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2010-02-09

2010-01-19

Agriculture

Lifestyles

Tuesday, September 08, 2009 11:31 AM

New Sacred Heart priest: I love helping people with their faith

By RACHEL HAWKINS, Herald Staff Writer

The Rev. Bill Fisher

The Rev. Bill Fisher says he has felt a strong calling to be a priest since he was a child.

“I just love helping people with their faith, their spirituality and learning about the Catholic church,” he said. “There are so many things that add to your personal growth and the challenges you meet on a day to day basis.”

Fisher recently succeeded the Rev. Tod Ziegler at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, 428 S. Cedar St., Ottawa. Ziegler is on a sabbatical in Houston, where he is visiting his sister. His last mass at Sacred Heart was July 12.

“He’s just taking some time off,” Fisher said. “Whenever you want to go on sabbatical, you have to talk it over with the archbishop.”

Fisher, who was ordained in January 1993, worked for 12 years at the parish that served Baldwin City and Edgerton and worked in Shawnee and Leawood before that.

“I just like the challenges,” he said. “But it definitely has its rewards. And that list is so long. I just love the spirituality, philosophy and the importance of family. I love being able to express what the Catholic church is all about.”

Fisher is excited about working at Sacred Heart, which is bigger than the church that served Baldwin City and Edgerton.

“And Sacred Heart has an excellent school in conjunction with it, for which I am delighted,” Fisher said. “Ottawa people have been so friendly.”

In his spare time, Fisher enjoys exercising, reading and astronomy.

“I also have a real interest in cars,” he said. “I’m really looking forward to the car show in Ottawa and being able to walk there, instead of having to drive.”