Msgr. James A. Buerster V.F.
St. Boniface Church
402 Munster Street
P.O. Box 280
Germantown, IL 62245
Birthday: 8-7-53
Ordained: 6-2-79

Rev. James A. Buerster was born and raised in Wendelin, Il. He attended grade school at Wendelin, taught by the religious order of the Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ. In 1971 he graduated from St. Henry's Prep. Seminary in Belleville, Il., a high school seminary of the Oblates of Mary Immaculate. He received a B.A. in Philosophy from Quincy College, (now Quincy University) while attending Our Lady of the Angels Franciscan Seminary in Quincy, Il. After 4 years of theology at St. Meinrad School of Theology, a Benedictine school at St. Meinrad, Ind., Fr. Jim received a Masters of Divinity and was ordained to the priesthood by Bishop William Cosgrove on June 2, 1979. His first parish assignment was associate pastor at St. Mary's in Belleville from 1979-83. From 1983-86 Fr. Jim served as associate pastor at St. Joseph's in Olney, Il. and St. Joseph's in Stringtown,Il. His first pastorate was Holy Rosary Church in Fairmont City, Il. from 1986-91. From 1991-97, Fr. Jim was pastor of St. Andrew's in Murphysboro,Il. From 1997-2007, Fr. Jim was pastor of St. Peter's Cathedral in Belleville,Il. On July 10, 2007, Fr. Jim began his pastorate at St. Boniface Church in Germantown,Il.

Rich Bagby
Deacon

Deacon Rich Bagby was born in Mascoutah and graduated from Holy Childhood Grade School. He then graduated from St. Henry's Prep Seminary High School in Belleville in 1967. He attended 1 year at St. Charles Borromeo College Seminary at Lewis University in Lockport before he graduated from SIUE in 1971 with a degree in Education. He taught English and Social Studies at Central High School for 33 years, retiring from there in 2004. He has been married to Pat since 1971. They are the parents of 3 sons who are married (Brian & Melissa, Mark & Danyel, Nick & Kim) and have 4 grandchildren. Rich studied for the Permanent Diaconate under the Benedictine program at St. Mainrad's Archabbey in Indiana. He was ordained for the Diocese of Belleville on July 26, 2008.

Evelyn Kuhn
Director of Religious Education

Evelyn Kuhn comes from Sidney, Ohio. She graduated from the University of Dayton where she met her husband Charlie. She resides in Trenton and has three daughters, Emily, Patti, and Laura. She has been involved in Religious Education for the past twenty years. She began as a catechist at St. Mary in Trenton. She also taught Senior Religion at Mater Dei High School for 7 years. She received her Masters in Pastoral Theology from St. Mary of the Woods in 1995 and has been the Director of Religious Education here at St. Boniface since 2002.

Melinda Knobeloch
Office Administrator

Melinda Knobeloch has been the Office Administrator for St. Boniface Catholic Church since 1994. She was born and raised in Germantown as was her husband, Keith. They have been married for 24 years and have two children, Brandon 23 and Brianne, 19.