Fr. Richard Gonser

"I am grateful to the Diocese of Cleveland for the education they gave me," says Father Richard Gonser, Pastor Emeritus of St. Julie Billiart Parish in North Ridgeville. Fr. Gonser graduated from Borromeo and St. Mary Seminaries, received a master's degree in 1970 and returned in 2000 for his doctorate. His support of Catholic education and vocations goes beyond encouragement and talk. In 2005, he established the Rev. Dr. Richard A. Gonser and Gonser Family Memorial Fund through the Catholic Community Foundation.

"I came from a family of five children and all of us went through Catholic grade school and had a Catholic high school education," Fr. Gonser says. "The fund is established in honor of my parents, who sacrificed to educate us and send us through Catholic schools during the late 1940s and 1950s when times were tough."

Fr. Gonser contributes regularly and directly to the named fund to build equity so that the interest can eventually be used to educate future priests. As stated in Fr. Gonser's will, the fund will ultimately be transferred to the Foundation to benefit the seminary.

"Giving should be as natural to us as breathing in and breathing out," he says. "As good stewards, we recognize everything we have is a gift from God. I've been blessed and gifted, and I want to share those gifts with others."

How You Can Help

If you are interested in sharing your blessings, consider creating a Permanent Named Fund that will honor those you love. Contact us to find out more.