Variety of ministries was life-giving
July 2, 2024
By Jennifer Willems
Variety has marked Monsignor Stephen Orr’s ministry for 50 years and that suits him just fine.
“For me, it was life giving. It was always hard to leave what I was doing, but once I got into the new setting I thought, ‘Gosh, look at these new experiences, these new people, new opportunities,” he said. “So the variety of ministry is what kept me fresh, I think.”
Monsignor Steve Orr visits a classroom at St. Anthony school in Des Moines.
He added that “people are what makes the whole thing enjoyable.”
Msgr. Orr will have a chance to catch up with many of these “wonderful people” at an open house for him and his classmate, Father John Ludwig, on Sunday, July 28. It will be held from 2 to 4 p.m. at Our Lady’s Immaculate Heart in Ankeny, and conclude with sung evening prayer at 4 p.m.
Well wishes may be sent to Msgr. Orr at 1390 Buffalo Road, West Des Moines, Iowa 50265.
Helped plan pope’s visit
Msgr. Orr and Father Ludwig have been classmates since they attended St. Augustin School in Des Moines.
They continued at Dowling High School in West Des Moines and then studied philosophy at Loras College in Dubuque, where Msgr. Orr earned a bachelor’s degree in history and an Iowa state teacher’s certificate.
He completed his studies for the priesthood at the Pontifical North American College and Gregorian University in Rome. There he earned a bachelor’s of sacred theology (STB) and a master’s degree in pastoral theology.
Msgr. Orr and Father Ludwig were ordained by Bishop Maurice Dingman on July 27, 1974, at their home church of St. Augustin.
Msgr. Orr taught at St. Albert High School and served at St. Francis Xavier in Council Bluffs for four years. Then he went back to school for a master’s degree in church administration from Catholic University of America in preparation to serve as chancellor with Bishop Dingman for six years.
Within his first week as chancellor, he learned that Joe Hays, a farmer from Truro, wanted to invite Pope John Paul II to visit Des Moines. When the Vatican confirmed the visit for Oct. 4, 1979, Msgr. Orr found himself on the planning committee and “from the end of June until after the pope’s visit, that’s all we did.”
Served as diocesan administrator
He would return to Rome in 1986 to serve on the faculty of the Pontifical North American College for six years, and as vice rector there for two years.
When he came back to the Diocese of Des Moines in 1991, Msgr. Orr was named the founding pastor of St. Francis of Assisi Parish in West Des Moines. It is now the largest parish and Catholic school in Iowa.
While the prospect seemed intimidating at first, “We had a lot of fun. We did a lot of hard work, but everybody pitched in. It was just amazing.”
Msgr. Orr returned to diocesan administration as vicar general and moderator of the curia in 1997 at the request of Bishop Charron, and added pastoral care of St. Catherine of Siena Catholic Student Center in Des Moines in 2001. Three years later, he was named pastor of Our Lady’s Immaculate Heart in Ankeny, while retaining his ministry as vicar general and vicar for priests.
When Bishop Charron retired in 2007, Msgr. Orr was appointed administrator of the Diocese of Des Moines for 13 months as he continued to lead the Ankeny faith community.
He retired in 2018 after 13 years as pastor of Our Lady’s Immaculate Heart.
Since then, Msgr. Orr has continued to help in Des Moines-area parishes, primarily at St. Pius X in Urbandale, where he will fill in this summer.
Monsignor Steve Orr celebrates Mass at Our Lady's Immaculate Heart Church in Ankeny prior to retirement.