Father Robert Reitmeier Council 8848
Council 8848 was formed on December 2, 1984, in Tupelo, MS.
Fr Robert Reitmeier, OSB, was born in Bohemia on December 10, 1874. He began his studies at St. Vincent in Pennsylvania. He was transferred to St. Bernard College at Cullman, Alabama. He taught languages at the college and directed the college symphony orchestra. He was a very talented violinist and when he had a visiting priest, Father Robert was in the choir. Father Robert was ordained a priest on June 18, 1898, in the Benedictine Order. In 1919, Bishop Gunn visited Tupelo to initiate plans for the erection of a rectory, which was ready the same year and Rev. Father Robert Reitmeier, OSB was installed as pastor on October 1, 1919. St. James was only a mission church when Father Robert became its pastor. His mission covered the entire Northeast section of the state, including the counties of Alcorn, Tishomingo, Itawamba, Lee, Prentiss, Monroe, and Chickasaw. His was the largest mission, geographically, in the nation. Father Robert traveled over the Northeast Mississippi area, ministering to the needs of the Catholics in this area. And as he traveled, he picked up many friends, so that soon almost everyone knew Father Robert: possibly no other pastor in the Northeast Mississippi had more friends of every faith than he. Father Robert's retirement in 1952 marked the close of 33 years in Tupelo. During those years he baptized and married three generations of some of his parishioners. Father Robert was greatly loved by his congregation and highly esteemed by his fellow townsmen. He said his last Mass as a pastor here on September 7, 1952. Father Robert celebrated his Golden Jubilee in Menominee, Michigan in 1948. Father Robert died on April 10, 1956, while visiting a brother in Menominee, Michigan and is buried at St. Bernard Cemetery in Cullman, Alabama.
Due to Father Robert's work in the Northeast Mississippi area and the faith and love he spread throughout, we felt honored to name our council in his honor.