Bishop Schlarman has retired from his duties as Vicar of Priests for the Belleville Diocese (July 14, 2015). On his 82nd birthday (July 27) in a very energetic spirit he said, “the game is still on.”
Bishop Stanley Schlarman always DREAMS BIG! One of his big dreams was to establish a “returning citizens” home for those leaving prison on parole. A place they could call “home” and receive the spiritual formation, social services and the work skills to successfully reenter the community as responsible citizens.
This dream became a reality in 2013 when Bishop Schlarman and Fr. Reuter (Diocesan Coordinator of Prison Ministry) formed a group that later was named Our Brothers’ Keepers of Southern Illinois. OBK was incorporated in the State of Ilinois (2014) and became a 501(c)3 not-for-profit group (2015). OBK is working to evaluate several properties that could be the “home” for those coming out of the prison system.
Bishop Stanley has served on the Board of Directors (2014-2015) and will now assist OBK as a member of the Advisory Board. He will continue to assist in making presentations about OBK and prison ministry to various organizations in the Diocese. In addition, he will continue his prison ministry at Menard Correctional Center in Chester, IL
All of us at OBK are indebted to working with Bishop Stanley and experiencing the Joy of the Gospel through his gracious smile, kind words and sassy spirit. He continues to serve the people of God and make the world a brighter place by celebration of the Sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation, Reconciliation and the Eucharistic celebrations in the Belleville Diocese and our state prisons.
