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Hello,

 My name is Father Paul Casper, S.C.J.   I was born in St. Paul, Minnesota and attended St. Matthews Parish in St. Paul.  As a young boy I attended St. Matthew’s grade school.

 My vocation story has a unique beginning.  While I was in grade school I use to serve Mass at our parish on a regular basis while I was going to school.  One day in 1944, the religious sister, who was our eighth grade teacher came into class and told us that for our English assignment we were all to write an essay for a contest that was being sponsored by the Priests of the Sacred Heart.  I had never heard of this order of priests before.   I think that this was a nation wide contest.  The topic of the contest was, “What do you want to be when you grow up”?  The winner of this contest would receive a $25.00 war bond.  That was really something for 1944.   This assignment was really easy for me because I knew that I wanted to become a priest.  I submitted my essay as did the rest of the students.

 Several months later I received a letter saying that a Father Luke Lindon was coming to St. Paul, Minnesota to give a retreat for the diocesan priests at the seminary.  While he was in St. Paul he would come to visit me.  When Father Lindon arrived at my house he was very impressive because of his striking features and a strong Eastern accent.  My Mother just fell in love with him.  I was really impressed with Father Lindon as he spoke about the Priests of the Sacred Heart, Divine Heart Seminary in Donaldson, IN and the works of the Priests of the Sacred Heart.  When Father Lindon finished talking with me I liked what he said, but I wasn’t sure if I wanted to go to the minor seminary in Donaldson, IN.  Father Lindon told me that since I was serving Mass on almost a daily basis that I should think about it and offer Mass to make the right decision.  I did do this and finally decided to enter the minor seminary.

 After completing high school I went to Ste. Marie, IL to enter the year of Novitiate to become a member of the congregation of the Priests of the Sacred Heart.  After my year of novitiate I took my first vows as a religious member of the congregation.  Leaving Ste. Marie, I continued my journey towards priesthood.  After finishing theology at Sacred Heart Monastery in Hales Corners, WI, I was ordained a priest in 1957.  Oh, by the way, I didn’t win that essay contest either, someone from out east did, but I think I won much more.

 My first assignment as a religious priest was at the minor seminary in Donaldson, IN.  I was asked to teach and also be the assistant dean of boys.  I also helped some on vocation recruitment..

 Next, I was asked if I would go out east to Lenox, MA to help found a minor seminary there.  I went to Lenox, to the formerly Bellefontaine mansion, that was previously owned by the Mercy Fathers.   The name of the new minor seminary was Immaculate Heart Seminary. 

 After serving five years at Immaculate Heart Seminary I was then asked to go to South Dakota to work among the Native American Indians in Lower Brule, SD and on the Cheyenne River reservation.   I spent eighteen years working among the Native American Indians.

 Leaving South Dakota I was asked to go to MS to be pastor of Holy Spirit Church in Hernando, MS.  I also served as pastor at St. Joseph’s in Holly Springs, MS.  After fifteen years in MS, I finally retired and came to reside at Villa Maria in Franklin, WI, on the same grounds where the old Sacred Heart Monastery use to be.

 Now, after being a priest for forty-nine years I can say that I am still very happy and feel blessed.  I am still active, though.  I go to four different nursing homes here in the Milwaukee area to celebrate Mass and administer the Sacraments, as well as serving my brothers here at Villa Maria who are retired with me.

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