“All the administration goes out the window now,” he said, referring to the paperwork that accompanies the duties of a pastor or parish administrator. “It will just be the spiritual things and that’s what I hear from all the other guys who retired. They really enjoy staying on in some spiritual way. … I wanted to do that here (in New Holstein and St. Anna) because I really enjoy it here.”
The two parishes held informal retirement gatherings for Fr. Berryman following Masses on June 25 and 26. Both celebrations had a Mexican theme because the longtime pastor has vacationed in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, for two weeks in January for the past 14 years. Fr. Berryman, who celebrated his golden jubilee of ordination three years ago, said he hopes to continue providing sacramental and spiritual care as long as his health allows.
“I still feel healthy enough to keep on ministering,” he said. “I’m doctoring with arthritis of the spine, which for eight months now had me using a walker to get around.” Thanks to physical therapy, he said, “I feel very good and I feel with the shortage (of priests) we (priests) need to stay on board and do what we can.”
Fr. Berryman said he and his ordination classmates got together for dinner on May 31.
“It was the first time we got together since our golden jubilee. We see each other at the chrism Mass and the priests’ golf outing,” he said. “They’ve been retired, most of them, for years, and as they said simply, ‘It’s about time'” that he retire.
While his arthritis will prevent frequent travels, Fr. Berryman said he does plan to travel to Grand Rapids, Mich., in August to visit with family.
“In over 53 years of ministry I’ve made a lot of friends and I will have the opportunity to go and spend some time with them,” he said.
After his ordination, Fr. Berrryman served as an assistant pastor at Immaculate Conception Parish in Luxemburg and later held the same position at St. Peter Parish, Oshkosh, and St. Matthew Parish in Allouez. He began his first pastorate at St. Mary of the Lake in Lakewood in 1968. He was also pastor at St. Patrick, Green Bay; St. Mary (co-pastor), Manitowoc; St. Bernadette, Appleton; and for the past six years he has served at Holy Rosary and St. Ann.
“I’m blessed to have been able to serve full time for 53 years and hopefully with the blessing of the Lord, I will continue to be a spiritual help to the people down here for as long as my health holds out,” he said.
