archdiocese of St. Louis, with residence at Regina Cleri Residence for Retired Priests, Shrewsbury, 2016-17
Retirement with residence at Regina Cleri, 2017-present
About Father Robert Menner: In 49 years of active ministry, Father Menner spent almost three-fifths of it — 28 years in all, divided into five stints — in the archdiocese’s Latin America Apostolate. He also studied at the Vatican II Institute in Melo Park, Calif., in 1992-93.
Father John H. Schneider
Birthplace: Washington
Education: St. Louis Prep, Cardinal Glennon College, Kenrick Seminary and Saint Louis University Divinity School
Ordination: May 11, 1968, by Archbishop John J. Carberry
Service in the archdiocese: Associate pastor, Ste. Genevieve DuBois Parish, Warson Woods, 1968-69
Associate pastor, St. Catherine of Alexandria Parish, Riverview Gardens, 1969-73
Associate pastor, North American Martyrs Parish, Florissant, 1973-78
Associate pastor, St. Rose of Lima Parish Parish, DeSoto, 1978-82
Associate pastor, Christ Prince of Peace Parish, Manchester, 1982-85
Associate pastor, St. Martin of Tours Parish, Lemay, 1985-89
Associate pastor, All Saints Parish St. Peters, 1990-91
Pastor, St. Joseph Parish, Bonne Terre, 1991-2013
Administrator, St. Anne Parish, French Village, 1991-2013
Retirement in private residence, 2013-present
About Father John H. Schneider: Father Schneider served as chaplain at the VA Hospital at Jefferson Barricks and at Eastern Reception, Diagnostic and Correctional Center in Bonne Terre.
Msgr. James T. Telthorst
Birthplace: St. Louis
Education: Laboure High School, Cardinal Glennon College, Kenrick Seminary and Saint Louis University Divinity School
Ordination: May 11, 1968, by Archbishop John J. Carberry
Service in the archdiocese: Associate pastor, St. Ann Parish, Normandy, 1968-72
Faculty, St. Louis Prep Seminary North, 1972-82
Part-time associate pastor, St. Ann, Normandy, 1972-76
Associate pastor, St. Adalbert Parish, St. Louis, 1976-80
Chaplain, Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word Convent, Normandy, 1978-80
Chaplain, Oblate Sisters of Providence at St. Francis Day Care Center, Normandy, 1980-82
Director, Office of Worship, 1982-91
Part-time associate pastor, Corpus Christi Parish, Jennings, 1983-84
Part-time associate pastor, Most Holy Trinity Parish, St. Louis, 1984-88
Associate pastor, Cathedral of St. Louis Parish, 1988-91
Pastor, Cathedral of St. Louis, 1991-2002
Pastor, Our Lady of Sorrows Parish, 2002-09
Pastor, Mary Mother of the Church Parish, 2009-17
Granted retirement status, with residence at Regina Cleri, 2017-18
Residence at Our Lady of Perpetual Help, 2018-present
About Msgr. James Telthorst: Msgr. Telthorst was named prelate of honor with title of reverend monsignor by St. Pope John Paul II, which was announced by Archbishop Rigali on June 28, 1995. He was dean of the North St. Louis Deanery from 1994-97. He also was elected to a three-year term on the Archdiocesan Priestly Life and Ministry Committee in December 1977.
25th ordination
Father Donald E. Henke
Birthplace: St. Louis
Education: Saint Louis University; Pontifical Gregorian University, Rome; Academia Alfonsiana, Rome
Ordination: Jan. 16, 1993, by Bishop Edward J. O’Donnell
Service in the archdiocese: Associate pastor, St. Clement of Rome Parish, Des Peres, 1993-95
Faculty, Duchesne High School, St. Charles, 1995-2001
Part-time associate pastor, St. Charles Borromeo Parish, St. Charles, 1995-97
Part-time associate pastor, St. Cletus Parish, St. Charles, 1997-2001
Chaplain for the Missouri Air National Guard, St. Louis, 1998-2001
Professor, Kenrick-Glennon Seminary, Shrewsbury, 2004-12
Associate director, Paul VI Institute, 2004-09
Associate academic dean, Kenrick-Glennon Seminary, 2005-10
Academic dean, Kenrick-Glennon Seminary, 2010-12
Pastor, St. Joseph, Neier, 2016-present
Part-time professor and formation advisor, Kenrick-Glennon, 2016-present
Service outside the archdiocese: Academic dean, faculty and formation advisor, Pontifical North American College, Rome, 2012-16
About Father Donald Henke: He has been stationed in Rome three times, first as a seminarian, then pursuing graduate studies and most recently in priestly ministry at Pontifical North American College.
