Hi! My name is Bill Harper. I have been serving as a liturgist/music minister for OLMC's children's masses since the 1999-2000 school year. These masses are the highlight of my day. I also minister at one Sunday service per month and special liturgies and sacraments throughout the year.
As Pastoral Associate at St. Francis Xavier Church, in Carbondale, I direct Religious Education, Youth Ministry, PSR, PreCana and Administration. I have a Master's Degree in Pastoral Studies (MAPS) from Aquinas Institute of Theology in St. Louis, Missouri. I love my ministry and never could have imagined doing all the amazing work that I get to help with in our diocese.
The best part of my musical gift is serving at weddings, baptisms, and funerals and sharing my music for local charities and fundraisers. I have been a professional singer/guitarist for 45 years and still perform at local venues.
Previously, I was active in lay ecclesial ministry at St. Andrew/Murphysboro; music teacher, Music Director and Coordinator of Religious Education (my grade school Alma Mater-1968) and St. Joseph/Marion, as Pastoral Associate. There are several diocesan committees I serve on: Catholic Services and Ministry Appeal (CSMA), President, and the Diocesan Liturgical Commission. I help with training lay leaders of prayer and have done summer Catechist Certification trainings. In the past, I have served on several Office of Education Committees, as well. I have been active as a facilitator for the Diocesan Child Protection Policy trainings, since its inception in 2003, and serve as location coordinator in Carbondale. My Prepare/Enrich facilitator’s training was completed in 2015, for evaluating engaged couples preparing for their sacramental marriage.
Currently, I live in Murphysboro with my wife, Julia, and our two French bulldogs, Jean Sneaux and Quasimodo D’Artagnan. We have three cats, Vivie, Tinker and Elsie. My wife has a Tennessee walking horse, Jester. We have two grandsons, Leif and Sebastian.
God is good! All the time!