I was shocked to see a news report Saturday night of the murder of a priest I have known since 1979. According to what was reported in the news story, Father Larry Johnson, a retired priest of the Archdiocese, was strangled to death by a man who was having a psychotic episode. Father Larry was driving the man to Regions Hospital to receive a mental health evaluation when the attack occurred on I-94. Father Larry was 76 years old.
I got to know Father Larry well when he was assigned to St Wenceslaus Parish in New Prague in the late 1970’s. The pastor at that time, was Father Ray Zweber, a very traditionalist, strict old priest. Larry Johnson and Ray Zweber got along like water and oil, with Larry moving out of the rectory within a couple of months and living in a rented apartment in New Prague. Within 6 months, Ray asked the Archbishop to be reassigned to a different parish and left St Wenceslaus shortly after Christmas. We had an interim priest as parochial administrator until Fr Bill Paron arrived as pastor approximately six months later.
It wasn’t too long after the appointment of Fr Paron, that Larry requested a new assignment and was moved by the Archbishop. Larry had a number of parish assignments as pastor until his retirement from active ministry.
In the time I ministered with Larry, I thought he was a bit like a “bull in a china shop.” Larry was a mixed bag, with some liking him greatly, and others, similarly, disliking him. He could be a hard guy with whom to work and minister. Larry was bright idealist with an enormous ego. He often clashed with those who were not in agreement with him on issues of ministry and leadership. He had very questionable boundaries, especially with teens. Those questionable boundaries got him in trouble, and, for a while, he was under investigation for sexual misconduct. However, all complaints filed against him ended up either unfounded or unsubstantiated.
All of us who are in ministry are driven with a desire to be of service to those who are in need. As in all human institutions, within the Catholic Church, I have known priests and bishops who are driven to climb the “corporate ladder.” I believe that Father Larry Johnson was not one of those who sought advancement in the hierarchy. Rather, like most of us, he had that drive to serve others.
According to police reports released thus far, Father Larry knew this troubled individual, electing to have lunch with him once a month to check in on how the man was doing. After the two celebrated Mass at Father Larry’s home that morning, Father Larry thought it important to get the man to a safe place to be evaluated. It was on that drive to Regions Hospital that Father Larry was murdered by the man.
It matters not whether one is a lay minister or ordained, when we are in active ministry, our lives are consumed by that ministry. Fifty to sixty hour weeks are common. When one retires from active ministry, the sudden stop of insane busyness is off-putting. When I first retired, well, I found myself having four surgeries to repair a broken ankle, so a whole year was consumed with that. However, following all those surgeries, I first had to heal some anger. To some degree, all in ministry have that feeling, like that of the prophet Jeremiah, that God “duped us and we allowed ourselves to be duped.” Once healed from that, the next question we have is that of discerning “What does God want me to do now?” Amazingly, it doesn’t take long for the Holy Spirit to answer that question, at least, in my experience. The ministry continues in a varied amount of ways, only, it is not at the insane, manic pace it had been prior to retirement.
On August 1st, Father Larry Johnson saw a man who was in great need of medical, mental health healing. And, that was ultimately the cause of his untimely death. He ended giving up his life in attempting to get the man to the hospital. Jesus states in the Last Supper discourse of John’s Gospel, “There is no greater love than this; to lay down one’s life for a friend.” Father Larry Johnson did that on August 1st. May Father Larry Johnson rest in the peace and the love of God.
I’m not sure if we have ever met, Deacon Bob, but we both have Fr. Larry relationships and stories that connect us. I am and was shocked last weekend, to learn not only that Fr Larry passed away, but that he was “taken” from “us”. When I’m doing well with his passing, it’s because I can relate to the title of your article and be at peace with him going while doing what he was born to do—-be there for others; to Minister, especially when life is at its worst. When I struggle with his passing, it’s because I fear he couldn’t feel the love and appreciation from all those people (including 100s of teens/children like me) he helped, when needed most, and be “protected spiritually” from his attacker.
When he was there for me, it’s when he was our priest when my father died (I was 5) and left my Mom and 6 siblings behind. Fr. Larry saved my spirituality…he saved my relationship with God. His involvement with me and my family was unconventional for a priest, and THANK GOD he took that risk and made that investment. Hugs and lectures were given often, as I was acting out in both extremes—-love and anger. Regardless, his intentions and efforts were 100% blessed by God, and his unconventional approach saved my spiritual life. By the grace of GOD my entire family is still here. I know the impact Fr. Larry had on me and my family, and what I hope and pray for is that somehow that LOVE and APPRECIATION came over Fr. Larry at the end and protected him from feeling the fear and pain of being taken from us. I carry no ill will to the attacker and I pray and hope Fr. Larry is at peace in heaven and can feel the Love and Thanks from those of us he ministered, when WE needed him most. I Love You Fr. Larry and plan to speak with you often in my prayers.
