Father Njus Departs, Lansing Diocese Cites Violation of Vows

Hillsdale Collegian
September 8, 2012

http://www.hillsdalecollegian.com/2012/09/hillsdale-parish-currently-without-full-time-pastor/


St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church is without its pastor. The Diocese of Lansing asked Father Jeffrey Njus to leave because of "boundary violations in a pastoral context with adult women," prior to becoming the pastor in Hillsdale. (Joe Buth/Collegian)

Father Jeffrey Njus was asked to leave his position at St. Anthony of Padua Parish in Hillsdale, Mich., on Aug. 22 after it was discovered he had violated his vow of celibacy before coming to Hillsdale.

"It was a blow not only to the Catholic Society but to the entire Catholic community. By now the shock has worn away, and we are recovering for sure," said Gannon Hyland, junior and president of the Hillsdale Catho- lic Society.

According to a statement giv- en by the Diocese of Lansing, Njus was asked to take leave because "of boundary violations in a pastoral context with adult women prior to his appointment to Hillsdale."

The violations came to the at- tention of Bishop Earl Boyea in Lansing, who then called Njus in for a conversation, which ended with Njus entering into

a period of contemplation and prayer.

"Celibacy is a promise a priest makes to a bishop at the time he is ordained," said spokesman of the Diocese Mi- chael Diebold. "A priest makes that promise because he must give himself completely to those who have been placed into his care."

Only weekend mass was said directly after Njus left but

daily mass resumed Sept. 3 with the help of Monsignor Steven Raica from Lansing and Father Joe Krupp from Hudson, Mich. Campus mass was temporarily cancelled.

Dean of Men Aaron Petersen has been a deacon for the Dio- cese of Lansing since May 2009

and worked closely with Njus. "Father Jeff has been a very

good priest for St. Anthony's in the year he has been with us," Petersen said. "The parish miss- es him and is praying for him.

I personally miss him and am praying for him. I have much hope that Father Jeff will ad- dress the things that our Bishop has asked him to address."

There has been no indication by the diocese whether Njus will be permitted to return to Hillsdale, but there is strong en- thusiasm from Hillsdale College parishioners for Njus's reinstate- ment.

"There's not a single member of the Hillsdale Catholic com-

munity that does not want to see Father Njus return," Hyland said.

Hillsdale College faculty are also helping to fill the void in Njus' absence.

Professor of History Brad Birzer taught the Hillsdale Catholic Inquiry classes last year with Njus and now co- teaches the classes with Profes- sor of History John Willson. The first course took place Sept. 2.

Birzer said parishioners have been very active in the church in the wake of Njus' removal, and he also had high praise of Njus' charisma and role at St. Anthony's.

"He really pulled the best out of us," Birzer said. "He became one of my best friends,

and there's no question [I want him back]."

Currently, the atmosphere of the parish is one of "some sadness and loss," said Petersen, but everyone is remaining "prayerful, faithful, hopeful, and loving."

"It's a parish that knows its mission," Petersen said.