Meet Our Pastor - Father Kevin C. Louis, STL
Father Kevin C. Louis was ordained as a priest for the Diocese of La Crosse on July 22, 1989. Before coming to St. Peter Church, he served one parish as an associate, then served six different parishes as pastor as well as an administrator for three parishes. He also was a grade school principle for two parochial schools, a Scouting Chaplain for the Diocese, and most recently was an Associate Professor of Theology at the Pontifical College Josephinum in Columbus, OH.
Father Louis earned his B.A. in Philosophy and graduated Magna Cum Laude from the University of Saint Thomas. He received his S.T.B. and graduated Magna Cum Laude from the Pontifical Gregorian University. Father Louis received the S.T.L. in Fundamental Theology, granted Magna Cum Laude, from the Pontifical Gregorian University, Rome, Italy.
Father Louis comes from a family rich in priestly vocations, not the least of which was his uncle Raymond Burke, formerly Bishop of La Crosse, now Archbishop of St. Louis.
Father Louis... In His Own Words
From Saint Peter Catholic Church Bulletin July 24, 2005
Dear Parishioners...
Thank you for your best wishes, cards, gifts and assurances of prayers as I celebrate the 16th anniversary of my ordination to the priesthood for the Diocese of La Crosse on Friday, July 22. That day in 1989 seems so long ago! It has been an adventure insofar as I've been the Associate at one parish, Pastor of six different parishes, Administrator of three parishes, Principal of two parochial grade schools, Scouting Chaplain for the Diocese, and Associate Professor of Theology at a seminary! The Diocese sure has gotten a good return on its investment in me! It has not always been an easy journey, but I am so happy that the Lord has called me to be a priest. God is good!
I'm actually the third generation of priests on the Burke side of my family (before me the Louis side never produced any priests or religious--I'm not sure what that means!). The first, Father Thomas O'Keefe, served faithfully for many years in Illinois. The second is my mother's youngest brother, Raymond, who is now the Archbishop of Saint Louis! So the priesthood was not something foreign at all as I was growing up.
My family created a home with an atmosphere of faith and love wherein I was able to hear the Lord's call to the priesthood. my dad, mom, brother, and now my dad's second wife, as well as all the relatives, have always been a source of encouragement enabling me to persevere in answering "yes" to the Lord's call. I am indebted to my Pastor at Sacred Heart in Marshfield, the late Father Peter Leketas, who was the first to ask me to consider the priesthood. Likewise, the unambiguous example of religious life of one of my teachers at Columbus High School, Sister Miranda Buesseler, SSND, inspired me to enter the seminary. Of all my seminary classmates, one stands above the rest, Father Bert Diaz of the Diocese of Brownsville, Texas, who is the greatest friend anyone could ask for. Through eight years in the seminary and now these 16 years of priestly ministry countless people have generously supported me with their prayers, sacrifices, and acts of kindness. To all of them I owe the deepest debt of gratitude.
My Grandma Louis was a saintly woman. She was convinced that her youngest son, Charles (my dad!), would become a priest. After my father and mother were married my Grandma Louis good-naturedly teased my mom that she had stole her priest! My Grandma Louis died in 1972 and so from her place in Heaven she saw that she only had to wait a generation to get her priest, her grandson Kevin!
One final tidbit. Father Schaller and I have been friends for almost 25 years. He was the only one ordained for our Diocese in 1987, there was not even one in 1988, and I was the only man ordained in 1989. So Father Schaller and I have always considered ourselves classmates, even though we were not ordained the same year. Those were the leanest years in the entire history of the Diocese of La Crosse. Pray for vocations to the priesthood and for those of us who serve you in the person of Christ.
Saint Peter, pray for us!
Father Kevin C. Louis
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If you would like to get in touch with Father Louis, you can call him at Saint Peter's rectory |
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