Welcome Fr. Josh Deters
Please join us in welcoming Fr. Joshua Deters to the Immaculate Conception Dardenne parish family as our new Associate Pastor!
Note from Msgr. Ted:
The last weekend of May, Archbishop Mitchell Rozanski announced that the new Associate Pastor at ICD beginning July 1 would be Fr Joshua Deters. We have mentioned this appointment in numerous electronic and bulletin messages since that time. Fr. Deters is the thirteenth Associate Pastor to serve at ICD since I began my service as Pastor here in 2010. ICD is blessed that each of them has brought his own unique and abundant gifts for the service of our ICD parish family. I have met with Fr Deters, along with the other ICD priests, twice since his appointment was announced. We have a further meeting scheduled shortly after he arrives. From these conversations, it is apparent that Fr. Deters is approaching his opportunities to serve ICD with a generous spirit, priestly zeal, and a compassionate heart. Since his arrival on July 1, he has already been the celebrant for three weekday Masses and has had the opportunity to administer the Sacrament of Reconciliation on his first day here and again this weekend. I look forward to collaborating with Fr. Deters in priestly service here at ICD. He had the opportunity to introduce himself at all the Masses this weekend. Welcome, Fr Deters.
Message from Fr. Deters
Hello everyone!
I'm Father Joshua Deters, and I'm so happy to be joining you here at ICD! I know and am friends with many of the priests who have been associated with ICD in the recent past, and they have spoken so highly of this parish and how spending time here has fostered their own love of the Holy Priesthood.
When I received the call telling me that I'd be moving to Dardenne Prairie to serve at Immaculate Conception, I had a sense of wonder at God's providence, as I grew up and went to school so close to here. I went to high school just down the road at Ft. Zumwalt West, where my mother used to teach and my sister currently teaches. After high school, I went to Missouri State and then Lindenwood, (finally) graduating after seven years of school. I then worked for a couple of years before entering the seminary.
I've been a priest for three years now, all of which I spent assigned to St. Joseph in Cottleville. It's my understanding that ICD and St. Joe's are the two biggest parishes in the state, so it's amazing to think that in just a handful of years I'll have gotten to know an incredible number of people in this area.
After three years of priesthood, I can say that being a priest has been way better and more exciting than I could have ever hoped, and I can't wait to see how God continues here what He began there at St. Joe's. St. John Paul II once said about the priesthood that it is "gift and mystery," and I continue to be drawn by the Lord into the mystery of this gift that Jesus has given to me.
God bless you all,
– Fr. Deters
