New St. Richard's priest settles in

The Rev. John Miller wasnt necessarily looking for a change when a term-limits policy of the Helena diocese had him leaving Missoulas St. Anthony Catholic church after 14 years as pastor there.

But when he was investigating the possibility of relocating to St. Richards Catholic Church in Columbia Falls, he liked what he saw.

Theres great potential for the future here, Miller said. This place has a vibrance to it. Were here to serve the needs of people, and this is where people are moving.

Miller, 57, officially took over at St. Richards in July, but other obligations and the death of his father in August made it difficult for him to settle in there before September.

He replaces the Rev. Joe Pat Moran, who had to leave his post because of health issues.

The priest who served before Moran at St. Richards also had health problems, and what has impressed Miller about the congregation is its willingness to step in and help when its leadership was not at full strength.

There are a lot of lay people involved its a great strength of the Columbia Falls parish, Miller said. Im finding that these people will take on a lot of responsibility.

He also was pleased to discover that the parish has more than a dozen small groups meeting regularly, with anywhere from three to 10 people getting together for Bible study and discussion.

Not every parish has that, he said, including the one he left in Missoula.

The Nebraska native developed his ties to Montana when he worked summers during college for the National Park Service at what was then the Custer Battlefield National Monument near Billings.

He came back to Billings to live when he landed his first teaching job there after graduating from Peru State College in Nebraska.

He had always been interested in the priesthood, though, and left education four years later to study at St. Thomas Seminary in Denver. He was ordained in 1978.

After pastoring at St. Patricks in Butte for two years, he served as principal at Butte Central High School and as superintendent of the school system, which also included two junior-high schools, for two years.

He then settled into western Montana for the next two decades, serving at St. John the Baptist in Frenchtown, with missions in Alberton and Superior, for six years. After an eighth-month sabbatical to continue his theological education in Rome, he took over at St. Anthonys in 1991.

Becoming a priest was a natural extension of Millers childhood in ONeill, Neb., a predominantly Irish-Catholic town. Miller called it a Catholic ghetto.

My family were active, practicing Catholics, and it was encouraged that he become a priest, Miller said. I just decided to give it a try.

Miller believes his fondness for working with people has served him well.

Its a quality that enhances the ministry, because ministry is about people, and about peoples relationship with God, he said.

Jesus message of social justice is a crucial part of that relationship for Miller.

Thats one of the things I try to emphasize with my ministry, he said. The dignity of all people. I seem to preach about that a lot anyway.

Reporter Heidi Gaiser may be reached at 758-4431 or by e-mail at hgaiser@dailyinterlake.com.