Profiles: Father Joseph Coopmans

"Here I am, Lord; I come to do your will."

While that was the scripture passage Father Joseph Coopmans selected as his life-guide at ordination, becoming a priest was hardly the fulfillment of a childhood dream. He resisted the idea until he was a senior in college.

His grandmother, however, planted the seed about fourteen years earlier. As a child of eight, the lad went every Saturday to help his grandmother, who was blind, with her household chores. “Maybe some day you will become the priest in the family,” she suggested.

In 1964, Father Coopmans enrolled at Abbot Pennings High School in De Pere where Father Christian O’Brien was the boy’s religion teacher. “I was impressed by his prayerful instruction of the Scriptures and his singing voice. He also had a certain sensitivity for students and their problems.”

During a counseling session, Father O’Brien asked the student if he had ever considered becoming a priest. “I responded immediately with a profound, ‘No! I want to get married someday and raise a family.’”

End of discussion; at least for then. The question resurfaced in college. During a month of study in London, Father Coopmans met some Hindus and found his Catholic faith challenged for the first time.“To make a long story a short one, it brought me back to a deeper understanding of my own faith.”

At the end of his senior year, he contacted Father Conan Mulrooney, then vocation director for the Norbertines, who encouraged the young man to try religious life for one year. Three other college graduates were entering that August (1972); it was a perfect time to join.

Of the four entering the Order with Father Coopmans, he had the least knowledge of theology and religious life. Could he measure up to the other Norbertines’ standards? At first, he felt overwhelmed.

“They were talented men with lots of gifts. But soon I realized that I only had to be myself and learn from others. The communal prayer life and study habits of the Order soon made me comfortable and challenged.”

Of the four who entered, Father Coopmans was the only one ordained.

Since he entered the Order thirty years ago, Father Coopmans has watched the numbers dwindle as members left or died. He’s lived under three abbots and observed the differences in their styles of leadership. Abbot Jerome Tremel was at the helm when Father Coopmans entered. “He was down to earth and was a kind and fair leader. He showed no favorites among the Juniors and was always supportive. He was always approachable with a listening ear.”

“Abbot Mackin followed him and was more formal both liturgically as well as in personal relationships.”

“Abbot DeWane seemed to be a hybrid of Abbots Tremel and Mackin in some ways.”

As leadership changed, so did the Order’s focus as the Norbertines shifted from high schools as a priority to college and parish ministries.

Father Coopmans adapted. He enjoyed ten years of high school teaching before moving into parish ministry where he has been active for fourteen years. Currently, he serves as pastor of the newly created St. Isidore the Farmer Catholic Church of rural Manitowoc County.

“I truly believe that the teaching experience made me a better preacher. The challenge of the adolescent mind made me a better teacher of the faith. Work in the parish enabled me perhaps to use more of my sacramental priesthood working with people of all ages and at the most significant moments of their lives - baptism, first communion, confirmation, marriage, sickness, and dying."
Teacher or pastor, Father Coopmans has enjoyed his assignments; they have always helped him grow as a person. On the day of his ordination, the passage he chose to live by provided the framework and mind set: “Here I am, Lord; I come to do your will.”

Parish demands preclude Father Coopmans’ living within the Norbertine community; nevertheless, he values that lifestyle as essential to the Order’s way.

“Community life offers fraternity and sharing of gifts. Friendships help members to avoid loneliness and isolation....It’s very important for me to have community to return to on my days off as a parish priest. It is also comforting to know that I have a community to retire with someday.”

The downside of communal living? ”One of the most challenging aspects of community to me is living simply. Fraternal correction is painful.”

He works on discretion, prudence and confidentiality.

The dichotomy of contemplation and action is another on-going challenge.

“Taking the time to pray more and read more - study of the Bible and spiritual reading - besides novels and non-fiction works.”
Books, art, and travel are among the priest’s many interests. “The community has certainly ingrained in me the discipline of study and love for good art.” As a lover of art, he sees religion and art as closely interwoven. And when it comes to books, being well read “has helped me to become a fairly decent preacher.”

Father Coopmans also loves to cook “and the community has always been there to sample some of the delectables.”
As for traveling, “I believe that exposure to other cultures helps us to grow and appreciate our own culture and faith even more.”

 

Despite the Order’s declining numbers, Father Coopmans insists that some things must not change. “Common prayer, common table and fraternal dialogue must remain essential. Differing gifts and talents must allow us to be engaged in a variety of ministries even though the tendency might be to circle the wagons due to smaller numbers. Pastors must have the option to live in the rectory.”

Grounded in the present as well as in the past, he’s optimistic about the future.

“I think that young people will be attracted to our community if they see happy priests that are doing good work and are spiritually grounded in Jesus Christ. We have a rich heritage and we are one of the oldest Orders in the Church. The Rule of St. Augustine and the Day of Pentecost give us a plan for meeting the
challenges of our modern world.”

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