One priest covers 250 square miles and seven parishes

CALHOUN COUNTY, Ill. -- Tending seven parishes might seem a daunting task, but the Rev. Tom Hagstrom takes it in stride.

Hagstrom is the sole priest for the seven Catholic parishes that dot the 250 square miles of Calhoun County.

"In some ways, I had the best preparation for being a priest in Calhoun County," Hagstrom said. "My father was a career Navy man, and one of his postings when I was growing up was to Guam. We were dependent on shipping, learned to be independent and had to adopt the rather tropical attitude of, 'There's always tomorrow.'"

With only a single bridge and ferry crossings entering the county from the east, Calhoun County presents similar challenges. Punctuality is often determined by barge traffic passing under the Joe Page lift bridge. And with the county flanked by two rivers, flooding or river icing makes travel to or from the county difficult and time-consuming, Hagstrom noted.

He holds Mass at each of the seven parishes in the county: St. Joseph's in Meppen, St. Mary's in Brussels, St. Barbara's in Batchtown, St. Anselm's in Kampsville, St. Norbert's in Hardin, St. Michael's in Michael, and St. Agnes in Belleview. He resides in the parsonage in Meppen.

"Until I came the seven parishes were tended by two priests. But, after careful consideration, the diocese decided that there would only be one serving Calhoun parishes. As the bishop said at the time, we just don't have enough troops," Hagstrom said.

He said the declining number of available clergy has affected all denominations.

"After speaking with so many other pastors, I realize it is not just the celibacy issue for those not seeking to become Catholic priests," he said. "The lack of clergy crosses all denominations. Currently, we seem to have more coming into the priesthood later in life, after having had a first career."

Hagstrom spends a great deal of his time on the road between parishes and for his hospital calls, school meetings, home visits and diocese meetings.

"When I do have a couple days off, I stay home," he said. "Since I am in the car so much, I just want to relax."

Hagstrom, 44, entered the priesthood later in life; he was ordained in 1993.

"I had always had that hunger in my heart," he said. "But when you go into study theology, you should be ready to become a priest, and I did not feel I was ready."