Remembering Fr. Tim Kerner, C.Ss.R.

By Fr. Dick Mevissen. C.Ss.R.

Timothy John Kerner was born in New Orleans, LA on July 17, 1955. He died suddenly on October 10, 2009 at the age of 54.

I have fond memories of Timmy, as he was called growing up, and by us staff and students at Holy Redeemer College, the Redemptorist college seminary at Waterford, WI where I first came to know him. He was a bright, easy-going young man with a ready smile. He loved hunting and fishing, and even took up taxidermy so some of his "catches" could be preserved.

Tim professed his vows as a Redemptorist in 1976, and was ordained a priest in 1981. His first assignment was to St. Gerard Parish in Baton Rouge, LA where he served as associate pastor and chaplain in the parish high school. He then served many years at Holy Redeemer Mission Center in Lacombe, LA in various responsibilities: preacher, center director, and superior of the Redemptorist community.

For a couple of years, he served as a member of the New Orleans Vice-Province vocation ministry team working out of Lacombe. In 1993, he began his ministry as chaplain at Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center in Baton Rouge. He did serve a term (1996-1998) as pastor of St. Gerard Parish there, but otherwise spent the remainder of his life serving at OLL.

He eventually was asked to serve as director of the Pastoral Services Department there, the responsibility he held at the time of his death. Tim's cheerful, hard-working, dedication there will be sorely missed.

As for Tim's family members and friends, we grieve his sudden passing from us.

Rest in peace, Timmy.