New priest returns home to BP

"Everything is old and everything is new," says Rev. Bill Becker, reflecting on the return to his roots as the new priest serving four area parishes.
Happy with his new assignment in the Blooming Prairie area, Becker said there is a "comfort level" knowing the lay of the land and knowing people who reside here.
Now that he's back in Blooming Prairie, Becker says he would like to knock on the door of his former house and ask for a tour. The house is located at 2nd Street and 2nd Avenue S.W., between the grade school and the high school.
"I grew up here with my parents both active in the community," said Becker. His father Bob taught English at Blooming Prairie High School. His mother Marian was a piano teacher and St. Columbanus organist for many years.
Becker serves St. Columbanus Catholic Church in Blooming Prairie, Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Hayfield, Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Litomysl and St. Mary's Catholic Church in Newry (no Mass). He resides in the Rectory in BP.
Each parish has about 150-200 families.
Becker says Mass at Sacred Heart in Hayfield at 5 p.m. on Saturdays, at Holy Trinity in Litomysl at 8:15 a.m. on Sundays and at St. Columbanus at 10 a.m. on Sundays.
These churches are part of the Winona-Rochester Diocese.
When not serving those four parishes, Becker takes time for himself. He collects flags of all kinds and sizes.
"I'm a cat lover because they just jump into your heart," smiled Becker as he petted his "buddy" Moses, a black cat with only three legs.
"I've always loved cats," admitted Becker as he continued with an interview to welcome him back to the community.
Rev. Becker is proud to be a Blossom and said he was active in the fine arts, performing in high school plays and competing in speech tournaments.
Becker was ordained in 1988 at the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart in Winona.
His prior service includes 10 years in Plainview at St. Joachim and at Immaculate Conception in rural Kellogg. Prior to that assignment, he served St. Mary's Catholic Church in Winona.
He also served in Austin, Winona and Rochester carrying out parish, teaching and chancery work.
Becker also taught at the seminary in Winona and logged three years of doctoral study in Rome. Reflecting on his career, Becker said has totaled nearly 34 years in the priesthood.
How did he get drawn to the priesthood?
"That's a good question," responded Becker. He explained that his mom and dad were very faithful and loved the church. He received their encouragement toward the priesthood.
"We had a wonderful priest in Pastor Larry Ginther and he encouraged me to look at the priesthood," said Becker.
He also received encouragement from teachers Frank Vorlicek and Renee Burns. "I thought they were nuts," Becker laughs.
He said he thought he would enter law enforcement, or would study International Relations at the University of Minnesota.
Becker recalls taking a vocation flyer from the back of the church. "I sent it in and not long after, I received a call from a priest.
"I asked how do you know that the priesthood is for you. I was told that this vocation is a mystery and you won't know until you leave and pray with other men. I then went to seminary to try it out and it seemed a good fit for me."
After high school, Becker went to seminary for four years. He then went five years to seminary in Rome.
Becker is very close to his family. His parents have passed, but he still clings to many wonderful memories they left him.
As the interview progressed, Becker pulled out his cell phone and played an organ piece by his mom. She had suffered a stroke but still managed to play with one hand at the Prairie Manor Care Center.
Becker was one of nine children. They are all living. He has sisters Cathy Schroeder of Mapleton, Mary Lilliquist of Caledonia, Patty Marsnik in Wisconsin and Barb Hartmann in South Dakota and brothers Tom in Oklahoma, Jim in Arizona, Larry in Virginia and John in Oakdale.
Asked to comment on any recent changes in the Catholic church, Becker said some changes have been made in wording and it is now more of a challenge to remain religious. The rise of computers and the internet has reshaped our society, he said.
He enjoys music and film. "I enjoy singing," he confessed.
Becker, in adding to his flag collection, wrote a book on Vatican flags. He has collected about 100 large flags and 200 small ones. He has two posted in the Rectory hallway at all times.
God's word is always close to Becker and he says one of his favorite verses comes from Luke 5: v8-10 and is about the calling of the First Disciple while they were fishing.
"When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus' knees and said, 'Go away from me, Lord, I am a sinful man.' Jesus said to him: 'Don't be afraid, from now on you will catch men."