Posted on: July 26, 2022

Message From Fr. Greg

Dear parishioners,

I'm so excited to be asked by Bishop Hying to get to know you and love you in the parish cluster as your pastor. I feel so blessed to be following Fr. John Meinholz and serve so many wonderful people.  Each parish has such a rich history of faith, family life, and down to earth people which I strongly believe is the seed bed for renewal in the Church.  I'm excited to return to a rural community and rural life near my family in Lancaster, I left it not because I wanted to get away from it but because God desired to grow a more personal and deeper love for him and the Church in my heart. The greatest gift that God has given me is the priesthood, I say, "every day that I wake up and I'm still a priest is a great day" no matter how difficult it may be or become.  I love the Eucharist, Confession, and the ability to help people come to know and love Jesus Christ more deeply and authentically. I haven't done much farming recently, but I do really enjoy it (mostly driving tractors) along with biking, sports, and down-hill skiing.  

A brief summary about me: my parents are Raymond and Sheri (Hauk) Ihm from a dairy farm North of Lancaster, I have three brothers and three sisters that are all married with 24 nieces and nephews and many relatives that live in the area. I attended St. Clement Church and School and graduated from Lancaster High School in 2002. I entered the seminary to study for the priesthood immediately after graduating from high school. I studied philosophy for 4 years at St. Mary's University while attending Immaculate Heart of Mary Seminary in Winona, MN. After being received as a candidate for Theology I lived in Rome at the seminary of the Pontifical North American College while studying at the Gregorian, Angelicum, and Santa Croce Universities. I had the privilege of having my family and some friends attend my diaconate ordination at St. Peter's Basilica in October of 2009 and I was ordained a priest of Jesus Christ in June 2010.  My priestly assignments have been: Camp Gray Chaplain and finishing my licentiate in Liturgical Theology (2010-11), Parochial Vicar of St. John the Baptist Waunakee and St. Mary's Westport (2011-13), Bishop's Master of Ceremonies (2011-present), Director of the Office of Vocations (2013-present), Chaplain of St. Ambrose Academy, Director of the Office of Worship (2021-present). I am presently your pastor and the Director of the Office of Worship.