The Diocese of St. Cloud celebrates the dedicated service and unwavering faith of our 2025 priest jubilarians. As we honor their journey, we give thanks for their commitment to the Church and pray that God continues to bless them in their mission.
70 years — Father Edwin Kraemer
(Ordained June 4, 1955)
In a video message, Father Ed chats about his years as a priest with Father Ralph Zimmerman, vicar for retired priests. Below is a quote from the full video, which can be found on YouTube@dioceseofsaintcloudmn.
“My favorite part of being a priest was offering the Mass and really trying to realize what that is and make that part of my life. Even before priesthood, the Eucharist was the highlight of my life.”
60 years — Father Paul Folsom
(Ordained June 5, 1965)
St. Cloud Deacon Steve Yanish, longtime friend and colleague of Father Paul, reflects on his gifts.
Father Paul was and is a great influence in my life. As a pastor, he was a caring, spirit-filled sacramental minister and a great homilist, bringing the true meaning of the Eucharist.
As a chaplain for our Army Reserve unit in St. Cloud, he celebrated Mass at weekend drills at the armory and bivouac sites at Camp Ripley. I recall him once setting up an altar on the hood of a jeep. During winter camps, he stayed with us in our 10-man arctic tent. Although he was a commissioned officer, he often visited with the enlisted men. He was a down-to-earth fellow soldier.
As a friend, he came to our home in a very deep hour of need. He prayed for and with us for our youngest daughter who had a serious diagnosis when she was only a year old and celebrated with us when she was miraculously healed.
As an encouraging presence, Father Paul was instrumental in helping me and my wife discern the Permanent Diaconate program over 40 years ago. He prayed for us and helped us along the way.
As a role model, his example inspires me to pray that I may in some way carry forth the same kindnesses to others.
55 — Bishop Emeritus Donald Kettler
(Ordained May 29, 1970)
Bishop Don joins Joe Towalski, chancellor for the Diocese of St. Cloud, reflecting on 55 years of priesthood with warmth, humility, humor and faith — revealing a lifelong love for ministry, people and prime rib. Listen to the full podcast
at https://minnesotacatholicpodcasts.libsyn.com/.
50 years — Crosier Father Jerome Schik
(Ordained May 10, 1975)
Father Jerry wrote a short reflection about his life as a priest.
Fifty-one years ago, when I was serving as a deacon at St. Mary’s Parish in
Fort Wayne, Indiana, the parish had a social concerns ministry called the Matthew 25 Center, inspired by the Gospel, “When you feed the hungry you are feeding me.” Our main activity was to provide nutritious sandwiches for people experiencing homelessness. My experiences there served as a blueprint for my ministry as a priest.
The paradigm for my ministry is Jesus walking down the road to Emmaus with two disciples. When they came to their dinner table, Jesus blessed the bread, broke it and gave it to them. And they recognized him in the breaking of the bread. When we come to the Table of the Eucharist, I pray that the Holy Spirit will change the bread into the Body of Christ and the wine into the Blood of Christ. And I pray that everyone will recognize the Real Presence of Christ.
In apostolic times, the Lord’s Supper was called “The Breaking of the Bread.” What I have learned is that brokenness does not stop there. The people I have encountered have experienced brokenness, and they bring their physical and emotional pains with them when they enter the church. As a priest, I feel their pain and try to walk with them. “The Breaking of the Bread” gives every parishioner and every priest the grace that they need to see that God is bringing forth good from their pain.
40 years — Father Todd Schneider
(Ordained June 1, 1985)
TCMC staff asked Father Todd a few questions about his time as a priest. His answers follow.
What brings you the most joy as a priest? The sacraments. Within them, there is such great grace.
What events stand out in your priesthood? Every parish has been a blessing. I served in Venezuela over six years where there was great heroic faith among the people.
What advice would you have given yourself as a newly ordained priest? Don’t abandon your prayer life and pray for the gift of prayer. That will be the key to doing well both in your early years and throughout your priesthood.
You have traveled during your priesthood.
Where are some of the favorite places you have visited? Going to Lourdes and seeing the candlelight procession every night and the thousands praying the rosary in different languages and an extra decade for the souls in purgatory. I also enjoyed living in Venezuela and visiting the Holy Land, but I’ve always found that some of the most beautiful places are right here in central Minnesota.
What else would you like to share? I want to share my gratitude to God for these 40 years of priesthood and for my time serving in Morris. It’s a grace to be out here on the prairie, the secret treasure of the diocese where there is the openness of the country and open-hearted people.
Father Todd Schneider holds his godson, Roch Judah Larson, the youngest member of his family, who was baptized on the 40th anniversary of his first Mass.