Today a list of 16 New Ulm priests with one or more credible claims of sexual abuse of minors was released. All of the seven named at some point were assigned in the New Ulm Dioceses:
Born in 1907 in Comfrey, Minnesota, Fr. Altermatt was ordained to the priesthood for the Diocese of Great Falls, Montana in 1934. He returned to Minnesota in 1962 and was incardinated into the Diocese of New Ulm in 1968.
Fr. Altermatt’s assignments in the Diocese of New Ulm:
- Associate, Ss. Peter and Paul, Ivanhoe, 1962-1964
- Administrator, Ss. Peter and Paul, Ivanhoe, 1964-1968
- Pastor, Our Lady of Victory, Lucan, 1968-1978
Fr. Altermatt died in 1978 at the age of 70.
Born in 1935 in Lynd, Minnesota, Fr. Becker was ordained to the priesthood for the Diocese of New Ulm in 1962.
Fr. Becker’s assignments in the Diocese of New Ulm included the following:
- Administrator, St. James, Nassau, 1962
- Associate, Holy Rosary, North Mankato, 1962-1963
- Associate, Holy Trinity, Winsted, 1963-1966
- Pastor, St. Mary, Cottonwood, 1966-1977 (assigned to weekend Mass at the Campus Religious Center at Southwest State University, Marshall, starting in 1976)
- Administrator, St. Isidore, Clarkfield, 1969-1977 (while continuing as pastor at St. Mary in Cottonwood)
- Pastor, St. Bridget, DeGraff, 1977
- Co-Pastor, St. Francis, Benson AND St. Bridget, DeGraff, and Our Lady of the Visitation, Danvers, 1978-1987
- Co-pastor, St. Anastasia, Hutchinson, 1987-1998
- Pastor, St. Patrick, Kandiyohi and St. Thomas More, Lake Lillian, 1998-2000.
Fr. Becker retired from assigned ministry in the Diocese of New Ulm in 2000. The diocese removed him from ministry in 2015.
Born in 1924 in Minnesota, Minnesota, Fr. Buckley was ordained to the priesthood for the Diocese of Pueblo, Colorado in 1953. In 1959, he was incardinated into the Diocese of New Ulm.
Fr. Buckley’s assignments in the Diocese of New Ulm:
- Ss. Peter and Paul, Glencoe, 1959-1960
- St. Mary, Seaforth, 1960
- Associate, St. Mary, Bird Island, 1960
- Administrator, Ss. Cyril and Methodius, Taunton, 1960
- Pastor, St. Mary, Cottonwood, 1960-1961
- Administrator, St. Isidore, Clarkfield, 1961-1963
- Pastor, St. Andrew, Granite Falls and St. James, Dawson, 1963-1969
- Pastor, St. Michael, Milroy, 1969-1978
Fr. Buckley retired from assigned ministry in 1978 and died in 1985 at the age of 60.
Born in 1958 in Sleepy Eye, Minnesota, Fr. Clark was ordained to the priesthood for the Diocese of New Ulm in 1984.
Fr. Clark’s assignment history:
- Associate, Holy Redeemer, Marshall, 1984
- Associate, Holy Trinity, Winsted, 1984-1989
- Associate, Cathedral of the Holy Trinity, New Ulm, 1989-1990
- Pastor, St. Anthony, Watkins, 1990-1993 (also assigned as Sacramental Minister to Our Lady, Manannah 1992-1993)
- Parochial Administrator, Our Lady, Manannah, 1993-1996
- Pastor, St. Patrick, Kandiyohi, 1996-1997
- Pastor, St. Thomas More, Lake Lillian, 1996-1997
- Administrative leave, 1997
- Religion Teacher, Saint Agnes High School, St. Paul, 1998-2002
In 2002, Fr. Clark was returned to the Diocese of New Ulm. The diocese removed him from ministry in 2002.
Born in 1919 in Troy Grove, Illinois, Fr. Fitzgerald was a priest of the Oblates of Mary Immaculate religious order ordained in Illinois in 1950.
In 1977-1978, Fr. Fitzgerald, then a priest assigned in the Diocese of Duluth, participated in a Clinical Pastoral Education program at Willmar State Hospital. While participating in the program, Fitzgerald engaged in temporary work at St. Thomas More parish in Lake Lillian. Fr. Fitzgerald was never incardinated into the Diocese of New Ulm.
