MERRILLVILLE – Priests are ordained ministers responsible for celebrating sacraments, spiritually guiding those in their parish and in the surrounding area. They do not stop being priests when they retire, but enter into a new chapter while their vocation continues.
Three priests in the Diocese of Gary, each with 40 years of ministry service, will receive senior priest status at the end of June – Father Michael Yadron, Father Tom Mischler and Father Doug Mayer.
Father Yadron in Munster truly enjoys bringing the sacraments to the people. Among his favorite moments as a priest are celebrating Mass for the parish community and hearing confessions regularly.
“Those are what bind us to one another and to the Lord,” he said.
Father Yadron said during his time as pastor of St. Thomas More, he was grateful and proud that the members of the congregation continually contributed to the needs of their parish. He estimated that during his assignment, the church spent millions of dollars to maintain and improve the facilities.
“I have always explained the need and promised to put the money where we said it would go,” he said. “They learned to trust me, and they began giving at huge levels.”
Father Yadron shared that he has truly come to love the community that he has served for many years. In that regard, he has purchased a condo in Munster and will live there ten months out of the year. He plans to make himself available to any parish that might need sacramental help. In the months of January and February, he will be a “snowbird,” residing somewhere warmer.
In his retirement, Father Yadron will no longer have the responsibility of running one of the largest parishes in the diocese or overseeing one of the largest schools in the diocese, and looks forward to simply being a priest again and bringing the sacraments to the people.
“I will have a lot of extra time on my hands, and that's okay because I have a lot of reading to do,” he said.
Father Yadron hopes that the diocese can navigate the next few years as it merges or closes parishes. He also hopes parishioners will open their hearts up to the new pastor and associate pastor of St. Thomas More.
“I will have been there for twenty-three years,” he said. “When someone is there that long, people often refuse to give new pastors a chance. Instead, they resort to the ‘we've never done it that way before’ mentality,’” said Father Yadron.
He continued, “I hope that doesn't happen at St. Thomas More because that was ‘my place’ for twenty-three years and I want to see it continue to grow and blossom. Besides, it will still be ‘my place’ as I will be a registered parishioner.”
Father Yadron shared that sometimes the faithful don’t understand that priests are real people just like they are. He said they often expect that priests can weather storms and do all sorts of wonders, not realizing they also have concerns and anxieties.
“Coming into a huge parish like St. Thomas More can be daunting at best to frightening at worst,” he said. “I hope the people remember that and extend a welcome hand to the new pastor and associate pastor.”
In Winfield, Father Mischler shared that what he enjoys most about being a priest is working with people – the opportunities he gets to help them understand their faith better and to guide them through difficult times.
“You try to offer a sense of hope when it seems hopeless, especially if there’s a young death or something that they just were not ready for,” he said. “You get to walk them through that and reassure them that God is with them.”
Father Mischler enjoys visiting people in the hospitals, including St. Mary Medical Center in Hobart. He felt that was an action that provided a sense of peace in anointing the sick and sharing the promise that God will take care of them in the days ahead.
Father Mischer shared that he and his staff have worked hard to unite parishes in the area after the decline in health and eventual passing of Father Thomas Tibbs. Holy Spirit in Winfield and St. Helen in Hebron were already joining together in some aspects when they welcomed those from St. Mary in Hebron.
Father Mischer explained, “We had to figure out ‘How are you going to present this?’ and ‘What's a way for them to feel like they're part of us?’ and so we called ourselves the One Catholic Family.”
He continued, “What I'm most proud of is that we looked at each of the parishes knowing that they all had their individual gifts, histories and traditions, but now we're one big blended family and strive to work together. That wasn't always easy.”
Father Mischler has also enjoyed his involvement with Cursillos in Christianity, being a chaplain and spiritual director to the religious movement within the diocese. He found that role to be very rewarding, and is grateful he was given the opportunity to become involved and learn more about Cursillos.
