Rev. John H. Brunner and Rev. Richard C. Gross celebrated their 50th anniversaries in February 2012. Their Golden Anniversary Mass will be held at St. Anthony Church in Watkins at 10:30 a.m., Sunday, April 22, with a dinner reception at 11:30 a.m. in the St. Anthony Parish Center. Both priests have strong ties to Watkins, and all family, friends and parishioners Ð old and new, are invited and encouraged to attend.
Fr. John Brunner “Fr. Jack” celebrates 50 years
Fr. Jack was born in Fairfax, Minn., Jan. 28, 1937, the first child of Henry and Honora Brunner. Sister Darla (Dale) Linnenkamp, brother Jim, and sister Michele Breitenstein completed the Brunner family. After completing grade school at St. Andrew’s in Fairfax, Henry and Honora sacrificed to send Fr. Jack to the Croiser Seminary in Onamia. His priestly training continued at the Benedictine University of Lisle, Ill., and he graduated from St. Procopius Major Seminary in Illinois.
Fr. Jack was ordained on Feb. 18, 1962, at Holy Trinity Cathedral in New Ulm. After his ordination, Fr. Jack continued his education, earning a Masters Degree in Education, and a Specialist Degree in Educational Administration from St. Thomas.
Just looking at his education, it is easy to see that Catholic schools were an important part of Fr. Jack’s ministry. His vision and dedication to Catholic school education have made a significant impact on the schools he served, and in the young people who attended them. And also the Diocese of New Ulm, which benefited from his knowledge and vision in implementing the NUACS school system. In 2007, he received the Distinguished Service Award for his dedication and contributions to Catholic Schools.
During his ministry he also served the following: the Diocesan Priest’s Council, Priest’s Pension Board, and the Diocesan Property Committee. He has been an active member and Chaplain in the Catholic Order of Foresters, and Catholic United Fund (formerly CAA), and is a 4th Degree Knight in the Knights of Columbus.
Fr. Jack, who began his career in Watkins as the Associate Pastor for Fr. Clemens, served the Watkins community for five years. Many of you remember him as a teacher at St. Boniface, an important part of his ministry here. He also served as principal of St. Mary in Bird Island, and superintendent at Holy Trinity and New Ulm Area Catholic Schools, while he served as pastor at those parishes.
His 50 years of service to the people of the Diocese of New Ulm have been full and rewarding. He served at eight different parishes in Watkins, Bird Island, Winsted, Searles, New Ulm, Fairfax, Franklin and Gibbon, and back to Watkins. Fr. Jack has had the joy and honor of sharing in the lives of many, many families over the years. Fr. Jack says, “I have friends in every church. Close, dear friends. I could in no way thank them for all they have given.” It is fitting that Fr. Jack has returned to Watkins, where he began his career, for the final years of his ministry.
Fr. Jack is having a second celebration in his hometown of Fairfax at 4 p.m. Saturday, May 19, at St. Andrew Church.
Fr. Richard Gross “Fr. Dick” celebrates 50 years
Rev. Richard C. Gross, better known as Fr. Dick, celebrated his 50th Anniversary of Priesthood Feb. 22, 2012. Fr. Dick was born at home in Luxemburg Township, Aug. 7, 1931, to William and Alma (Steman) Gross. He was third of six children: Rosemary (Earl) Kaufmann, Betty Lou (Don) Pfannenstein (both deceased), Alice (Ted, deceased) Krebsback, Harold (deceased) Georgianne Gross, and Ronald (Karen) Gross. He attended St. Anthony grade school and graduated from Kimball High School in 1949.
Fr. Dick worked for local carpenters, the Watkins Cheese Plant, and a division of the railroad in Minneapolis. He was drafted into the Army Dec. 8, 1952, during the Korean Conflict. He spent about a year in Japan with the 545th Military Police, 1st Cavalry. After being released from the service, he attended St. John’s University from 1954-1956, and the St. Paul Seminary from 1956-1962.
Fr. Dick was privileged to be ordained in his home parish
Feb. 22, 1962, and celebrated his first Mass at St. Anthony on the following Sunday, Feb 26. Following ordination, he served in the New Ulm Diocese in the following Catholic parishes: St. Mary, New Ulm 1962-1967; St. Cyril & Methodius, Taunton 1967-1970; Co-rector of Holy Trinity Cathedral, New Ulm, 1970-72; St. Joseph, Rosen and St. James, Nassau 1972-1980; St. Mary, New Ulm 1980-87;
St. Anastasia, Hutchinson 1987-95; and his home parish St. Anthony, Watkins 1995-2001.
Since his retirement, Fr. Dick has lived at Watkins Area Homes. He helps out at area parishes as needed.
Fr. Dick has a special attachment to Alaska. He served as interim pastor at St. James in Nome, Alaska, in the month of July 1987 and again in 1990. After retiring, Fr. Dick volunteered to serve in the mission in Fairbanks, Alaska. He was at Barrow, Alaska, during the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks. He returned to Barrow for the Christmas celebration that year. Fr. Dick served mission parishes on the Yukon at Holy Cross during the Easter season in 2001, Galena Church during Christmas of 2002. Since 2001, Fr. Dick has served as summer pastor at St. John Neumann Church in Cooper Landing from the middle of June until the middle of August. He usually is able to bring home 100 pounds of salmon and halibut to share with his friends and relatives.
Fr. Dick is holding a separate celebration for his immediate family in July.
Between them, a century of service
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