Father Leo Hausmann, 56, grew up on a farm near Bonesteel. His parents were Lawrence and Theresa Hausmann. He has three siblings and has lost one brother.

Fr. Leo Hausmann shooting a bow and arrow during a recent trip to Africa. (Courtesy photo)

    He studied for the priesthood in the United States and Italy and is a graduate of St. John Seminary, Brighton, Mass-achusetts. He was ordained June 11, 1992.
   “I remember being only a few years old and sitting on my father’s lap and he would tell me that when I grew up I could be a fisher of men. Then he explained how some apostles were fishermen and Jesus called them to be his first priests by inviting them to be fishers of men. He said I could be a priest also. Once every year or so, even to the time I was a young adult, he told me the same thing, with no pressure, just keeping it before me as an option for my life. But my father was a farmer and as a young adult I could not imagine myself as a parish priest. I was really set on marrying and following my father’s footsteps in agriculture. But marriage wasn’t happening and a gnawing feeling of emptiness forced me to consider what I was trying to avoid – the priesthood.
   “After I finally decided to give seminary a try, I asked my parish priest not to announce my decision for at least a week after I left. I was quite sure I would be home by the end of the week after I realized what a crazy idea it was. But I did not go back and I remember that after about six weeks I realized that I had an inner peace I had not experienced for many years. That convinced me I was doing the right thing. And though I could never imagine myself as a parish priest, now I cannot imagine my life had I not taken the risk to try seminary and be a parish priest. The inner peace continues to convince me that doing God’s will rather than my own is the only road to true happiness and contentment in life,” said Father Hausmann.
    He is the pastor of St. Patrick Parish in Wall and serves as judicial vicar of the Marriage Tribunal for the Diocese of Rapid City.

   Father Ronald Garry, 52, is from Gregory. He is the son of Evelyn Garry, Webster, and the late Russell Garry. He has seven siblings and has lost one sister.
    He is a graduate of St. Paul Seminary, St. Paul, Minnesota, and was ordained June 17, 1983.
    Thinking of priests who had inspired him, he said, “In middle school years, Father Jerry Scherer was an inspirational pastor in Gregory. He brought a freshness and dedication to the church which helped me to see myself as a priest serving the church. Msgr. William O’Connell kept me employed for two summers of seminary training and the first year of priesthood. His wisdom, honor, humor, and love for God’s people gives me both a foundation and a wonderful friend in the West River priests.”
    Looking back on the gift of the priesthood in his life, Father Garry said, “In my 25th anniversary celebrations last year, I was touched by the love of God’s people and the continuing standard of Jesus, the high priest, which I live in the Catholic faith. We keep growing in love, truth, and the order that builds up Christ’s body.”
    As he strives to live the Gospel, Father Garry said, “The Jesus Caritas fraternity of priests gives me a continuing formation in Jesus’ teachings while I am living and working among his priests. We celebrated a Mass last month in Deadwood, in which we shared that the love of Jesus for us is the core of what this year for priests should be. Father Dan Juelfs spoke wonderfully of the question which Jesus asked of Peter after the resurrection: ‘Do you love me?’ If we answer ‘yes’ with St. Peter, and keep grounded in such simple wisdom, we will live as the priests Jesus wants us to be.”
    Father Garry is the pastor of Sacred Heart Church, Philip, and the mission parishes of St. William, Midland and St. Mary, Milesville.

   Father Steven Biegler, 50, grew up in Timber Lake. His parents are Alfred and Mary Biegler and he has 12 siblings. He graduated from North American College, Rome, and was ordained July 9, 1993.
    Father Biegler said many factors influenced his vocation. “First and foremost, I was raised in a family of faith. Our family prayed and attended Mass regularly, so I always thought about my life in terms of God’s plan. When I was 10 years old, I was riding a horse across a highway, and the horse was struck by a car and killed. I realized that God had protected me. That incident caused me to reflect about the purpose of my life and helped me to see life as a gift from God. We were blessed to have a Catholic grade school in our parish which was staffed by the Presentation Sisters from Dubuque, Iowa. We often invited the priests and sisters to our home, and their interaction in our lives nurtured my vocation. My mom’s cousin, Fr. Jerry Scherer, stopped by our house often, and he was a good example for me as I considered priestly life.”
    Reflecting on the gift of the priesthood Father Biegler said, “People readily open their hearts to priests in marriage preparation, counseling and confession, or during sickness and death. I enjoy the ministry of being with people in such circumstances. As a priest, I am privileged to have an ‘extremely personal’ relationship with people. Pope John Paul II described the priest as a ‘servant of the Word.’
   “One of the greatest benefits of priestly ministry is an ever deepening knowledge of the Scriptures. They are a treasure which nurtures my spiritual life. Yet, the Word pushes me to be prophetic and to speak the truth with love – a task both frightening and life-giving. On the day of ordination, the priest promises to ‘imitate what we celebrate.’ That has been my constant prayer as I celebrate the Eucharist. I find myself being called every day to be transformed by God’s merciful kindness and to bring others into that mystery. Priesthood is a privileged way of living the paschal mystery.”
    A moving moment for Father Biegler occurred while he was working at the North American College, “One day I went with two seminarians to Casa Padre Monti, a house for people with AIDS. A doctor named Emma, who was working at this house, gave us an orientation. In an upstairs bedroom she introduced us to Goran, a 45 year old man who was paralyzed because of a stroke. She joked with him, turned him on his side, massaged his back, showed us how to help him, etc. Emma emanated such a love and joy in her work with the men. Later, as we walked outside, I said to her ‘This is very important work which you are doing.’ And she said, ‘No. This is the most beautiful work in the world.’ She has found the treasure in the field. The work which she does every day is tough stuff, but she sees it as privileged work with the Lord. Her attitude captures what I have experienced in priesthood. It is the most beautiful work in the world.”
    Father Biegler is in residence at the Cathedral of Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Rapid City. He is assigned as chaplain to the Rapid City Catholic School System and the Newman Club at South Dakota School of Mines and Technology.

Fr. Steve Sanford in his Pine Ridge parish. (Courtesy photo)