Reverend Bernard C. Goertz

Father Bernard Goertz, who will be 80 years old on July 4, 2008, and has retired from the active priesthood due to his age and health, still ministers to the less fortunate at both Bastrop Nursing Homes. With the help of Daniel and Connie Lehman, he has Sunday Mass and Holy Communion services for all Catholic residents of the Bastrop Nursing Home. His brother and sister-in-law, Tom and Alberta Goertz, assist him on Fridays with Mass and Communion at the Silver Pines Nursing Home.

Although Father Bernard had his own parish responsibilities, he has, for many years, ministered to residents at the nursing homes on the 1st, 3rd and 5th Fridays at Silver Pines, and 2nd and 4th Fridays at the Bastrop Nursing Home. However, since his retirement in January of 2007, he decided he would have Mass every Friday at Silver Pines Nursing home and every Sunday at the Bastrop Nursing Home.

Typical Sunday Mass at the Bastrop Nursing Home goes something like this:  Daniel and Connie arrive around 1000 a.m. Daniel starts to empty the room that has been provided and set up the altar. Connie starts bringing in the residents. By 10:30, all the residents are in the room and ready for Mass. Daniel meets Father Bernard in the parking lot to carry his “Mass Kit” for him. At the room, Daniel prepares the altar and Father Bernard puts on his vestments. After Mass Father Bernard and Connie go to the residents that cannot come to the Mass room and give them Communion. While this is happening Daniel is taking the residents back to the lobby, dining room etc., and putting the room back as he found it.

Father Bernard’s sermons to the residents are always very uplifting and positive. He assures them that they are going to heaven for eternity. The residents are very grateful that he comes to offer Mass for them.

Father Bernard’s Mass Kit contains everything needed i.e. water and wine, crucifix, chalice, candles, paten, cloths for the altar, missalettes, communion hosts, and vestments. This “Mass Kit” has many memories for Father Bernard. The United States Army issued it to him when he was an Army Chaplain in Vietnam. The Army would fly him in a helicopter (with two machine gunners on board) to the fire bases in the jungle. Immediately upon landing, the soldiers would assemble. Father Bernard would offer Mass, give absolution and communion, and bless the soldiers. He would then board the helicopter and be flown to another fire base or back to the main base.