Good morning Michael,Whe
Thank you for your response to my remembrance of Fr. Larry. I have known Larry for a long time, and while I hadn’t worked with him in a very long time, Larry and I would bump into each other at Confirmations, Archdiocesan events and so on, and catch up on what was going on in our respective lives. When you are in ministry, you are so absorbed in the ministry that your relationships with other clergy and lay ministers gets lost. During formation, my ordination class of nine deacons, including myself, were very, very close. We genuinely were a family. Yet, after ordination, in spite of our pledges to stay connected and socialize, we rarely did because all our time was consumed in doing our ministry. And so it was with my relationship with Fr Larry, and Fr Denny Dempsey, Fr Steve Ulrick, and so many others with whom I have served. Little by little those I have known in ministry have died (I, and one other classmate, are the only surviving member of my diaconal ordination class.). All of these people have touched my life and the lives of those they served in remarkable ways. So it is with Fr Larry. The one connection that Fr Larry and I share is serving many of those who live on the margins of the Church. You go where the Archbishop needs you and I have served in large suburban parishes, small rural parishes, small town parishes and inner city parish. It has been among those in the margins that I have felt most spiritually at home, the Latino community, the LGBTQ+ community, the homeless and disenfranchised, those broken by domestic violence, separation and divorce, those grieving a suicide. Fr Larry had a passion in being there for those who were most in need. He was a “servant leader” as opposed to many priests today who see their priesthood as being demi-gods. I am so thankful that Fr Larry was there for you and for your family when you were most in need. He was fulfilling his vocation in being Christ’s presence to you all. As violent and horrific was the occasion of his death, Fr Larry died doing what he loved to do, to be there for those who are most in need. I wish you and your family God’s peace and consolation.
Bob Wagner
Deacon Bob,
My name is Howard Johnson, Father Larry Johnson brother. Thank you for the article. I know my brother had a mission to minister to the youth of the Catholic Faith.
Below is a link that will be up for people that cannot attend his Mass on Sept. 28th at 11am.
Here is the livestream link for Fr. Johnson’s Memorial Mass: Memorial Mass for Rev. Lawrence Richard Johnson
Thank you,
Howard
Dear Howard,
I am well aware of the loss that you and your family are feeling. I am the sole surviving member of my family of origin, and led the prayer at the funerals of my sister, my Dad, my Mother, and my brother. i have come to appreciate how God has touched and formed my life in my relationships with the members of my family. Even in the struggles of my brother with alcoholism, God was still there teaching me how to love those whose lives are very difficult. Thank you for the link to his memorial Mass. If I am able, I will attend via livestream. I wish you and your family God’s love and compassion in the coming days. I know that Larry is dwelling in God’s infinite joy and happiness.
Bob Wagner
I am so sorry for the loss you all are experiencing, especially you, Howard. I was Father Larry’s pharmacist for a few years, until about 2 years ago. We were friends. He always seemed to show up and pop his head in the consultation window at exactly the right time. He was there when I needed encouragement. I moved to another pharmacy and before I left he gave me a medallion with the Lord’s Prayer on it, since he wouldn’t be stopping in for encouragement. I still have it in the pocket of my lab coat. He invited my husband and I for dinner shortly before I moved. It was a lovely evening and he enjoyed showing us his many treasures. He was a special person and genuinely cared about people.
I also know the young man who killed him. He was one of my employees at the pharmacy for 8 years. He is one of the nicest, most respectful young men you would ever want to meet. Something went terribly wrong that day. Father Larry was trying to help him but something went terribly wrong. He is not a monster. He enjoyed his time with Father Larry and learned a lot about the Bible. He has told me there was nothing between them but friendship and mentoring. I believe him. He says he doesn’t want Father Larry’s name dragged through the mud with any other ideas. I have been in contact with him and he is very very sorry and doesn’t understand what happened. I can’t expect this community to forgive him, not yet at least, but please pray for him. I have never ever known him to be violent in any way. Something went terribly wrong. He is hopefully getting the help he needs as he awaits his fate.
Dear Juli,
My goodness, you are experiencing two major losses, that of Fr Larry and also your employee who killed him. Your employee is either facing possible life in prison at State penitentiary or in a secure mental hospital/prison in St Peter. That is a lot of loss to carry. How are you handling your grief? Have you been able to talk or share with others, e.g. spiritual director or counselor, a friend, about your grief, or have you been carrying this all on your own? In 47 years of church ministry, I have my designated people with whom I will “debrief” after traumatic situations that I have encountered in ministry. I am sure Fr Larry had his designated people for that same purpose, too. If you need to talk, let me know.
Bob
Thank you so much for your offer. I think I am doing ok. I just wanted people who know and loved him to know that strangely, Nate cared about him too, and he wasn’t assaulted and murdered in the way we usually think about. The way Nate has told it to me is that it was s voice he couldn’t ignore and “was given no choice” but he didn’t torture him or threaten him. It was just ….done….and right after he did it the voices stopped and he sat there for awhile very upset with what just happened and called the police to come and get him. Maybe knowing that makes it easier, maybe it doesn’t…I don’t know. I talk to Nate about once a week, so if anyone has a question or wants to pass a message, please let me know. I think it would be harder if he wasn’t remorseful and accepting his fate with humility and faith. He learned so much from Father Larry. He’s living a Christian life, in jail. The Bible is the only book he reads.