CLERGY
PASTOR
Rev. Msgr. William F. Baver, Th.M., M. Div, CCCE, KCHS
Monsignor Baver serves as pastor at both Our Lady Help of Christians as well as his home parish of Saints Simon and Jude. In addtion to his pastorly duties, Monsignor has served as director of cemeteries in our Diocese since 1993. He also serves as president of an international association of cemetery operators and suppliers, the Catholic Cemetery Conference, the pre-eminent resource for all Catholic Cemeteries.
Ordained at the Cathedral of St. Catharine of Siena, Allentown in 1981, Monsignor attended St. Charles Borromeo Seminary, Philadelphia 1973-77, receiving a bachelor of arts degree (with honors) in Philosophy. He attended Mary Immaculate Seminary, Northampton 1977-81, earning a master of divinity and master of theology degrees.
Monsignor Baver is an Eagle Scout with Bronze Palm. He received the Bishop’s Award and St. George Emblem for his ministry in Catholic Scouting, as well as the 4th Degree of the Knights of Columbus, both in 1984.
He was chaplain to the National Board of Catholic War Veterans, receiving the Order of St. Sebastian, and became a Knight of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem in 1998 and a Knight Commander of the Order in 2001. He is chair of their Nomination Committee.
Monsignor was named a Chaplain of His Holiness, with the title of Monsignor by St. Pope John Paul II on Nov. 10, 1993. He was named a Prelate of Honor of His Holiness by Pope Benedict XVI on Dec. 6, 2007 (second highest rank of Monsignor).
He wrote the Cemetery Chart of Accounts in 1991 and created the Cemetery Administration Manual in 1997 for use in the all the parish cemeteries of the Diocese of Allentown. In the Diocese of Allentown, there are two diocesan cemeteries, Holy Saviour in Bethlehem and Resurrection in Allentown. In addition, 49 parishes operate 124 parish cemeteries.
Deacon Reuben H. Hartzell
Deacon Jeffrey R. Trexler, KCHS, Ph.D, Ch.D.
STAFF
Elaine Mitchell, Parish Secretary and Bulletin Editor
Elaine is responsible for the daily operation of the parish office (current hours are Monday-Thursday 10AM to 4:30PM) as well as providing content for the bulletin each week and interfacing with all our parishioners. Elaine loves her databases so you may receive emails from her in order to keep the database up-do-date. Her most recent motivation is keeping Facebook and this website up to date. Elena lo siento, no sabe español. Elaine can be emailed at ourladyhlp@aol.com
COUNCILS
PARISH PASTORAL COUNCIL
To be determined
PARISH FINANCIAL COUNCIL
Rev. Msgr. William F. Baver, Jack Bolash, Sheila Breitfeld, Dan Schmidt, Rosanne Venditto