Four priests from 1 family celebrate anniversaries

This article by Steve Arney was so cool I included the whole article.

It’s a simple explanation as to why there were 11 children in the Schneider family: Catholic. That four of the children became Franciscan priests merits discussion.

It also is cause for celebration, as the four Schneider priests celebrate their longevity in service with anniversaries of 60, 55, 50 and 45 years since ordination.

They will concelebrate Mass at Ric Schneider’s church, St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Bloomington, on Sunday.

Schneider, who is pastor of St. Mary’s, said his parents, Otto and Anna, were an enormous spiritual influence on the family.

They set examples and taught the importance of prayer — a lesson that included a daily after-dinner Rosary. Anna attended Mass every day, except when child-bearing physically prevented her from going.

Otto died when Ric was 10. His mother persevered in child-rearing and in the faith, Ric said, and she lived for 30 more years.

Two factors drew the Schneider boys to the Franciscan order:

� Three of their uncles were Franciscan friars. They frequently were in the Schneider home telling their stories of service and missions work.

� The family went to a church staffed by friars: St. Francis of Assisi in Louisville, Ky.

The Schneider’s adherence to faith extends beyond the brothers, Ric said. All children, 10 of them still surviving, were strong churchgoers. None divorced. Two other brothers studied in seminary before deciding against the priesthood. Among the friars:

� Ric Schneider celebrates 45 years since ordination. He’s been pastor of St. Mary’s for 11 years. He’s also been a school teacher and a ministry recruiter. His most famous recruit was Tom Cruise, who started studying for priesthood but instead became an actor.

� Quin Schneider celebrates 50 years. He is a hospital chaplain in Cincinnati and has served as secretary for the Cincinnati Provincial, the regional office for the Order of Friars Minor.

� Chris Schneider celebrates 55 years. He is a pastor in Cincinnati. He fought for school desegregation in Louisiana during the civil rights movement. His friary windows were shot out and his integrated school was bombed.

� Bernie Schneider celebrates 60 years. He’s lived in Japan the past 52 years and translates the Holy Bible into Japanese.