By Lori EhdeFather Thomas J. Jennings arrived in Luverne this morning to start his new duties at St. Catherine Church.He replaces Father Andy Beerman, who’s been here four years."I have substituted in your area and the people are very nice," he told the Star Herald Tuesday."The church is strong in your community, and wider church community seems to be really strong in southwest Minnesota. I look forward to experiencing that."Jennings, 59, was born in Caledonia where he attended St. Mary's Catholic School and graduated from Loretto High School. He earned a degree in philosophy at Immaculate Heart of Mary Seminary, on the St. Mary's College campus in Winona. He completed his theological studies at the Gregorian University in Rome and was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Winona at St. Peter's Basilica in Rome on Dec. 19, 1969. He returned to the Diocese to be a full-time teacher at Lourdes High School in Rochester. He was there until 1976 when he was assigned to Cotter High School in Winona, where he also served as associate pastor at the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart. He eventually was named principal for Cotter High and served as pastor for St. John Parish in Winona. While in Winona he obtained a specialist degree in education administration at Winona State University. In 1983, Father Jennings was appointed pastor for the parishes in Easton and Delavan, where he served four years. He then served as pastor for the parishes of Queen of Angels in Austin; Our Lady of Loretto in Brownsville; and Sacred Heart in Owatonna. In July 1998, he was placed on the faculty of Immaculate Heart of Mary Seminary in Winona, where he has provided spiritual direction for seminarians and served as Director of Apostolic Works until his present assignment. Father Jennings enjoys skiing, bicycling and hiking. He also enjoys quieter pursuits, such as reading and flower gardening.Growing up in Caledonia he said he’s accustomed to the hills and valleys of southeastern Minnesota, but Jennings said he’s looking forward to the change of scenery."I love the prairie and I love the prairie weather and the ranching and farming," he said. "It’s a wonderful opportunity … It’ll be a new experience and I look forward to it."Bishop Bernard Harrington, Winona, will install Father Jennings at St. Catherine Church Sunday during 10:30 Mass.
