Welcome, Father Mark Kramer, S.J.

Dear Most Holy Name of Jesus Church,

Peace in Christ! What an honor and joy it is for me to be appointed your next pastor. I begin this new mission relying on God’s grace and your prayers to be a good shepherd, to lead and love you in the praise, reverence, and service of our gracious God. 

By way of introduction, I was born and raised in St. Louis, Missouri, the third of six children born to Helmut and Mary Rose Kramer. I was blessed to grow up in a tight-knit Catholic family where my parents assured our catholic formation, attending St. Catherine Laboure Church and Grade School, St. John Vianney High School, and Notre Dame University It was there that I met my first Jesuit and became an avid Notre Dame football fan. After Notre Dame, I attended my first Jesuit school, Georgetown University Law Center. 

At the time of this writing, our family has grown to include 16 nephews and nieces and 9 great-ones, almost all of whom are in St. Louis, except my brother Stephen who is also a Jesuit priest and principal at Rockhurst High School in Kansas City. Some of you may know him from his time at Jesuit High New Orleans and Immaculate Conception Church on Baronne Street.

I have had many rewarding assignments in the Society of Jesus, including working in immigration law, teaching in high school and at the university, pastoral work in Belize, spiritual formation at Kenrick Glennon Seminary, internal governance as a Jesuit superior, as a chaplain at the Catholic Studies program at St. Louis University, and as a pastor of St. Charles Borromeo Church in Grand Coteau, Louisiana. Being pastor at St. Charles is where my heart was both most on fire and at rest, and so I am excited about returning to this ministry with you at Holy Name of Jesus. 

I had the opportunity to visit in March and to spend a few days shadowing your former pastor Fr. Mark Thibodeaux. You were truly blessed to have such a dynamic and devoted pastor, and it was so edifying to see all the good works happening at the parish. I also had the pleasure to meet some of you then, especially the dedicated parish staff and the administrative team at our school. I have received such a warm welcome from them and from so many, which has been a great blessing. 

I am especially grateful to Fr. Eddie Gros for his generous service as interim pastor and to all my Jesuit brothers who assist in the pastoral care of our church. I look forward to collaborating with them and all of you as we seek to love and serve the Lord and one another. 

Please know of my thoughts and prayers as we begin together this time of transition. 

Sincerely in Christ,
Fr. Mark Kramer, S.J.