Just yesterday, Friday, February 15, Deacon Bill Steltemeier, a beloved husband, father, and friend of many, faithful servant of Christ and the Church, went to his eternal reward. Our deepest condolences to his devoted wife, Ramona.
At the loss of someone like Deacon Bill, so many of the consoling promises of Our Lord come to mind. “I was in prison and you visited me, a stranger and you welcomed me… come you blessed of my Father.” In this vein, Deacon Bill was an ardent evangelizer. He frequently and unabashedly would offer to coach a visitor to the Shrine through the nuances of Vespers, and at another point in his life, he served as a prison chaplain. He was certainly someone who carried the Good News both in his mind and heart and couldn’t refrain from sharing it.
From their first meeting more than three decades ago, Deacon Bill and Mother Angelica struck up a friendship and a shared goal to spread the Gospel that would survive a multitude of trials and adventures. Both Mother and her dedicated President gave themselves entirely to building EWTN to be a faithful and successful tool of evangelization to the nations. Deacon Bill was truly a “both-and” Catholic man – the right kind for the job. A lawyer and a permanent deacon, one often plagued with a multitude of sufferings, but joyful at the same time, spontaneous and orthodox – he lived the Christian life to the full.
In comparison to all that could be said about Deacon Bill, hardly does him justice! Please join us in praying for Deacon Bill Steltemeier and the consolation of his loved ones. Eternal Rest grant unto him O Lord…
8 Comments
My deepest sympathy for the loss of this good friend and faithful servant to our Lord. May Jesus and Mother Mary grant all of you comfort during this time of change.Helen
Deacon Bill was a blessing to all of us. I pray for his family & his friends for comfort during this time. And I also pray for Deacon Bill too. May God Bless him abundantly now in His Presence.
Dear Sisters and Mother Angelica:
I send my prayers and sympathy to Deacons Bills Wife Ramona, the Nuns, Mother Angelica and the family of EWTN. He has done so much for the Network, Mother Angelica and for the world. He has truly showed the love for God for so many, he will be greatly missed. My deepest prayers are with you all and for Deacon Bill and his family.
Charmagne
My prayers for Mother,all the sisters,the friars, Deacon Bill’s family and all who are grieving.
He even made us viewers feel loved and as if we knew him personally.
Grief is so beyond words but I am thankful that our God, our Holy Mother Mary & St. Joseph are there to comfort & help you.
With great love
I as a wife of a deacon feel very sad about the passing of Deacon Bill will be missed greatly was a very wonderful man very holy always smiling . Never met him in person but seeing him in tv made him part of our family. To his wife Ramona our sympathy and our love.
Know that we are praying for Mrs. Ramona, the family, Mother Angelica, all of the nuns, and all of his friends that loved him very much! He will be greatly missed. May Dcn. Bill be blessed now and forever as he adores Our Dear Lord in the Beatific Vision!
With love and prayers,
Tori Schmidt…a.k.a…Sr. Celine’s sister
a wonderful man…wish I a met him
As they said on EWTN, i bet he’s praying for us!
Please give mother a kiss for us…I know she must be sad (but at the same time she knows he is
with God)….”praise Jesus”, as I think he used to
say about 30 times per day!
Please give mother a big hug and kiss for me and wish her
A big happy 90th birthday.