Executive Director Appointed, Father Edward Nemeth

We are pleased to announce that His Eminence Raymond Leo Cardinal Burke and the Shrine’s Board of Directors have appointed Father Edward Nemeth to the position of Executive Director of the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe. Cardinal Burke is especially pleased to welcome Father Nemeth as a student and long-time friend. It was Cardinal Burke, then Archbishop of Saint Louis, who ordained Father Nemeth for Archdiocese of Saint Louis on May 24, 2008.

“To have Father Nemeth as Executive Director, with his youth and energy and great competence, this is a great gift. It fills me with so much joy and so much confidence about the future,” stated Cardinal Burke.

Love of the Liturgy

Their relationship dates back to when His Eminence was Archbishop and Father Nemeth was a seminarian. Father Nemeth shares that he credits His Eminence with forming his knowledge and love of the liturgy, through serving at many of the Cathedral Masses and of assisting then-Archbishop Burke’s secretary. Now Father Nemeth brings this love of the liturgy, as well as his extensive background in pastoral care and financial expertise, to the Shrine, with His Eminence’s full support.

Spiritual Father for the Staff

“My principle concern for the Shrine is exactly a fatherly concern,” shared His Eminence. “The concern of a spiritual father for the staff first, because they are the ones who serve the pilgrims.” He continued, “It’s the Executive Director who, if he can be a priest—and, thanks be to God, he has been and will be—who provides the spiritual care of the staff; inspiring them, encouraging them, sustaining them in their work with the pilgrims. It really is a paternity. It’s a spiritually life-generating work.”

The Vision of the Shrine

When asked about his vision for the Shrine moving forward, Father Nemeth stated, “The vision of the Shrine has been very clearly articulated by His Eminence many times. This is a place of pilgrimage, prayer and peace: really a great center of the devotional life of the Church, which feeds us.” He continued, “One of the most important works that I’ve been entrusted to do by the Board of Directors is to build the Saint Juan Diego Pilgrim House. I think this is really going to be a new season in the Shrine’s life.”

Coming Up

Father Nemeth’s appointment certainly coincides with great new beginnings and landmark events for the Shrine. Not only will he oversee groundbreaking of the long-awaited pilgrim house, his appointment comes just before the conclusion of the Cardinal’s nine-month novena to Our Lady of Guadalupe. Next year, 2025, also marks Cardinal Burke’s 50th jubilee of his priesthood, as well as the Church’s Jubilee Year themed Pilgrims of Hope. “This is the next stage in the life of the Shrine,” His Eminence stated, “and it will be very significant.”

About Father Nemeth

Father Nemeth completed his priestly formation at Kenrick-Glennon Seminary, earning the degrees of Master in Divinity and Master of Arts in Theology. Following ordination, Father Nemeth’s priesthood has been centered around the mission of Catholic education. His first assignment as parochial vicar at St. Joseph-Imperial was also paired with the role of chaplain and theology teacher at St. Pius X High School in Festus, Missouri. After prayerful discernment, Father Nemeth transitioned into full-time educational ministry, remaining at St. Pius X High School.

Sharing the Faith

During his service, the need arose to address serious financial concerns surrounding the high school’s future. Father Nemeth worked diligently with Partners in Mission, a Catholic consulting firm that assists schools, parishes, and (arch)dioceses in the realm of development and advancement. Father Nemeth served in various capacities in the high school, including a year as President. Using the lessons learned through his work with Partners in Mission, St. Pius X High School is a thriving, authentically Catholic school with a sound financial future.

In 2017 Archbishop Robert Carlson asked Father Nemeth to take his passion for Catholic advancement and serve as Pastor of Ste. Genevieve Catholic Parish in Ste. Genevieve, Missouri and Sts. Philip and James Parish in River aux Vases, Missouri, and also serve as President of Valle Catholic Schools, a pre-K-12 school system. Facing similar financial challenges, Father Nemeth employed those same skills to bring the parish and school out of debt and address concerns surrounding aging facilities. During phases of Archdiocesan restructuring, in 2023 he also became the pastor or Sacred Heart Parish in Ozora, Missouri and Our Lady Help of Christians Parish in Weingarten.

Gratitude and Prayers

He now begins his time here at the Shrine with the support of Cardinal Burke and the gratitude of our community. Father Nemeth replaces previous director Father Paul Check. Father Check will begin a leave of absence from active ministry for a period of time to take care of his parents, after which he will be returning to his home diocese, the Diocese of Bridgeport in Connecticut, to receive a new priestly assignment. As the Shrine makes this transition and enters a new springtime, keep Father Nemeth and the Shrine in your prayers. Through the intercession of Our Lady of Guadalupe, the entire Shrine staff keeps you in prayer as well.