Celebrating 40th anniversary priestly jubilarians May 12
Continuing with the jubiliarian recognitions that began with Bishop Jenky’s 50th anniversary of ordination on April 6, May 12 marks 40 years of priesthood for Father Raymond Guthrie and Father William Miller.
Father Raymond Guthrie
Father Raymond Guthrie
The oldest of Raymond and Dorothy Guthrie’s five children, Father Guthrie was born in Chicago on Jan. 31, 1954. He attended St. Gertrude School and St. Ignatius College Prep in Chicago and went on to Western Illinois University in Macomb, graduating in 1977.
He studied for the priesthood at St. Meinrad School of Theology in Indiana and was ordained for the Diocese of Peoria by Bishop Edward W. O’Rourke on May 12, 1984, at St. Mary’s Cathedral in Peoria. He celebrated his first Mass the next day in his home church, St. Gertrude in Chicago.
Father Guthrie served as parochial vicar for the parishes of St. Pius X in Rock Island and St. Mary in Pontiac before being named administrator of St. Mary Parish in Tiskilwa in 1990. He became the pastor of the Tiskilwa parish and St. Francis Parish in Bureau in 1992.
BUSY DECADE
The next 10 years were busy ones for Father Guthrie, who was parochial vicar at St. Patrick Parish in LaSalle, pastor of Holy Family Parish in Oglesby, assistant chaplain at OSF Saint Francis Medical Center in Peoria, administrator at St. Patrick Parish in Camp Grove, parochial vicar at St. Paul Parish and chaplain at Schlarman High School in Danville, pastor of the parishes of St. Mary Parish in Wenona and St. John Parish in Lostant, and administrator at St. Patrick Parish in Minonk.
I have had the pleasure of working with many bishops, serving in various pastoral roles, leading small and large parishes, and teaching students of all ages. I have truly been blessed by God and those with whom I have served.” — Father Raymond Guthrie
In 2005, Father Guthrie was assigned as pastor of Mary Our Lady of Peace Parish in Orion and St. Maria Goretti Parish in Coal Valley. He also taught part time at Alleman High School in Rock Island.
Two years later, Father Guthrie was named parochial vicar of Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish in Silvis and joined the faculty at Alleman. In 2008 he was asked to be the assistant spiritual director for TEC in the northwest part of the Diocese of Peoria.
RELEASED TO SERVE IN MILWAUKEE
He began service as parochial vicar at St. Columba Parish, Ottawa, and served on the faculty of Marquette High School in 2009, adding duties as parochial vicar at St. Patrick Parish, Seneca in 2012 and later St. Michael the Archangel, Streator. While remaining parochial vicar at St. Michael the Archangel, he also became parochial vicar of Sts. Peter and Paul in Leonore in 2017. He was released for service in the Archdiocese of Milwaukee in 2018.
Father William Miller
May 12, 1984 was a special day for Father William Miller for two reasons. Not only was it his ordination, but it was also his 25th birthday. Born and raised in Harvey as the eldest of eight children of William and Karoline Miller, he was just a child when he sensed God calling him to become a priest.
Father William Miller
STUDIED IN ENGLAND
Upon graduating from St. Charles College Preparatory School, Father Miller entered the Rosminian novitiate in Peoria in 1977. He studied for the priesthood at St. John’s Seminary in Surrey, England.
He returned to the United States to serve as a transitional deacon at two Rosminian parishes in Florida — Sacred Heart Parish in Bradenton, and Blessed Sacrament Parish in Seminole — and was ordained by Bishop Edward W. O’Rourke on May 12, 1984, at St. Mary’s Cathedral in Peoria.
Father Miller celebrated his first Mass the following day at Immaculate Conception Convent, the motherhouse of the Sisters of St. Francis of the Immaculate Conception in West Peoria. It is located near Rosmini House, the Institute of Charity’s novitiate and retreat center.
His first assignments took him to Rosminian parishes in the Diocese of St. Petersburg, Florida. He returned to the Diocese of Peoria in 1991, when he became rector and novice master of Rosmini House. Father Miller was named provincial superior in 2001.
CALLED TO “MAKE THIS CHANGE”
“The joy and wonder of being a Catholic priest have only grown over these forty years. I thank God for my vocation and am grateful to everyone who has helped me say ‘Yes’ to the true purpose of my life. This has been a journey to Jesus through Mary with Joseph.” – Father William Miller
Father Miller began the process of becoming a priest of the Diocese of Peoria in 2017 when the Rosminians decided to conclude their mission in Peoria. Father Miller had felt a growing sense of belonging in the diocese, and “a call to make this change in this point in life.”
]He ministered to Galesburg-area parishes beginning in 2002, first as administrator of Corpus Christi and St. Patrick, Galesburg, and Sacred Heart, Abingdon, and then as pastor in 2004. In 2018, Immaculate Heart of Mary in Galesburg was added to his priestly duties.
In 2020, Father Miller was named rector, St. Mary’s Cathedral, and pastor, St. Bernard and Sacred Heart parishes, all in Peoria. In addition to his parish work, Father Miller has served as chairman of the Diocesan Respect Life Board since 1998.
