St. Kateri Tekakwitha Parish Welcomes Fr. Berngeh as Pastor
Jayna Smith
St. Kateri Tekakwitha Parish welcomed Father Roland Berngeh as pastor effective July 5, 2023.
Father Berngeh, originally from Cameroon, a country in central-west Africa, comes to St. Kateri Tekakwitha Parish from St. Joseph Catholic Church. There, he served St. Joseph and Catholic churches in Bar Harbor, Dedham, Manset, Bucksport, Castine, Stonington, Northeast Harbor, and Winter Harbor.
Father Berngeh was ordained to the priesthood in 1985, and although he has only been in Maine for two and half years, it is not his first visit to the United States. Father Berngeh studied in Los Angeles from 1997 to 2000.
As for the Maine winters, however, Father Berngeh said he has no choice but to accept them. “The winters are a new reality for me, but I don’t have an option,” he said.
He also expressed having received a warm welcome since being at St. Kateri Tekakwitha Parish. “The people have been very welcoming, very welcoming. They’re warm people,” he noted.
Father Berngeh shared that he is open and available to speak with anyone, explaining that he is very approachable. “I am an open and simple man. I know I’m a humble man. Even when you meet and greet me, you’ll want to talk to me. I’m also very easy going.”
Father Berngeh went on to explain that a priest’s primary work is evangelization, so he “will teach doctrine and do administration of the church and do the sacraments and bring people to holiness and closer to God,” adding, “Like I always say, a priest is a bridge on which people walk onto God and God walks to meet his people.”
St. Kateri Tekakwitha Parish includes Immaculate Conception Church in Calais, St. Anne Church in Perry, St. Anne Church in Indian Township, St. James the Greater Church in Baileyville, St. John the Evangelist Church in Pembroke, and St. Joseph Church in Eastport. One can learn more at sktparish.org.
