Priests touch the lives of people and inspire their faith in different ways.

It might be providing encouragement and comfort when it’s needed. They inspire people to “want to do more” for the church, and their throught-provoking sermons can awaken one’s faith.

Priests also can be an influence in someone converting to Catholicism, returning to the Catholic faith or uplifting one’s “faith in Christ and the love of God’s message of good news.”

Or a priest can have an effect on people by being welcoming, by showing he “cares for his flock,” and by demonstrating care and compassion in times of need.

These were some of the “stories” lay Catholics in the Archdiocese of Louisville told of how local priests inspired them in a recent informal survey. The survey was conducted by Cathy Schneider, a parishioner at Holy Trinity Church in Louisville, and by Art Turner, pastoral associate at St. Stephen Martyr Church.

Schneider and Turner presented the results of the survey — in which more than 100 people responded — at the archdiocesan Presbyteral Assembly June 5-8 at St. Meinrad Archabbey. Three questions were asked in the survey:

• “What do you want and need from your priests?”
• “Do you have specific behaviors, skills and ministry expectations of the priests of the archdiocese that you would like to share?”
• “Do you have a story to share about a priest who moved you and inspired your faith?”

Responses to the first two questions were reported in a story in last week’s edition of The Record. Following are the responses to the third question reported at the Presbyeral Assembly.

Turner said there were “many more stories and many other priests named (in the survey); we just couldn’t do them all.” The stories included in the report “give you an idea of how you inspire people every day,” he told the 120 or so priests at the assembly.

• A woman wrote of Father Charles Walker, pastor of St. Pius X Church:

“When I was young ... every priest I knew scared me. My image of priests was ‘pious’ and that they had a ‘better than you, I’m closer to God than you’ attitude. Priests were always perfect.

“I eventually left the church for a variety of reasons. When I came back in 1999, I walked into St. Pius X and found a parish with a human pastor. I found that my parish had a pastor who could make mistakes, who shared his struggles with us and told us that God loves us no matter what. Thank you, Father Chuck Walker.”

• A young mother said of Father Daniel Whelan, formerly associate pastor of Immaculate Conception Church, LaGrange, Ky., and now associate pastor at Holy Spirit Church, Louisville:

“He often speaks about the God-given dignity of women and the gift of motherhood. He has a great love for the Blessed Mother and talks frequently about her virtues, encouraging people to imitate her.

“His words have brought me much encouragement and comfort at times when I wonder what I’m doing at home with two young children, sometimes tempted to feel like I don’t have much to offer the world.

“I know, because of Father Whelan, that my vocation has much dignity.”

• A married coupled from Jamestown, Ky., wrote about Father Daniel Lincoln, pastor of Holy Spirit Church in Jamestown:

“Not only is Father Dan Lincoln warm, personable, kind and understanding, he is also a holy man. His inspiring and thought-provoking sermons on Sundays moved us to going to daily Mass, awakened our faith and led us to be more actively involved in all parish activities.

“His messages are a call for Catholics to be all-inclusive and non-judgmental. ... His interpretations of the Gospels are presented so that one can relate what was happening during Jesus’ life to how we can live our lives like him today.”

• A parishioner at St. Thomas Church, Bardstown, Ky., said of Father Steve Pohl, pastor:

“His calm behavior, helpful manner, caring spirit and supportive nature (have) both inspired me and uplifted my faith in Christ and the church. He goes out of his way to ‘be’ a part of the community. ... I have found him to be genuine and this is inspiring to me.”

• A person from Bellarmine University wrote about Father J. Ronald Knott:

“We need more priests like Father Ron Knott who are open-minded and intelligent — not a biblical or catechism fundamentalist, someone without Catholic imagination. We need priests who are grounded in prayer and the love of God’s message of good news.

“He treats me as a person on his team, reminding me of my own gifts and talents, calling me to better service alongside him, a fellow worker in the vineyard.”

• A deacon said of Father John Burke, pastor of St. Cecilia and Our Lady churches:

“Father John Burke is one of the most caring persons I have ever known. When I was ill about 15 years ago and at the Mayo Clinic, Father John called my wife there every night to see how things were going. He and I have shared many things over the years, and I know he truly cares. Thanks, Father John.”

• An employee of Jefferson County Public Schools wrote of Father John Stoltz, pastor of St. Gabriel Church:

“Father John Stoltz ... is a fine homilist and one who genuinely cares for his flock. His homilies are thought-provoking and oftentimes scholarly.

“I am attaching a picture I took after one of his Lenten homilies last year. It is a wonderful tribute to a man who truly believes in God’s mercy and love. The amazing thing about the picture is that it was posted at a local Baptist church.”

• A parishioner at St. Stephen Martyr Church said of Father J. Randall Hubbard, pastor:

“Father Randy Hubbard always relates his homilies to the Scriptures. He understands his mission as a ‘soul-saver.’ His homilies give one something to take home ... to advance one’s quest for living as much as possible the example of Christ.”

• A parishioner of St. Thomas More Church said of Father Philip Erickson, pastor:

“What a whirlwind he is. I think he is the Ever Ready bunny that never needs a charge. He knows I am not outgoing, but he is there to plant ideas in my head, and he lets me think that they are my ideas, which gets me enthused.

“I have never seen anyone work so hard to get a parish cleaned. ... The enthusiasm that he displays makes anyone who’s around him want to do more. I cannot say enough about what a breath of fresh air, regular type of guy he is. He reminds me of my youngest son.”

• A person said of Father James Lichtefeld, retired pastor of St. Stephen Martyr Church:

“My converting to Catholicism was directly influenced by Father Jim Lichtefeld. I was caring for someone very dear who was dying from cancer, and even though he wasn’t a member of St. Stephen Martyr, Father Jim visited him regularly during his last days in the hospital, said his funeral Mass and was a great comfort to me. I will be eternally grateful to Father Jim for helping me along my Christian journey.”

• A parishioner at St. Patrick Church, Eastwood, wrote of Father John Schindler, a former pastor who died in 2003:

“Father Jack Schindler played a role in my return to my faith. As my wife and I ‘shopped’ for a parish, we found Father Jack to be a big teddy bear. His compassion and love for his congregation and for God were apparent in his work.

“He always welcomed visitors to our parish and made you feel as though you were part of a family. While his time on earth was cut short, God blessed all of us who encountered Father Jack.”