Fr. Fitzgerald left the Diocese of New Ulm in 1978 and died in 2009.
Born in 1921 in St. Paul, Minnesota, Fr. Gleason was ordained to the priesthood for the Archdiocese of St. Paul in 1946. Fr. Gleason was incardinated into the Diocese of New Ulm when the diocese was formed in 1957.
- Associate, St. Luke, St. Paul, 1946-1949
- Associate, Ascension, Minneapolis, 1949-1950
- Associate, St. Anthony of Padua, Minneapolis, 1950-1951
- Associate, St. Bridget, Minneapolis, 1951-1953
- Associate, St. Joseph, Red Wing, 1953-1954
- Associate, St. Thomas the Apostle, Minneapolis, 1954
- Pastor, St. Anthony, Regal, with the mission of St. Patrick, Kandiyohi, 1954-1961
- Pastor, St. Paul, Nicollet and St. Michael, Belgrade Township, 1961-1969
- Pastor, St. Michael, Morgan, 1969-1980
- Pastor, St. Leo, St. Leo, 1980-1985
- Pastor, Ss. Cyril and Methodius, Taunton, while remaining Pastor of Leo, St. Leo, 1981-1985
- Pastor, Our Lady in Manannah, 1985-1992
Fr. Gleason retired from the assigned ministry in 1992 and died in 1998 at the age of 76.
Born in 1914 in Germany, Fr. Heitzer was ordained to the priesthood for the Archdiocese of St. Paul in 1942. He was never incardinated into the Diocese of New Ulm. However, Fr. Heitzer was credibly accused of abuse in the Archdiocese and was assigned at parishes that are now within the Diocese of New Ulm.
Fr. Heitzer’s assignment history:
- Associate, Holy Trinity, Winsted, 1942-1944
- Associate, St. Andrew, Fairfax, 1944
- Associate, Assumption, St. Paul, 1944-1945
- Associate, Holy Redeemer, Marshall, 1945
- Associate, St. Mary, Sleepy Eye, 1945-1948
- Associate, St. Joseph, Waconia, 1948
- Associate, St. Aloysius, Olivia, 1948-1950
- Administrator, Sacred Heart, Franklin, 1950-1954
- Pastor, St. Joseph, Rosen, 1954-1955
- Pastor, St. Michael, Gaylord, 1955-1956
- Pastor, St. Luke, Clearwater, 1956-1958
- Pastor, St. Scholastica, Heidelberg, 1958-1966
- Associate, St. Richard, Richfield, 1966-1967
- In residence, St. Peter, Forest Lake, 1967-1968
- Sacramental and supply ministry, clergy retreat house, Nevis (in the Crookston Diocese), 1968
- Chaplain, Divine Providence nursing home, Ivanhoe, 1969
Fr. Heitzer died in 1969 at the age of 55.
Born in 1906, Fr. Henrich was ordained to the priesthood for the Archdiocese of St. Paul in 1933. He was never incardinated into the Diocese of New Ulm. However, Fr. Henrich was credibly accused of abuse in the Archdiocese and was assigned at parishes that are now within the Diocese of New Ulm.
Fr. Henrich’s assignment history:
- Associate, St. James, St. Paul, 1933-1937
- Associate, Holy Trinity, Winsted, 1937-1938
- Associate, St. Mark, Shakopee, 1938
- Chaplain, State Training School for Boys, Red Wing, 1938-1942
- Chaplain, U.S. Navy, 1942-1946
- Chaplain, State Training School for Boys, Red Wing, 1946-1952
- Chaplain, U.S. Forces, 1952-1954
- Pastor, St. Boniface, Stewart, 1954-1957
- Pastor, St. Margaret Mary, Minneapolis, 1957-1976
Fr. Henrich retired from assigned ministry in 1976 and died in 1992 at the age of 86.
Born in 1917 in Minneapolis, Minnesota, Fr. Majerus was ordained to the priesthood for the Archdiocese of St. Paul in 1942. He was incardinated into the Diocese of New Ulm when the diocese was formed in 1957. Fr. Majerus was credibly accused of sexual abuse in The Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis, after he left the Diocese of New Ulm.