Father Mischler believes Cursillos in Christianity has a connection to what is being planned with the diocese. He explained that at the center of Cursillos is the mission to bring lay people into a sense of ministry with the understanding that they have something to give to the Church. He noted that although those in Cursillos wouldn't use the same language, the essence of what they're trying to do is to create missionary disciples.
“We work hand in hand really with what's going to happen with this renewal that Bishop Robert McClory has called us to, and I'm glad to be part of that,” he said.
Father Mischler noted Father Stephen Caraher was a wonderful choice to succeed him as the parish community’s pastor. His wish is for Father Caraher to grow and love the people. He also hopes the parishioners will continue to come together as Father Caraher brings his talents and his abilities to the new assignment.
Father Mischler reflected upon his time in the seminary. He was honored to study in Rome and had the opportunity to be ordained by Pope John Paul II. However, he opted to return to be ordained with his classmates and in front of those he would be serving in the Diocese of Gary.
“I've always believed that I was ordained for the Diocese of Gary, and I want to continue to serve there,” he said.
Father Mischler plans to stay in the area upon his retirement. He will have a home near many of the churches, especially in Lake County, and expects to make himself available to assist those parishes when needed. He will also continue his work at the hospital and with the Cursillos movement.
“I'll also be working on bringing some other clergy and some of the deacons in so that we can expand our clergy foothold,” he said.
Father Mischler expects his daily routine to be “a little freer.” As a pastor, what he does depends upon what's going on at the parish at a given time. Sometimes he may have an agenda for the day, but a situation occurs that requires a change in plans.
“There's always something that calls for your attention,” Father Mischler said. “Now, I can kind of direct where my time will go, what things I will help out with, and where I might take a little bit of a break, maybe even for some time to travel.”
Father Mischler shared that he would like to travel north to Maine and New Hampshire, as he has never been to that part of the country. He is also interested in traveling west on the Empire Builder Experience, a train that runs from Chicago to Seattle, and on the Rocky Mountaineer Train through the Rocky Mountains.
Father Mayer in Valparaiso attended seminary at Sacred Heart School of Theology in Hales Corners, Wis. He stated that the theological formation at the school was very strong, and he learned the importance of being pastoral in his priestly ministry.
“Way before the late Pope Francis encouraged the bishops and priests to be with the people of God, and to ‘smell like the flock,’ the priests and brothers of Sacred Heart were forming me with the spirit of service at the heart of priesthood,” he said.
When Father Mayer was making his final retreat before being ordained a priest, he recalls asking the Lord not to let the people starve when it was time for him to preach.
“The Lord has accompanied me in preaching; I am so deeply grateful for this blessing,” he said. “Celebrating the sacrament of reconciliation has been so moving. The Risen Lord is always offering us grace to grow in holiness. In those occasions, each person needs to be open to repentance to experience mercy and an outpouring of grace.”
As a priest, Father Mayer has been privileged to be with many people who have had a transforming encounter with Jesus.
“Often, I wonder why our Lord sent this tender soul to me, to hear the words of absolution and the good news to go in peace,” he said. “I know both the penitent and I, the priest, have encountered the mystical presence of Jesus.”
In retirement, Father Mayer has offered to help another priest outside the diocese who has responsibilities for two parishes. This priest is serving without an assistant and has a school. The second parish is isolated, making it hard to get to. Father Mayer will be living only four miles from that parish and has offered to help as needed.
“Currently, they only have one Sunday Mass and no daily Masses,” he said. “I will need to find out what their vision is for their parish, and then I will have a better understanding of my daily routine. What will not change is my time in prayer.”
As the pastoral plan for our Diocese of Gary continues to unfold, Father Mayer said he will be praying that the Holy Spirit will continue to guide and strengthen its communities. He will be especially praying for all of the priests taking on the challenges of new assignments.
“In each of my assignments, I have been blessed with the support and prayers of the community,” he said. “Being granted senior status will provide me a new opportunity to live out my priesthood with a new flock and hopefully to have a little more time with the family and friends that God has blessed me with.”
