Deacon Kuhl honored at retirement dinner

By Beth Yeakel, Executive Assistant
Fdtn. for the Diocese of Helena, Inc.

The Board of Trustees of The Foundation for the Diocese of Helena, Inc., recently announced the retirement of its executive director, Rev. Mr. Gerald J. Kuhl. Deacon Kuhl has served the foundation since July 1, 1989.
Kuhl was honored at a dinner June 8 at St. Mary Catholic Community in Helena. Bishop George Leo Thomas, all four of the Kuhl children, and many current and former trustees attended.
In his remarks, Bishop Thomas called Kuhl, “one of the most important ministers of our diocese.” He elaborated that as he prepared for the evening, five outstanding qualities of Kuhl came to mind: 1) his love for his wife and family; 2) his example of gospel living; 3) as a deacon, he serves as the hands, heart and voice of the bishop and brings the needs of the Church to the bishop; 4) his charism of compassion, especially his care for Msgr. Joseph Mavsar; and 5) his delightful sense of humor.”
Prior to coming to the foundation, Kuhl was vice president of development for Rushmore Health Systems in South Dakota. Previously, he was with St. Peter’s Hospital Foundation in Helena.
Ordained to the permanent diaconate in 1984, Kuhl worked closely with Msgr. Mavsar, the late pastor of Ss. Cyril and Methodius Parish in East Helena. He is currently on staff at the Cathedral of St. Helena. He has also been active in the Cursillo movement as a spiritual director.
A native of Worthington, Minn., Kuhl married Judy Hecker of Warren, Ohio, in 1970. Judy is a nurse with the Veterans Administration system at Fort Harrison. The Kuhls have four children and one grandson.
The foundation, created in 1978, serves to provide endowed support for the parishes, programs and ministries of the Diocese of Helena.
Speaking of the foundation, Kuhl said, “I have been convinced and remain convinced that the foundation is in a positive position to provide a reliable financial base from which the Bishop, as well as all future bishops, will be able to expand the outreach of his apostolic mission.
“This is due to two primary reasons – 1) Donors, today, will have a touchstone to eternity by providing perpetual support for the Church; and 2) the good management of that support is going to grow the foundation so that at some point, it will have significant resources for benefit of the Church and her mission.”

Published in The Montana Catholic, Vol. 23, No. 6, June 15, 2007.