Father Thomas C. Miller
Birthplace: Florissant
Education: St. Louis Prep South; Northeast Missouri State University; Cardinal Glennon College; Kenrick School of Theology; Saint Louis University
Ordination: Jan. 16, 1993, by Bishop Edward J. O’Donnell
Service in the archdiocese: Associate pastor, St. Martin de Porres Parish, Hazelwood, 1993-95
Associate pastor, Sacred Heart Parish, Florissant, 1995-2001
Associate pastor, St. Gabriel the Archangel Parish, St. Louis, 2001-04
Pastor, Epiphany of Our Lord Parish, St. Louis, 2004-12
Pastor, Immaculate Heart of Mary, New Melle, 2012-present
About Father Thomas C. Miller: In just his second year as a pastor, Father Miller was among 26 pastors in the archdiocese mentoring seminarians in the first year of Kenrick-Glennon Seminary program assigning them to ministerial work in parishes.
Father Rickey Valleroy
Birthplace: Perryville
Education: St. Vincent High School, Perryville; Southern Illinois University, Carbondale; Washington University, St. Louis; Southeast Missouri State University; St. Meinrad (Indiana) Seminary; Kenrick School of Theology
Ordination: Jan. 16, 1993, by Bishop Edward J. O’Donnell
Service in the archdiocese: Associate pastor, St. Dismas Parish, Florissant, 1993-96
Associate pastor, St. Joseph Parish, Manchester, 1996-97
Associate pastor, Sacred Heart Parish, Valley Park, 1997-2003
Pastor, Holy Family Parish, St. Louis, 2003-05
Pastor, St. Joseph Parish, Farmington, 2005-18
Administrator, St. Catherine of Alexandria Parish, Coffman, 2011-18
Pastor, St. Agnes Parish, Bloomsdale, 2018-present
Pastor, St. Lawrence Parish, Lawrenceton, 2018-present
About Father Rickey Valleroy: A late vocation, Father Valleroy received his bachelor’s degree in education from Southeast Missouri State and pursued graduate studies in child psychology at Southern Illinois University Carbondale before entering seminary at age 28.
Father John R. Vien
Birthplace: Creve Coeur
Education: De Smet Jesuit; St. Louis Prep South; Cardinal Glennon College; Kenrick School of Theology; Saint Louis University
Ordination: Jan. 16, 1993, by Bishop Edward J. O’Donnell
Service in the archdiocese: Associate pastor, Incarnate Word Parish, Chesterfield, 1993-94
Associate pastor, Our Lady of Sorrows Parish, St. Louis, 1994-99
Associate pastor, St. Peter Parish, Kirkwood, 1999-2002
Associate pastor, Queen of All Saints Parish, Oakville, 2002-05
Pastor, St. Pius V Parish, St. Louis, 2006-15
Director, continuing education for priests, 2010-15
Pastor, Mary Queen of Peace Parish, Webster Groves, 2015-present
About Father John R. Vien: Father Vien was honored as a Great Preacher by Aquinas Institute of Theology in 2016.
Father Richard Wosman, SM
Birthplace: St. Louis
Education: St. Mary’s High School; St. Mary’s University, San Antonio; University of St. Michael’s College/University of Toronto; Saint Louis University
Ordination: 1993
Service in the archdiocese: Teacher, St. Mary’s High School, St. Louis, 1981-84
Principal/president, St. John Vianney High School, Kirkwood, 1994-2002
President of John F. Kennedy Catholic High School, 2015-17
Part-time associate pastor, St. Alban Roe Parish, Wildwood, 2015-17
Full-time associate pastor, St. Alban Roe Parish, 2017-2018
Director of faith formation for secondary schools, Office of Catholic Education and Formation, 2018-present
Service outside the archdiocese: Teacher, St. Boniface Diocesan High School, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, 1984-89
Teacher, Central Catholic High School, San Antonio, Texas, 1993-94
Faculty, St. Mary’s University, San Antonio, 2002-12
Director, Catholic Leadership Programs, St. Mary’s University, San Antonio, 2004-13
President, Central Catholic High School, San Antonio, 2013-15
About Father Richard Wosman: Father Wosman professed with the Marianists in 1981 and was ordained in 1993. Other than a year-long stint as associate pastor at St. Alban Roe, his priestly ministry has been in education.