Msgr. Richard Soseman
By Father Scott Archer December 23, 2020 Cathedral of St. Mary, Peoria, Illinois Saint John Vianney said, “The priest is not a priest for himself; he does not give himself absolution; he does not administer the Sacraments to himself. He is not for himself; he is for you. After God, the priest is everything.” These words from the patron saint of parish priests were at the core of what made Monsignor Soseman the priest he was; that is, a priest not for himself but for others and grounded in the knowledge that he was forever configured to the eternal priesthood of Jesus Christ. I met Richard when I was studying theology at Mount St. Mary’s Seminary and he entered as a pre-theologian. I was struck by his intelligence, kindness, and generosity. He was incredibly resolute in his desire to be a priest, and to my knowledge, he never doubted his vocation. With his approaching ordination, Richard asked me to preach his first Mass, which I gladly accepted, and with his death, I was humbled to l...