Fr. Majerus’ assignment history:
- Associate, St. Columba, St. Paul, 1943-1944
- Assistant Director, Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, 1944
- Associate, Cathedral of St. Paul, 1944
- Chaplain, St. Joseph’s Hospital, St. Paul, 1944-1946
- Associate, Annunciation, Minneapolis, 1946-1947
- Associate, Holy Redeemer, Marshall, 1947-1949
- Associate, St. Thomas the Apostle, Minneapolis, 1949
- Associate, St. Joseph, Hopkins, 1949
- Associate, St. Stephen, Minneapolis, 1949-1952
- Associate, Holy Redeemer, Marshall, 1952-1953
- Associate, Incarnation, Minneapolis, 1953-1954
- Pastor, Sacred Heart, Franklin and St. Patrick, Birch Coulee (St. Patrick closed in 1958), 1954-1966
- Director of Catholic Action and Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, 1958-1966
- Pastor, St. Catherine, Redwood Falls, 1966-1971
- Leave of absence, 1971
- Associate, Mary, Mother of the Church, Burnsville, 1971-1980
- Pastor, Immaculate Conception, St. Peter, 1980-1991
- Director of the Office for Continuing Education of Priests for the Diocese of New Ulm, 1981-1987
Fr. Majerus retired from assigned ministry in 1991 and died in 1995 at the age of 78.
In 1952, Fr. Markey was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Clogher in Ireland.
In 1981, Fr. Markey came to Minnesota to participate in a Clinical Pastoral Education program at Willmar State Hospital.
In 1981, Fr. Markey worked at St. Joseph in Henderson. In 1982, Fr. Markey worked at St. Andrew in Granite Falls for about three months, after the pastor there died and before a new pastor arrived. Fr. Markey left the diocese in June 1982.
In 2012, Fr. Markey died in Ireland at the age of 84 while awaiting trial for sexual abuse of a minor in Ireland in 1968.
Born in 1908 in Marshall, Minnesota, Fr. Marks was ordained for the Archdiocese of St. Paul in 1936. He was incardinated into the Diocese of New Ulm when the diocese was formed in 1957.
Fr. Marks assignment history:
- Associate, St. Mark, Shakopee, 1936-1939
- Associate, St. Dominic, Northfield, 1939-1940
- Administrator, Our Lady, Mannanah and the mission of St. Columban, Greenleaf, 1940-1941
- Administrator, St. Philip, Litchfield, 1941-1942
- Associate, Guardian Angels, Hastings, 1942
- Associate, Immaculate Conception, Faribault, 1942-1945
- Pastor, St. Dionysius, Tyler, 1945-1954
- Pastor, St. John, Hector, 1954-1962
- Pastor, St. Clotilde, Green Valley, 1962-1979
Fr. Marks died in 1979 at the age of 71.
Born in 1927 in St. Paul, Minnesota, Fr. Murphy was ordained to the priesthood for the Archdiocese of St. Paul in June 1951. He was incardinated into the Diocese of New Ulm when the diocese was formed in 1957.
Fr. Murphy’s assignment history:
Associate, Basilica of St. Mary, Minneapolis, 1951-1957
Associate, St. Theresa, St. Paul, 1957
Administrator, St. Willibrord, Gibbon, 1957-1963
Pastor, St. John, Ortonville, 1963-1967
Pastor, St. Joseph, Montevideo, 1967-1971
Pastor, St. Catherine, Redwood Falls, 1971-1981
Pastor, Holy Rosary, North Mankato, 1981-1986
Pastor, St. Raphael, Springfield, 1986-1989
Sacramental Minister, St. Joseph, Lamberton, 1989 (while remaining pastor at St. Raphael, Springfield)
Pastor, St. John, Appleton and St. Joseph, Holloway, 1989-1991
Fr. Murphy retired from assigned ministry in 1991. He did volunteer ministry at St. John the Evangelist, Little Canada in the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis from 1996-2000. Fr. Murphy died in 2001 at the age of 74.
Born in 1921 in St. Paul, Minnesota, Fr. Roney was ordained to the priesthood for the Archdiocese of St. Paul in 1945. He was incardinated into the Diocese of New Ulm when the diocese was formed in 1957.
