Bishop Robert J. Hermann, administrator of the Archdiocese of St. Louis, has announced that 28 priests of the Archdiocese of St. Louis have been accorded Papal Honors by His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI. Four of the priests have been named Prelates of Honor to His Holiness, and twenty have been granted the title of Chaplain to His Holiness. All of these priests are entitled to use the honorary ecclesiastical title "Reverend Monsignor." Four of the priests―Monsignors James R. Hartnett, Louis F. Meyer, Charles J. Forst, and Richard J. Lubeley―have been honored with the title of Protonotary Apostolic Supernumerary.
Priests who are accorded Papal Honors are considered honorary members of the papal household. This honor is bestowed for the lifetime of the recipient and is conferred with a diploma issued by the papal Secretariat of State.
The title of Prelate of Honor to His Holiness is bestowed upon priests holding significant canonical offices or having more advanced years. They are also permitted to wear distinctive dress, including a black cassock trimmed with red piping and buttons, and a purple sash. For liturgical celebrations, they wear a purple cassock with red piping and buttons, and a purple sash. Priests who are designated as Chaplains to His Holiness may wear a black cassock trimmed with purple piping and buttons, and a purple sash.
The title of Protonotary Apostolic Supernumerary is considered to be the highest of these honors. The bearer is entitled to wear distinctive dress similar to that of a Prelate of Honor to His Holiness, i.e., a purple cassock and sash for liturgical dress, and a red-trimmed black cassock with a purple sash for non-liturgical dress.
The recipients of 2008 Papal Honors in the Archdiocese of St. Louis are:
Protonotary Apostolic Supernumerary
Monsignor James R. Hartnett
Monsignor Louis F. Meyer
Monsignor Charles J. Forst
Monsignor Richard J. Lubeley
Prelate of Honor to His Holiness
Reverend William L. Leach
Reverend Patrick J. O'Laughlin
Monsignor John J. Leykam
Reverend Timothy P. Cronin
Chaplain to His Holiness
Reverend Joseph M. Simon
Reverend John M. Costello
Reverend James P. Callahan
Reverend Michael E. Dieckmann
Reverend A. John Schuler
Reverend Gregory R. Mikesch
Reverend John J. Borcic
Reverend Richard E. Hanneke
Reverend Vincent R. Bommarito
Reverend Daniel E. Mosley
Reverend Dennis R. Stehly
Reverend John J. Brennell
Reverend Mark C. Ullrich
Reverend Matthew M. Mitas
Reverend William W. McCumber
Reverend James J. Ramacciotti
Reverend Edward M. Rice
Reverend Jeffrey N. Knight
Reverend Michael T. Butler
Reverend C. Eugene Morris
