MY FAVORITE PRIEST

A tribute to Fr. James D. Timm

By Joseph C. Frisch

n "Father Timm is dead." The news spread like wildfire in the small community of Adrian, Minnesota where Father Timm had been pastor for six years. Many of those parishioners (men, women, and children alike) shed tears when they heard the news of his death. This priest had endeared himself to those people and they felt that they had lost one of their closest friends. Although everyone knew that his illness was terminal, parishioners still hoped and prayed that the Lord would intervene and provide their priest with a miraculous cure from cancer.

Despite the brevity of his priestly ministry, this young man accomplished more as an instrument of God than many individuals achieve in a lifetime. Every moment of life was precious to him. He looked upon each day as a means to serve others for the greater honor and glory of God. He loved God intensely and that love revealed itself in his words and actions.

Father Timm's decision to become a priest was a gradual process. He was profoundly influenced by the good example of his grandmother and parents. His grandmother, Cecilia Deming, often took him to daily Mass. The thought of becoming a priest did not occur to him until a Benedictine nun, Sister Myrtle Schmitz, first inquired whether he had ever thought of being a priest. Then one of the associate pastors in his home parish encouraged him to seriously consider the possibility of becoming a priest. James Timm was not too enthusiastic about such suggestions because he had already made other plans for the future.

A visit to the minor seminary in Winona, Minnesota proved to be a turning point in this young man's life. Everyone at the seminary, faculty members as well as students, treated him with such kindness that he felt God was now calling him to the priesthood. No longer did he hesitate to respond to that call.

Classmates at the minor seminary have described Jim as a fun-loving and well-adjusted student. He was unpretentious. Students enjoyed associating with him because he was always cheerful whenever they spent their leisure hours together.

"I was undecided about studying for the priesthood until I met Jim Timm," confessed one student. "Jim was so good-natured and human in the presence of others. His example kindled my interest in becoming a priest."

During his years at the minor seminary Jim Timm developed an unusual rapport with young people. Whenever high school boys were invited to spend a weekend of orientation at the seminary, Jim was called upon to speak to each visiting group. His ability to relate to the youth of our diocese was extraordinary. He loved young people and was willing to sacrifice himself to serve them. His zest for life, sense of humor, and story-telling techniques captivated his audiences.

Jim's stories were relevant and down-to-earth. Listeners did not forget his message because it was often illuminated by a humorous and unforgettable anecdote. For example, when Jim Timm discussed the different kinds of prayer, he would narrate an appropriate story. A fellow seminarian vividly recalls one particular story.

There was a pious pastor whose name was Father O'Malley. He had trained his dog not to eat meat on Friday. He had also trained two parrots to recite the rosary every day. Can you imagine two parrots saying the rosary together?

One weekday morning the pastor received a telephone call from his Aunt Nora. She was frantic and begged her nephew to come to her home immediately. Unbeknown to the priest, Aunt Nora had also purchased a parrot.

When Father O'Malley walked into his aunt's living room, he saw a parrot sitting on a stand. The parrot noticed the visitor and said, "Hi! My name is Suzie. I'm a real swinger. How about you?"

Poor Aunt Nora was embarrassed to tears. "What can I do, Father, with this awful parrot? She will humiliate me when my lady friends come to play bridge in my home."

Father O'Malley tried to calm and reassure his aunt. "I think I can help you," declared the priest.

"Oh, that would be wonderful!" cried out Aunt Nora.

"I would like to take your parrot to the rectory. If she spends a few days with my two parrots, they will teach her to recite the rosary."

"I will be eternally grateful if you can do that," responded Aunt Nora.

So Father O'Malley transported Suzie to the rectory. As he entered the living room, Suzie spotted the priest's two parrots and called out: "Hi! My name is Suzie. I'm a real swinger. How about you?"

One of the pastor's parrots turned to the other parrot and said, "Charlie, we can throw away the beads now, our prayers have been answered."

Once he was ordained a priest, the celebration of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass became the most important part of this priest's day. He expected others to participate as reverently and enthusiastically as he did. That interest in the Mass never diminished even when his physical strength waned as he approached the final weeks of his life on earth.

Parishioners often marveled at Father Timm's constant expenditure of energy. He managed to occupy himself with a dozen or more activities at the same time and still give adequate attention to each and every one of them. He has sometimes been called a visionary because he believed that the Church will flourish and society become more spiritually attuned to God in the future. He was convinced that all problems of the day were temporary and could be resolved if people put more trust in God.

Although this young priest was preoccupied serving others in many different ways, he still found time to communicate daily with God whom he considered to be the source of his boundless energy. He realized that a life of constant activity without prayer would be meaningless. He humbly recognized that he was an instrument of God. "If I allow God to direct my life, no task will be impossible for me," he affirmed.

His parishioners sometimes referred to him as a man of God and respected his efforts to improve the spiritual status of their parish. Even if they did not always agree with his decisions, they offered him their full cooperation. "It was a joy to work with him," said one parishioner. "He always tried to promote our best interests. We are grateful that the bishop assigned him to our parish."

Another parishioner once asked this pastor, "Why do you have such a deep love for the priesthood?"

Father Timm's response was succinct and direct: "The priesthood has helped me to bring God's presence to my people."

This priest treasured the work God had called him to do. Whether he celebrated Mass, administered the sacraments, cared for the sick, visited the homes of his parishioners, officiated at funerals, etc., he always endeavored to perform each task better than he had done in the past. He aspired to spiritual perfection. ("Be you perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect.")

People who visited him during his illness were edified by his vocal expressions of gratitude. He thanked his parents and relatives for everything they had done to help him pursue his work as a priest. He thanked his parishioners for their support and cooperation. He thanked the priests of the Diocese of Winona for their advice and assistance to improve his priestly ministry. And he thanked his bishop, John G. Vlazny, for giving him the opportunity to serve and provide for the spiritual needs of people who were entrusted to his care.

Father James Timm was God's special gift to all of us. We who knew him personally have suffered a great loss. It is difficult for us to surrender him to God.

As we grieve with his family and fellow priests, we pray that God will reward this dedicated priest a hundredfold. n