ST. MARY'S CATHEDRAL PASTOR FOR DECADE DIES AT 83

Monsignor Joseph Henry Huels, 83, pastor of St. Mary's Cathedral in Cape Girardeau for 10 years and associated with the cathedral parish for almost 26 years, died Friday, April 16, 1992, at St. Francis Medical Center.

Msgr. Huels was born Sept. 8, 1909, in St. Louis, son of Joseph and Mathildis Richter Huels.

He was educated at St. Margaret's and St. Louis Preparatory Seminary in St. Louis, and Kenrick Seminary at Webster Groves.

He was ordained June 10, 1934, at Kenrick Seminary as a diocesan priest in the Archdiocese of St. Louis.

He is survived by a brother, the Rev. Vincent Huels of Florissant; a sister, Amelia (Betty) Jones, of St. Louis; a nephew; and four nieces.

He was preceded in death by a brother, a sister and two nieces.

Msgr. Huels was associate pastor at St. Steven's Catholic Church in St. Louis from 1934 to 1943. At the same time he volunteered his work at the Catholic Worker in St. Louis. During those Depression years, the Catholic Worker fed 300 people daily and sheltered about 50 each night.

He was a chaplain in the U.S. Navy from 1943-46, and then began study at Notre Dame University where he earned a master of education degree.

He then was named director of McBride Catholic High School in St. Louis, serving in that position from 1948-1950.

From 1948 to 1957 he was associated with the following churches: associate pastor of St. Agatha and St. Rose of Lima in St. Louis; pastor of Sacred Heart Churches at Elsberry, Caruthersville and Poplar Bluff; appointed administrator of Missionary Apostolate in the Poplar Bluff Deanery; administrator of the parishes of Malden and Wilhelmina, and parishes of Campbell, Neelyville, Piedmont, Williamsville and Van Buren, and was appointed a member of Diocesan Commission for Sacred Music and Liturgy.

During his stay at Caruthersville, Msgr. Huels began an experimental ministry called Missionary Apostolates, which was a plan to place newly-ordained priests into rural churches through an internship program. He had charge of seven churches and spread the new priests around these parishes so they could learn ministry. He administered the plan for 15 years. It was because of this work that he was honored with the title of monsignor in November 1957.

In January 1967 he was elected Diocesan Senator, and became pastor of St. Mary's Cathedral Aug. 19. He was moderator of the Diocesan Commission on Ecumenism, diocesan representative to the Missouri Catholic Department of Ecumenism and Interfaith Affairs, and as diocesan observer to the Missouri Council of Churches.

On Aug. 1, 1977, at his own request, he relinquished the pastorate of St. Mary's because of ill health, but continued as associate pastor.

On Jan. 1, 1988, he retired, but continued his priestly ministry on a limited basis as Senior Priest in Residence at St. Mary's.

Except for the Rev. Eberhardt Pruente who served St. Mary's for 51 years, Msgr. Huels' tenure has been the longest at the local church.

In a 1988 Southeast Missourian story concerning his retirement, Msgr. Huels spoke of his vocation to the priesthood: "Being a priest was my objective since the fifth grade. It's still my objective. I'm going to try to die with my boots on as a parish priest."

Service will be held at 11 a.m. Monday at St. Mary's Church, with Bishop John Leibrecht officiating, assisted by Msgr. Richard Rowling and the Rev. Vincent Huels, joined by the priests of the Springfield-Cape Girardeau Diocese. Burial will be in St. Mary's Cemetery.

Friends may participate in a welcoming service at 5 p.m. today at St. Mary's Church. A Parish service will be held at 7 p.m., a rosary with parish organizations at 8 p.m., and prayer service at 9 p.m.

Lorberg Memorial Funeral Chapel is in charge of arrangements.