St. Patrick’s Father Val retiring after almost 50 years in the ministry
Monsignor Val Handwerker talks to Lauren Ready, who handled the virtual mass at St. Patrick Catholic Church during the lockdowns in 2020. Handwerker has a personal connection to the Downtown church. (Patrick Lantrip/The Daily Memphian file)
Handwerker is the only clergy in the Catholic Diocese of Memphis who served as a community organizer and he was a critical link in an effort that pushed an expansion of Interstate 240 to the east of Midtown, saving hundreds of homes.
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Father Val Handwerker St. Patrick's Catholic Church Joe Birch Frank Williams Eugene Champion Subscriber OnlyThank you for supporting local journalism.
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Jane Roberts
Longtime journalist Jane Roberts is a Minnesotan by birth and a Memphian by choice. She's lived and reported in the city more than two decades. She covers business news and features for The Daily Memphian.
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