Father Rene Guesnier would’ve made an excellent teacher, lawyer or a judge — any job where the truth mattered.
At age 82, Father Guesnier knows the truth and nothing but the truth. His old-time religious beliefs are built on a lifetime foundation of Christianity.
He knows abortion is wrong and he doesn’t need a Supreme Court ruling to tell him he’s wrong. The justices were wrong then and they’re still wrong today.
He’s shocked by actions by suicide bombers, whose actions are tied to a so-called “religion.”
It’s no religion that he’s familiar with. Again, he doesn’t need anyone to tell him whether he’s right.
That comes with believing in absolute truth and right and wrong.
His path to a career as a priest has been a whirlwind of activity ever since he left home.
From a humble beginning in Barton County, the son of Joseph and Vina (Rickert) Guesnier returned to his roots when he’s served his final 20-plus years as a pastor at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church of Seward.
Amazingly, Father Guesnier resides in his boyhood home after leaving the Seward-Radium area.
Father Guesnier started his religious quest as a 15-year-old teenager. He attended Radium High School, which ironically did not offer Latin as an elective class. Six decades later, Father Guesnier would celebrate Latin Masses, thanks to Pope Benedict XVI. He graduated from high school at Our Lady of the Ozarks in Carthage, Mo.
He’s lived a humble life — but Father Guesnier has enjoyed a fulfilling career dedicated to helping others discover their religious beliefs.
He was part of St. Francis Xavier’s 125th anniversary. He was in the middle of restoring the church and building a nearby church hall.
Father Guesnier served in the seminary and was part of the Order of St. Benedict at Conception Abbey. Father Guesnier served 20 years as a Catholic chaplain in the U.S. Army and spent time in Europe, Thailand and Vietnam.
Matthew 25:21
“His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’
