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Father Jim Trempe teaches us each week how to live our lives correctly to enhance our Catholic faith. He offers a weekly article called the "Paper Pulpit" which not only guides us to understand current topics and readings in church, but he also helps show how we need to relate it directly back to our lives to increase our faith in Jesus.

Read Father Jim Trempe Background below for more information on the person behind our Paper Pulpit.

If you would like to read older Paper Pulpit's in years 2003, 2004, or 2005, please contact the Webmaster for assistance.

Weekly 'Paper Pulpit'

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Week of Sunday, May 11, 2008

Archived 'Paper Pulpits'

Father Jim Trempe Background:
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A bit about my background. I was born on July 1, 1962 , the third of three children born to Carol and Todd Trempe and I was raised in Marinette, Wisconsin. I have always thought about serving the Lord as a Priest. I even pretended to say Mass with crackers and grape juice when I was 7 or 8 years old. Many of you would have liked that Mass---3 minutes from beginning to end. I also served Mass and was an usher at my parish of Sacred Heart in Marinette. I credit my mother as being most inspirational to my vocation to the priesthood as she always set an example of what it means to be a Catholic and a Christian. My family attended Mass each Sunday, said grace before meals and my mother often prayed the rosary and had a vigil candle lit in her room.

I attended the public school system and graduated from high school in 1981. I then attended the University of Wisconsin Center - Marinette for two years and transferred to the University of Wisconsin-Stout. There I received my Bachelor’s Degree in Industrial Technology with a concentration in Manufacturing Engineering in 1985.

After college graduation, I moved to Dallas, Texas where I worked for Texas Instruments as a Manufacturing Engineer working in the Defense Systems until December 1988. While in Dallas, I worked at and received my Master of Business Administration with an emphasis in management. I was also active in my parish, teaching fifth grade CCD and serving as an usher.

In January 1989, I moved to Wisconsin Rapids, where I taught Quality Assurance and Manufacturing Engineering at Mid-State Technical College. I was certified as a Quality Assurance Engineer through the American Society for Quality Control and as a Manufacturing Engineer through the Society of Manufacturing Engineers. I was also working on a Master’s Degree in Education through the University of Wisconsin Stout at the time of my departure. I enjoyed my time in Wisconsin Rapids and I look forward to returning to the area.

Wishing to explore the possibility that God might be calling me to the priesthood, I left Wisconsin Rapids for Mundelein Seminary in Mundelein, Illinois in the fall of 1991. There I was accepted into the seminary’s formation program and began my study of theology. I received my Master of Divinity degree in May of 1996 just prior to my priestly ordination that July.

During my seminary years, I had numerous parish assignments during the summer: St. Stephen’s in Stevens Point (’91) with Fr. Dennis Lynch; St. Vincent de Paul in Wisconsin Rapids (’92) with Fr. Bill Menzel (he is originally from Stevens Point); St. Joseph’s (St. Joseph Ridge) and St. Peter’s at Middle Ridge (‘93) with Fr. Robert Hundt; Our Lady of Peace in Marshfield (’94) with Fr. Jim Logan (I think you may know him) and at Holy Name in Wausau with Fr. Norm Boneck the summer before I was ordained. I feel that these parishes and pastors have given me some excellent insights in the priesthood and pastoring a parish and I hope to share these experiences with you.

I was ordained to the Priesthood on July 13, 1996 at St. Joseph the Workman Cathedral in La Crosse, and celebrated my First Mass of Thanksgiving at St. Vincent de Paul Parish in Wisconsin Rapids on Sunday, July 14, 1996.

My first assignment was chaplain/instructor at Regis High School in Eau Claire and chaplain to the middle school from 1996-1999. In addition I helped at Sacred Heart and St. Patrick’s parishes in Eau Claire on the weekends.

My second assignment began in January 1999 when Bishop Burke named me administrator at St. Ansgar’s in Blair (about 150 families) and St. John the Apostle in Whitehall (about 300 families). From January to May I taught at Regis and lived at Whitehall. On June 1st Bishop Burke named me pastor which I still remain. My first pastorate at Blair and Whitehall has been wonderful and I will miss the people there greatly.

St. Bron’s will be my second experience at pastoring a parish. There are plusses and minuses with a younger, less experienced priest. On the plus side, I hope to continue to bring vigor to the parish that Fr. Pat had. On the other hand, being relatively new to parish leadership and I am still “learning the ropes”, I ask you to please be patient with me. I will probably make some mistakes and it will take me longer to do some things than more experienced pastors. Again, please bear with me. I understand that Fr. Pat was well liked. I hope you will give me the same opportunity.

My interests include fishing, biking, walking, golfing, reading, computers, shooting pool and bowling. I am not very good at any but enjoy them all. I also enjoy eating…if you have an extra chair at your table or would like to go out to eat, please don’t hesitate to let me know. I also enjoy attending sporting events, but really don’t like to go alone. Feel free to ask me to come along.

Finally, please know I am the world’s worst when it comes to remembering names and faces. I have tried different ways to learn, but they haven’t seemed to help me. I guess this is not a gift God gave to me. Please be patient with me and continue reminding me and please do not feel offended if I forget your name.

God’s blessings,
Fr. Trempe

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Weekly 'Paper Pulpit'

Archived 'Paper Pulpits'

Father Jim Trempe Background: back to top

Father Jim Trempe Background:
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