Marty Denzer/Key photo Second, third and fourth graders at St. Regis school gather to chat about Father Tom Holder, their ‘cool’ pastor.

“He’s enthusiastic … he’s the funniest guy … he knows my name.” In honor of Priesthood Sunday last October, many of the students wrote letters to Father Holder nominating him for priest of the year in this, the Year for Priests.

“His homilies have great examples to understand!” wrote third grader Maggie Miller. Fourth grader Logan Patton agreed. “He is a great storyteller. He knows almost everything about God and gives a great homily, and he never makes the story boring.”

“Thank you for helping me not be nervous on my First Communion. … You are the greatest priest ever,” wrote Lindsey Blaich, also in the second grade.

Fourth grader Matthew Strobl wrote, “He also teaches people a lot about the Catholic faith. He taught me to turn away from sin.”

They have definite ideas about what sets a priest apart from other men they know. “Priests aren’t married.”

“They have a lot of faith.”

“They get to say Mass.”

“A priest makes you feel comfortable telling him your sins during reconciliation.”

“A priest is always willing to help others like poor or the sick.”

Pope Benedict XVI designated 2009-2010 a Year for Priests, which began with the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus on June 19. The pope declared St. John Vianney, Cure of Ars, the Universal Patron of Priests in honor of the 150th anniversary of his death.

Father Tom Holder, who graduated from Archbishop O’Hara High School, was ordained in 1995. He served as associate pastor of St. John LaLande Parish in Blue Springs, and pastor of Holy Cross Parish in Kansas City.

Father Holder was appointed pastor of St. Regis Parish 2005 and has since become very involved in the day-to-day doings of the parish school, principal Mary Bachkora said.

“He greets everybody at the front door each morning. He knows us all by name,” she said.

Emilio Caballero went a step further. “He knows all about God and he teaches us about God,” the second grader said.

Tyrez Scott was impressed by the priest’s refusal to “give up on you; he will be there by your side.” The fourth grader wrote, “He makes you feel welcome.”

Students at St. Regis School feel lucky because they can knock on the door of Father Holder’s office any time they need or want to. He maintains an office in the school near Bachkora’s.

“We can see him 20 times a day if we want to,” Emilio said. The second graders have spent a lot of time with Father Holder as they prepare to receive their first holy Communion.

The kids all agreed that if Father Holder were ever to be assigned to another parish they’d really miss him; his homilies using students as examples of Jesus’ teachings, his kindness and cheery smiles, and his friendly encouragement. One student insisted she’d hide him in her basement should he ever be reassigned.

He is “the coolest priest” they know.

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