Fr. Beckman celebrating silver jubilee
INDEPENDENCE — Father David Beckman, son of Evroul and Germaine Beckman of Ossian, was ordained to the priesthood by Archbishop Daniel Kucera, OSB, on May 23, 1992, at the Cathedral of St. Raphael in Dubuque.
He was born Oct. 30, 1959, in Decorah. He attended St. Francis de Sales Elementary School in Ossian and graduated from South Winneshiek High School in Calmar in 1978. He graduated from Loras College in 1988 with a bachelor’s degree in business management.
Father Beckman earned a master of divinity degree in 1992 from The University of St. Thomas, Saint Paul Seminary School of Divinity in St. Paul, Minnesota. He served pastoral placements at the University of St. Louis Medical Center in St. Louis, Missouri; St. Mary Parish in Waverly, Minnesota; St. John the Evangelist Parish in Independence; and St. Pius X Parish in Cedar Rapids.
His first assignment was as a fill-in chaplain for six weeks at Mercy Hospital in Mason City. He was then associate pastor at St. Pius X Parish in Cedar Rapids, 1992-96. From 1996-99, he served as associate pastor at Holy Family and St. Joseph Parishes while also teaching at Newman Catholic High School in Mason City.
In 1999, he received his first pastorate, Holy Family Cluster, consisting of St. John Parish, Clarion; Sacred Heart Parish, Eagle Grove; and St. Francis Xavier Parish, Belmond.
In 2005, he became the pastor of a six-parish cluster, Christ Our Hope, which included Holy Family Parish, Protivin; St. John Parish, Fort Atkinson; Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Parish, Little Turkey; St. Luke Parish, St. Lucas; St. Mary Parish, Waucoma; and Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish, Lawler.
In 2010, he became pastor of St. Matthew Parish in Cedar Rapids. In 2016, he became pastor of the John Paul II Cluster, which consists of St. John the Evangelist Parish, Independence, and St. Patrick Parish, Winthrop.
He has served on the archdiocesan Worship, Renovation, Vocation and Medical Moral Commissions and several times on the Priest Council.
The highlights of his ministry were the two mission trips to Haiti and one to Senegal, West Africa.
“Serving the people of the Archdiocese of Dubuque and ministering along with them the past 25 years has truly been a blessing from God. The educational opportunities with children and adults, the sacramental occasions and preaching have been numerous, fulfilling and faith-filling. It has been a wonderful journey ‘on the way’ serving our Lord, Jesus Christ,” he said.
Father Beckman will celebrate a Silver Jubilee Mass of Thanksgiving on Sunday, May 21 at St. John the Evangelist Parish in Independence at 10 a.m. with a luncheon banquet to follow in the school’s multi-purpose room until 3 p.m. All are welcome.
