When Msgr. Craig Eilerman drove to Columbus from his parish, Lancaster Basilica of St. Mary of the Assumption, on Sept. 6, he thought he was simply going to dinner. Little did he know the surprise that was in store for him that Friday evening.
Enjoying some hors d’oeuvres at the Chancery with Father Jan Sullivan, rector at Columbus St. Joseph Cathedral, and a couple who belong to St. Mary of the Assumption, the conversation might have centered around the restaurant planned for dinner, or maybe not.
Bishop Earl Fernandes entered the room, and he had some news for Msgr. Eilerman.
The then-Father Eilerman was no longer “Father,” the bishop announced. The Holy Father, Pope Francis, had granted him the title of monsignor.
Surprising, perhaps?
“That would be mildly putting it,” Msgr. Eilerman said.
Stunning was a more appropriate word.
“I was stunned. It never crossed my mind,” he said. “Last thing on my mind (was) that Bishop Fernandes would have sought that honor from the Holy Father.”
The monsignor designation recognizes long and dedicated service to the Church and its people. The title is limited to priests who have reached the age of 65 and for those who hold certain major offices in the Roman Curia or as a vicar general or chancellor in dioceses.
There were previously three grades of monsignor: “chaplain of His Holiness,” “apostolic protonotary” and “honorary prelate of His Holiness.” The latter two titles were eliminated after changes made by the Vatican in 2014.
Bishop Fernandes submitted a request to the Vatican that the honor, “chaplain of His Holiness,” be given to Msgr. Eilerman. The honorary title was made official on Aug. 24.
An official decree was presented to Msgr. Eilerman on Saturday, Dec. 14 at St. Mary of the Assumption during a 4:30 p.m. Mass celebrated by the bishop. A reception at the parish celebrating the honor followed.
“I’m very grateful to Bishop Fernandes,” Msgr. Eilerman said. “It’s quite an honor, and I can certainly think of other priests in the diocese that also deserve to be honored in this way, and so, in that, it’s also very humbling.”
The bishop recognized Msgr. Eilerman’s role in having St. Mary of the Assumption Church erected as a basilica. Under his leadership as pastor, the church received the title of minor basilica.
“I think it was certainly an affirmation from the bishop, and I think that’s the thing that means the most to me – that the bishop recognized the work that went into that, and in that way, it’s just not recognizing me but recognizing everyone else who worked hard in order for us to receive that title as a minor basilica,” he said.
Bishop Fernandes also cited Msgr. Eilerman’s service to the diocese, including his role as vicar forane for the diocesan deanery consisting of Fairfield, Hocking, Muskingum and Perry counties, his previous service on a number of advisory councils and boards, and as a chaplain.
Msgr. Eilerman, 67, has served the diocese and its people as a priest for 37 years.
He became rector, a title given to the head priest at a basilica, when St. Mary of the Assumption was designated a minor basilica in 2022. Prior to that, he had served as the church’s pastor since 2011.
“I have enjoyed my priesthood very much,” he said. “I continue to think it was the right choice, that God did call me to this, and in responding to that, I’ve found being a priest very fulfilling.
“I was very fortunate under the three pastors that I served, as an associate pastor or a parochial vicar, that those were all very good experiences. And then, my three terms as pastor – 12 years at (Columbus) St. Cecilia’s, a little over two years at (Columbus) Christ the King and my now 13 years here at St. Mary’s – have all been very good. It’s been a very fulfilling experience.”
As a priest, Msgr. Eilerman said he appreciates the ability to impact a community.
He recognized, as a pastor, he can form and lead a community closer to God. Notably rewarding, he mentioned, is witnessing a difference being made, whether through implementing an evangelization program or improving the parish’s property and buildings.
“The priesthood also provides you with numerous opportunities to have direct impact on individual people, whether that’s in the formation of sacraments, especially marriage; counseling; your day-to-day preaching; your weekly preaching – your ability to impact people’s lives and to be a force for good in their lives, that you’re able to be that instrument of God for them,” he said.
Serving alongside other diocesan priests and laity, he noted that he is not the only individual making a difference.
“There are many, many priests in the diocese that do wonderful work, and other people,” he said. “It’s odd, in some ways, for me to think about being singled out to be honored because there’s lots of people that I have encountered throughout my life that have accomplished great things and have done so without maybe receiving the accolades they should.
“So, some ways, I want to share this with all of them.”
Msgr. Eilerman was ordained a priest on June 6, 1987 by Bishop James Griffin at St. Joseph Cathedral. He grew up in Columbus St. Mary Magdalene parish, where he attended grade school, and graduated from Columbus Bishop Ready High School.
In addition to his assignments as pastor, he previously was an associate pastor at Lancaster St. Mary, Zanesville St. Nicholas and Newark St. Francis de Sales churches and an administrator at the former Lancaster St. Mark Church.
He also served as chaplain at Newark Catholic and Zanesville Bishop Rosecrans high schools and Doctors West Hospital.
Other assignments have included dean of the West Columbus and Fairfield-Hocking-Pickaway deaneries. Msgr. Eilerman also has been part of the Priests’ Personnel Board, College of Consultors and Priests’ Senate, and a parochial examiner and member of the Presbyteral Council and Personnel Board.
Since becoming bishop of Columbus in 2022, Bishop Fernandes has raised two priests to the rank of monsignor: Msgrs. Eilerman and James Walter. Only 10 percent of diocesan clergy can hold the title of monsignor at a given time.
In addition to Msgr. Eilerman, 13 priests currently residing in the diocese have received the monsignor designation: Msgrs. John Cody, John Dreese, William Dunn, Paul Enke, Anthony Frecker, David Funk, Patrick Gaughan, Joseph Hendricks, John Johnson, Frank Lane, Anthony Missimi, Stephan Moloney and Walter.