Fr. Roney’s assignment history:
- Associate, Basilica of St. Mary, Minneapolis, 1945-1952
- Pastor, St. Francis of Assisi, Lake St. Croix Beach, 1952-1955
- Pastor, St. John, Faxon Township and mission of Assumption, 1955-1958
- Pastor, St. Paul, Walnut Grove, 1958-1963
- Pastor, St. Francis in Benson, 1963-1967
- Pastor, St. Mary, Willmar, 1967-1980
- Pastor, St. Gregory the Great, Lafayette, 1980-1993
- Co-director of the San Lucas Mission Office for the Diocese of New Ulm, 1980-1986
- Director of the Office of the Propagation of the Faith for the Diocese of New Ulm, 1986-1994
- Director of the San Lucas Mission Office for the Diocese of New Ulm, 1986-1994
Fr. Roney retired from assigned ministry in 1993. In 1994, his request to move to San Lucas Toliman Mission in Guatemala was approved by the diocese. Fr. Roney assisted as a priest at the mission while his health permitted. The diocese removed him from ministry in 2002. He died in 2003 in Guatemala at the age of 82.
Born in 1949 in Carroll, Iowa, Douglas Schleisman was ordained to the priesthood for the Diocese of New Ulm in 1975. He was laicized in 1994.
- Associate, Cathedral of the Holy Trinity, New Ulm, 1976-1981
- Associate, Holy Trinity, Winsted, 1981-1984
- Pastor, St. Adalbert, Silver Lake, 1984-1993
- Pastor, St. Joseph, Silver Lake, 1988-1993, while continuing assignment as pastor of St. Adalbert
- Leave of absence, 1993
Mr. Schleisman was laicized in 1994.
Born in 1910 in Lucan, Minnesota, Fr. Skoblik was ordained to the priesthood for the Archdiocese of St. Paul in 1939. Fr. Skoblik incardinated into the Diocese of New Ulm when the diocese was formed in 1957.
Fr. Skoblik’s assignment history:
- Associate, Most Holy Redeemer, Montgomery, 1939-1946
- Administrator, Most Holy Trinity, Veseli, 1946
- Associate, St. Wenceslaus, New Prague, 1946
- Administrator, Most Holy Trinity, Veseli, 1946
- Pastor, Immaculate Conception, Lonsdale, 1947-1948
- Pastor, St. Mary in Bechyn, 1948-1952
- Pastor, St. George in Glencoe, 1952-1965
- Superintendent, St. Pius X School, Glencoe, 1964-1965
- Pastor, St. Joseph, Silver Lake, 1965-1988
Fr. Skoblik retired from assigned ministry in 1988. He died in 1989 at the age of 79.
Born 1915 in Hastings, Minnesota, Fr. Stark was ordained to the priesthood for the Archdiocese of St. Paul in 1944. Fr. Stark incardinated into the Diocese of New Ulm when the diocese was formed in 1957.
- Associate, Nativity of Our Lord, St. Paul, 1944
- Associate, Immaculate Conception, Faribault, 1944-1945
- Associate, Holy Trinity, Winsted, 1945-1946
- Associate, St. Francis de Sales, St. Paul, 1946-1947
- Associate, St. Michael, St. Paul, 1947-1951
- Administrator, Holy Name, Vesta, 1951-1954
- Pastor, St. Dionysius, Tyler, 1954-1965
- Pastor, St. Michael, Gaylord, 1965
- Pastor, St. John, Darwin, 1965-1969
- Pastor, St. Andrew, Granite Falls, 1969-1971
- Pastor, St. Joseph, Clements, 1971-1986
- Pastor at St. Thomas, Sanborn, 1977-1986, while remaining pastor of St. Joseph, Clements
Fr. Stark retired from assigned ministry in 1986 and died in 1991 at the age of 75.
The names are now disclosed, there are more lists that exist in Minnesota, and there are many more names to find.
Abuse of children and the continued silence by the offenders needs to be prevented. If you suffered, saw, or suspected such events, it is important to know that there is help out there.
A founding partner with Bradshaw & Bryant, Mike Bryant has always fought to find justice for his clients—knowing that legal troubles, both personal injury and criminal, can be devastating for a family. Voted a Top 40 Personal Injury "Super Lawyer" multiple years, Mr. Bryant has also been voted one of the Top 100 Minnesota "Super Lawyers" four times.
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