'He's more than a priest; he's family,' says Fr. Richard Treml's former North Branch flock, who make sure he's never lonely
NORTH BRANCH — Fr. Richard Treml loves being a priest.
His call to a religious vocation came later than most; he was ordained at age 50. After ordination, he served for three years as an associate pastor at St. Margaret of Scotland Parish in St. Clair Shores. He then spent the rest of his parish ministry — 23 years in all — at the northernmost parish in the Archdiocese of Detroit: SS. Peter and Paul in North Branch.
Last June, Fr. Treml retired from parish life. At age 81, he knew it was time, but he was sad to go. He would miss celebrating the sacraments with his parishioners in the Northern Lapeer County Family of Parishes, which includes SS. Peter and Paul and St. Mary Burnside in North Branch, Sacred Heart Mission in Brown City and St. Patrick Chapel in Clifford.
He’d also miss seeing the people he’d grown to love while ministering to them and living in the rectory at SS. Peter and Paul.
At the retirement party the parish threw for him, many said they’d visit him at the senior living home where he would retire. Fr. Treml appreciated their good intentions, but he also knew that people lead busy lives. As an only child with no family left to visit him, he wondered if he would be lonely in this next phase of life.
But his parishioners did not forget him, and Fr. Treml has been far from lonely.
Several days each week, friends from SS. Peter and Paul stop by to chat or take him out for lunch. One of his seminary classmates, Fr. Robert Copeland, pastor at St. John the Evangelist Parish in Fenton, in the Diocese of Lansing, goes to see Fr. Treml every week.
In December, the parish youth group, the moms group, and the faith formation classes made a surprise visit to Fr. Treml, caroling for the residents and showering their former pastor with Advent joy.
“He’s more than a priest. He’s family,” said Paula Kaniut.
Kaniut converted to the Catholic faith in 2016, not long after meeting Fr. Treml at her father-in-law’s funeral. Fr. Treml saw her crying and sat next to her at the luncheon to comfort her. That kindness left an impression on Kaniut, who was already considering Catholicism after attending her first Catholic funeral a few months earlier and being moved by the reverence, beauty, and tradition she witnessed.
“That’s just how Fr. Rich is,” Kaniut said. “He takes care of others and gets to know them. He always makes time for people. That’s why he’s so beloved around here.”
Sixteen-year-old Christopher Gorgon and his mother started visiting Fr. Treml regularly after he moved to the retirement home almost a year ago. Gorgon began altar serving at SS. Peter and Paul as a new parishioner in 2021. He was grateful for Fr. Treml’s patience with him as he learned how to serve.
During their visits, Gorgon and his mom talk to Fr. Treml about daily life, “Catholic things,” and music. When Fr. Treml found out Gorgon plays alto sax in the marching and concert bands at North Branch High School, he shared his favorite jazz CDs with Gorgon. He is always eager to show the Gorgons new jazz songs on his Pandora playlist or his iPad.
Last year, Gorgon and his mom worried that Fr. Treml wouldn’t have visitors at his new home, which is 30-45 minutes from most SS. Peter and Paul parishioners.
“When a priest retires, their parish is like their family,” Christopher Gorgon said. “He devoted his life to God, and it’s great to go there and learn about Fr. Rich’s faith and his life. Because with my generation, it’s all about doing things on our phones, but we can learn about life from the people that are right in front of us instead of on a phone.”
Gorgon and his mother enjoy seeing the many new friends Fr. Treml has made at his retirement home, Charter Senior Living in Davison. When they arrived for a recent visit, Fr. Treml was on his way to an exercise class for residents, so Gorgon sat next to Fr. Treml and did chair exercises with the group.
“It was really fun, actually,” Gorgon said.
Parishioners Bernie and Doug Schlaud have known Fr. Treml since he came to SS. Peter and Paul in 2002. Fr. Treml was the celebrant at all three of their children’s weddings.
Bernie worked in the parish office since 2005.
“The four of us who worked in the office were all best friends,” Bernie Schlaud said. “Working with Fr. Rich wasn’t like having a typical boss. Every Monday morning, he’d come in and we’d have our ‘Monday morning talk.’ Sometimes he’d decide to close the office on a whim so we could all go out for lunch together.”
When he was at the parish, Fr. Treml joined the Schlauds for family birthday parties, holidays and meals. Now, they drive him to see him at his new home.
“It’s the same relationship, just a different location,” Bernie Schlaud said.
Kaniut also worked in the parish office with Bernie and two other women, including Barb Sinka, who worked for Fr. Treml since he first came to SS. Peter and Paul. When it was time to tour senior living facilities to prepare for Fr. Rich’s retirement, Kaniut and Sinka went with him.
“I take care of him like my own dad because he’s way more than a priest to me. He treated me like a daughter. He taught me how to cook eggs, and he brought back treats for me when he went to the store,” Kaniut said. “He’s like my dad. I just love him.”
Kaniut calls or texts him every night to check in on him.
To Fr. Treml’s delight, his priestly ministry has continued at Charter Senior Living, which he has lightheartedly nicknamed “Our Lady of Charter.” After moving there last July, he celebrated Masses in his room. A few fellow residents joined him — some Catholic, some not — as well as former parishioners who came to visit. One Sunday, 14 people squeezed into his room for Mass.
As the group grew, Fr. Treml was allowed to hold Mass in one of the dining rooms. Eventually, the activity schedule for the senior home was updated to include “Mass with Fr. Rich” every Sunday at 10 a.m. The Mass is shown on the facility’s closed-circuit television.
Fr. Treml also administers the sacraments of reconciliation and anointing of the sick when requested.
Tom Staroska, a SS. Peter and Paul parishioner, made an altar for Fr. Treml’s Masses at Charter.
“When he asked me to make it, I asked him if it needed to have wheels, and he said no,” said Staroska. “But then when the Masses got bigger and he needed to move it around, he asked me to add wheels.”
Staroska counts Fr. Treml among his friends, and like so many others at SS. Peter and Paul, he thinks of Fr. Treml as part of his family. He drives his friend to doctor appointments and haircuts.
Fr. Treml never expected so many of his former parishioners would stay in touch with him. He still ministers to them, as he does to residents at Charter.
“All retired priests have a purpose wherever they are, and I have a purpose here,” Fr. Treml said. “I was a late vocation, and when I was ordained, I told the Lord to put me to work. I’ll keep serving the Lord as long as I can, and I thank Him every day for letting me continue my ministry in a new way.”
Though his ministry is different now, one thing will never change: Fr. Treml’s love of people. He keeps the door to his room open so that people can come in to talk.
Meanwhile, Fr. Treml’s former parishioners have enjoyed getting to know their new pastor, Fr. Jim Houbeck. They feel doubly blessed that Fr. Treml is still part of their lives.
“Before, Fr. Rich was our pastor and friend. Now it’s changed around: he’s our friend and our priest, along with Fr. Jim,” Doug Schlaud said. “He took care of us, and now we take care of him.”
