Father Nick Persich, CM

1922–2005

Father Nicholas Persich, CM, died in Perryville, Missouri on Aug­ust 30, 2005. He was born in New Orleans, Louisiana on Feb­ruary 4, 1922. Fr. Persich entered the Con­gregation of the Mission in 1938 and was ordained a priest in 1946. Father Paul Golden, CM, offered these personal reflections on the life and work of Fr. “Nick” Persich.

Nick was an authentic theologian and dedicated churchman. He was gifted with great intelligence, and loved the science and the art of theology. Besides his own heart, I think Nick had a second heart beating inside of him, the heart of Vatican II. Nick was truly formed by the spirit of Vatican II because of his appointment as Cardinal Ritter’s peritus (advisor) at the Council. Nick was on the faculty of Kenrick Seminary in St. Louis when the Cardinal chose him for this role. I heard Nick say little about this experience. Only occasionally would he make reference to the days when he rubbed elbows with well-known theologians and bishops.

Nick had been on the faculty of St. Thomas Seminary in Denver for one year after returning from his studies in Rome. He returned to St. Thomas in 1975, having spent the previous 11 years at DeAndreis Seminary teaching our confreres and serving in various administrative positions. Nick was easy to live with and never caused problems. He was faithful to the schedule of the day and was always prepared for his classes. While he may have had a gruff exterior, he was gentle and kind to all.

In the classroom, Nick’s goal was to get students to think theologically. That was the way he thought and he believed that ministry required such a skill. He would present the principles of the discipline, say moral theology, and then pose questions that forced the students to grasp the principle and apply it to pastoral situations. He insisted on the integration of theological principles into one’s faith life. He wasn’t above a few classroom antics, like throwing a stack of exams on the floor next to the professor’s desk while he huffed, “Only one student got it!” Nick’s classes were not easy, but they were very rewarding.

After teaching seminarians for more than 25 years, Nick found himself in a mixed classroom of seminarians and lay students who were pursuing Master’s Degrees. St. Thomas inaugurated new degree programs for lay men and women. Nick loved teaching lay people. Women students were particularly grateful for the opportunity to study under Nick. Probably for the first time, they received from him real affirmation for their gifts as members of the church and as ministers.

From St. Thomas, Nick went to St. Catherine Laboure Parish in St. Louis where he served for four years as an associate pastor. I can only assume that he enjoyed his contact with parishioners as much as he enjoyed relating to his students at St. Thomas.

Nick taught me great lessons about the church and about theology. For that I am ever grateful. May he have eternal rest. V