C.Ss.R. Rev. Joseph X. Steffes

Father Joseph Francis Xavier Steffes, C.Ss.R., a Redemptorist priest stationed at St. Gerard Majella Church, Baton Rouge, died peacefully at 9:15 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 23, 2008, at St. Clare Manor. He was 93. Visiting at St. Gerard Majella Church, 5354 Plank Road, on Wednesday, Feb. 27, from 8 a.m. until 11 a.m., with recitation of the rosary at 10:30 a.m., to be followed by a short musical program of Father Joe's favorites hymns at 10:45 a.m. Music will be performed by Tommy Evans, music director at St. Gerard Majella Church, and the St. Gerard Majella Church choir, accompanied by Daniel Blanchard, organist. Most Reverend Robert W. Muench, D.D., bishop of the Diocese of Baton Rouge, will preside at the funeral Mass at 11 a.m. and the Rev. Gerald Siebold, C.Ss.R., will preach the homily. Interment in Redemptorist Cemetery, Liguori, Mo., on Friday, Feb. 29, following a memorial Mass. He is survived by a brother and sister-in-law, Leo and Mildred Steffes, of Hinsdale, Ill.; and sister-in-law, Elaine Steffes, of Walled Lake, Mich. He is also survived by 22 nieces and nephews and more than 60 grandnieces and grandnephews. The Rev. Steffes was born in Detroit on Oct. 24, 1914, one of 10 children of William Joseph Steffes and Helena Arenz Steffes. While he did not consider himself "priest material," he responded to God's call at age 13 and entered the Redemptorist seminary at Kirkwood, Mo. He professed his vows as a Redemptorist in 1943 in DeSoto, Mo. He earned a bachelor's degree in philosophy and a B.D. (divinity) at Immaculate Conception Seminary, Oconomowoc, Wis., and was ordained to the priesthood by Archbishop Moses Elias Kiley of Milwaukee on June 29, 1940. Upon the conclusion of his studies in St. Louis, Father Joe was appointed associate-pastor of St. Alphonsus Church, Chicago. Following enlistment and chaplain training at Harvard University, Father Joe was commissioned as a first lieutenant in the U.S. Army on July 24, 1943, and served in the European Theater. He was discharged May 1, 1946, with the rank of captain. In August 1946, he was assigned by his superior to a newly created Redemptorist parish, St. Gerard Majella, in Baton Rouge. He was recalled to service in 1952 and served in the Philippines during the Korean War until 1955. Pastoral assignments in New Orleans for two terms, San Antonio, Carlisle, Okla., Versailles, Ky., Houston and Crowley followed. At the request of the pastor, Father Joe was assigned once again to St. Gerard Majella Church in Baton Rouge in August 1999. In addition to his parish duties, Father Joe assisted with the diocesan ministry to the nursing homes in Baton Rouge, was chaplain to St. Gerard Majella Elementary School, assisted on the weekends and at other times of need at Catholic churches in Baton Rouge, and assisted Bishop Robert Muench at penance services conducted for the Catholic high schools in the diocese, including Redemptorist High School. Funeral directors knew to contact Father Joe when, in an emergency, they were in need of a priest to conduct a service. In recognition of his priestly ministry, he was presented with numerous awards and honors, including induction into the Redemptorist High School Hall of Fame. Of all the public accolades that came his way, Father Joe was proudest of the "game ball" presented to him by Coach Sid Edwards in 2002, when the Redemptorist Wolves won the Class 3A state championship in football. It was the one award he did not give away! Father Joe was one of the pioneer priests of the Marriage Encounter movement and in the 1970s and 1980s conducted numerous Marriage Encounter weekends. He was chaplain to Knights of Columbus councils in Texas, Kentucky and Louisiana. Not content with the theology he learned in the seminary in the 1940s, Father Joe entered graduate school at St. Mary's University in San Antonio and in 1978 was awarded a master's in theology. Through the generous cooperation of the Krispy Kreme Doughnuts store, 5504 Plank Road, Father Joe distributed doughnuts to the needy after Mass on Sundays from 1999"“2007. He designed and had created a Mother of Perpetual Help pillow and gave hundreds of these away to the elderly, shut-ins, nursing home residents, hospital patients and many who entrusted themselves to the care of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Father Joe actively promoted the cause of Blessed Francis Xavier Seelos, C.Ss.R., a Redemptorist priest who died in New Orleans in 1867 and is buried in St. Mary's Assumption (Redemptorist) Church, 2030 Constance St., New Orleans. He blessed thousands with Father Seelos' mission cross and prayed that through Father Seelos' intercession they might be healed, forgiven or their prayers granted. When the Redemptorist superior-general requested that the original mission cross be entrusted to Seelos Center in New Orleans, he took the unusual step of authorizing the creation of an exact copy, complete with a relic of Blessed Francis Xavier Seelos, be made and given to Father Joe so that he might continue this ministry. He was a man of deep prayer and unshakable faith in God; people of many faiths and denominations sought him out for prayer, guidance and inner healing. He was confessor to hundreds of religious and priests; he always received people with Christlike compassion. He was a man of strong personal convictions who did not hesitate to speak up on behalf of the poor or in defense of justice. Father Joe was consumed by his Redemptorist mission, "to preach Christ crucified and his Gospel of plentiful redemption" (Copiosa Apud Eum Redemptio). He lived and died according to the testimony his many friends, as God's humble and faithful servant. And that was enough! Father Joe's family, including his provincial-superior, the Very Reverend Thomas D. Picton, C.Ss.R., and his Redemptorist brothers of the Denver Province, wish to extend their gratitude to all who walked with Father Joe in his ministry and in his final days; to Dr. Steven Troy Gremillion and Dr. Brian Gremillion, who added years to Father Joe's life and ministry; the nurses and staffs of Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center, Ollie Steele Burden Manor and St. Clare Manor who took great care of him during the hospital and nursing home stays; Tony's Seafood, 5215 Plank Road, Baton Rouge, and the Pizzolato family for their generosity; the Knights of Columbus Council 3331 for arranging for a jambalaya dinner for friends of Father Joe attending the funeral; thanks also to the Most Reverend Robert W. Muench, D.D., bishop of the Diocese of Baton Rouge, for his loving support of Father Joe during his time at St. Gerard Majella and at the time of his death. Memorial gifts to the Redemptorists in honor of Father Joe can be sent to: Redemptorists/Denver Province, Development Office, 1230 S. Parker Road, Denver, CO 80231 or on the Internet athttp://www.redemptorists-denver.org/donate-now" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">http://www.redemptorists-denver.org/donate-now">http://www.redemptorists-denver.org/donate-now.