May 22, 2015 — After 53 years of pastoral care for Native American
communities across Montana, Jesuit Father Joseph Retzel is retiring. For the
past 21 years, Fr. Retzel has served at St. Paul Mission — a steady presence on
the Fort Belknap Indian Reservation through times of joy and sorrow.
With Fr. Retzel’s departure, a 128-year history of Jesuit residency at
Fort Belknap will conclude. "Our provincial (Father Scott Santarosa) came
last October to talk about retirement," Fr. Retzel said recently. "He
said, 'Joseph, I know it's in your mind to die here, but I want you to pray
about it, and start thinking about retiring.'"
Fr. Retzel's prayers ended in quiet humility. "It is difficult —
and I grieve — yes," he confessed. "These people are my family, and
with my leaving — I'll be leaving my family. But following the provincial's
lead, I've been praying about it, and I've come to the point that I see it's
going to be OK.”
After graduating from Gonzaga Preparatory School in Spokane, Washington,
in 1945, Fr. Retzel enlisted in the U.S. Navy. He next graduated from Gonzaga
University and entered the Jesuit novitiate. As a newly-ordained Jesuit priest,
he was assigned to serve as the assistant pastor at St. Jude Church in Havre,
Montana, in 1962. He was next assigned to St. Paul Mission on the Fort Belknap
Indian Reservation.
"It's not just that he's a special priest, he's a special
person," said Mary Byrne, a teacher at the St. Paul Mission school.
"Some people come here and feel like they belong. Some people come and
always feel out of place. Fr. Retzel is comfortable with all the people. He's
just so in tune with the people around him — he is there for all of them."
On July 15, Fr. Retzel will make a short journey to Spokane, where he
will join a community of retired Jesuit priests on the campus of Gonzaga
University. Those who know him best are saddened by his departure.
"I had to get my heart OK with him retiring," said Byrne.
"I think if he stayed, he couldn't slow down. … I believe now that
retiring is probably better for him, because if he didn't, he would never ever
have a chance to just stop and relax — to just pray and be with other
Jesuits."
“The people here — especially some of the elders — have taught me the
importance of being present," Fr. Retzel said. "Just to be present in
the moment, wherever I am. They've taught me the gift of that, the meaning of
that." [Source: Great Falls Tribune]
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