Photo by Joseph Bell
Father Brian E. Vossler discusses the future of St. Leo Magnus Roman Catholic Church during a recent interview.

Immediate adoration almost overwhelming for church's leader.

By Joseph Bell

Staff Writer

With the departure of Father Theodore Marconi, St. Leo Magnus Roman Catholic Church parishioners have welcomed Father Brian E. Vossler into the fold.
Vossler was formerly pastor at St. Raphael’s Catholic Church in Eldred, and also celebrated mass at St. Mary’s Church in Sartwell and St. Theresa’s Church in Shinglehouse.
“I know the bishop had to come after guys like Father Ted Marconi, going from a 1,200 family parish to a 2,600 family parish,” said Vossler, a native of Smethport. “For myself, I have gone from a 300 family parish to a 1,200 family parish.
“I’ve never seen a parish reach out more to its priest than I saw here.”
For Vossler, the immediate adoration was nearly overwhelming.
“I had about a dozen contacts even before I arrived here,” Vossler said. “I had phone calls, e-mails, cards sent to me.
“When I arrived, that whole wave of welcome and hospitality I received, and it continues to be that way. It’s a very endearing parish, very welcoming and I’m looking forward to the challenges here. I’ve always hoped that I can bring the enthusiasm and the energy that the place will require, and that’s always been a trait of mine, to be enthusiastic.”
In the immediate future, Vossler said he anticipates being able to take care of the spiritual needs of the people, a necessity that he feels paves the way for other things.
“I really believe that everything else will fall in place if you just take care of that, and that’s a unique character of the church, that we should first and foremost be spiritual,” Vossler said. “If I can provide the spiritual need to the people, I think the financial, all the other things will fall in place.”
Vossler also said he looks forward to working with the school students as well.
“This is the first parish I’ve been in charge of that has a Catholic school so that will be a bit of a challenge,” Vossler said. “But the kids are wonderful and the school has its own needs, as does the cemetery and of course religious education programs and various committees.”
Trying to build on the success of his predecessor, Marconi, Vossler said he hopes to be able to continue to generate the enthusiasm of the people.
“(Marconi) certainly did well to generate the enthusiasm of the people here and to get a lot of the adults involved,” Vossler said. “I certainly hope to see some of the committees take it to the next level and to maintain that enthusiasm and involvement.”
And to be involved in an effective manner, Vossler said he strives to be a holistic person.
“I’ve always been a holistic person, and that’s my philosophy with mind, body and spirit,” Vossler said. “I always try to be the athlete, I try to be the saint and I try to be the scholar.
“Those three components have always been important to me, just taking that holistic approach to my ministry and maintaining that. I’ve been blessed in the past and I hope to meet the goals that we have before us. Right now, it’s just getting through the transition.”