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Saint
Willebrord Parish |
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MEMORIES OF FATHER VAN Father Peter Anthony Van Susteren, ordained for only four years, became pastor in 1895 and remained for 37 years. The St. Willebrord Diamond Jubilee history book tells that he constantly led members of the community in such a way as to win their hearty cooperation. For example, when major repairs were to be made, he would call a parish meeting and explain the needs and approximate cost. The parishioners were always free to debate the question before the matter was put to a vote. In practically every instance, the vote was in favor of the suggested improvement. Dorothy and Loraine Centen, lifelong members of St. Willebrord, recalled Father "Van" as a nice man who was really poor and lived that way. He didn't have anything, they said, so the parish bought him a car on one of his anniversaries. There was a time when the Centen family couldn't afford to pay the pew rent and Father Van said it was okay "because they had lots of kids coming close together." He never turned anybody away, recalled the sisters. Dorothy and Loraine said that when Father Van would come into the school room, everyone would stand up and say, "Praised be Jesus Christ. Good morning Father." The children were in awe of a priest and the girls would modestly tug at their shortened skirts . "Then he would say, 'You don't have to do that. That's the fashion. If that's the fashion, that's the fashion. So don't worry about it," remembered the Centen sisters. Doris Rondou Anderley recounted that Father Van gave everyone a ride in the car he had received from the parish. She said Father Van also had a radio and invited the eighth grade class to hear Calvin Coolidge's inaugural address.
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