Priest Retirement

Your generous support for priest retirement and the Priest Pension Plan are vital to supporting the Archdioceses' retired priests, who have dedicated their lives in service to God and the Church.

---

Fr. Mark Ressler is new to retirement, having retired in 2020. Although his active ministry has concluded, Fr. Mark is still a familiar face around the Archdiocese, and is the chaplain for the Sisters of the Presentation in Dubuque. This will be his second Christmas as a retired priest.

Msgr. James Miller retired from active ministry in 2019, but remains active in the Archdiocese by helping to celebrate Masses wherever needed, and enjoying the company of friends and family (especially over a game of bridge or euchre). 

---

1. How will you be celebrating Christmas this year?

Fr. Mark: "I will be celebrating Christmas morning Mass with the Presentation Sisters, and then spending Christmas Day with my family in Cascade." This past weekend, Fr. Mark also joined the other retired priests at Villa Raphael in attending a Christmas dinner along with staff and their families.

Msgr. Miller: "This year, I will be celebrating the 4 p.m. Mass at Epworth on Christmas Eve. I will go to Cascade to celebrate Christmas lunch with my sister and her family."

2. What is your favorite Christmas gift you have ever received?

Fr. Mark: Fr. Mark's favorite gift is not a physical object, but rather an annual tradition with his family. "We get together and each bring something, like a potluck, to share a meal together."

Msgr. Miller: Msgr. Miller's favorite gift is also not a tangible object, but celebrating Mass in a special way for others.  "One of my favorite Christmas gifts was actually one I gave to myself two years ago, during my first year of retirement. I spent Christmas as a chaplain on a cruise ship in the Southern Caribbean, and celebrated Midnight Mass for the passengers on board." Monsignor also mentioned that as a child, he received a toy farm set which was very special to him, especially since he grew up on the family farm.  
 
Fr. Mark: One of Fr. Mark's favorite Christmas memories from his ministry was celebrating the three Christmas masses at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton parish in Hiawatha. "There would be 700 people at the 5pm Christmas Eve Mass, and it was wonderful to see everyone coming together."

Msgr. Miller: "Christmas is when you get the biggest crowd; overflowing churches are very touching to see. Also, as a kid I remember coming out of Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve and light snow falling, which was magical."

4. What is your favorite way to celebrate the Christmas season?

Fr. Mark: "I like buying poinsettias, and though I don't have the room for one right now, I always enjoyed decorating the Christmas tree at St. Elizabeth's. I also like to walk up and down Grandview Avenue to look at all of the lights."

Msgr. Miller: "I just enjoy being together, with family." Msgr. Miller spent 4.5 years as a missionary in Bolivia, and spoke about the elaborate nativity scenes he saw there, which impressed him very much. He has traveled the world, leading pilgrimages and as a missionary, but he especially appreciates being home to spend time with family when he can. Monsignor is the oldest of seven children, has 22 nieces and nephews, and 37 great nieces and nephews. 

5. What would you say to someone who supported Priest Retirement through the ArchdioceseOne appeal?

Fr. Mark: "I would say, 'Thank you very much.' When you retire as a priest, you do receive a pension from the Archdiocese, and donations to the special appeal will help to supplement basic needs like room and board."

Msgr. Miller: "I would say, 'Thank you!' It's nice not to have to worry about taking care of ourselves after we retire. We do what we can, but things do happen and sometimes we do need more help. We like to be of help in our retirement, the Lord's been so good, but sometimes we have to humble ourselves."

On behalf of all of us at the Archdiocese of Dubuque, we wish you a very merry Christmas, and thank you for your continued prayers and support for the ArchdioceseOne special appeal and its beneficiaries, like our retired priests.