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Please join us in praying for the repose of the soul of our brother in Christ, Rev. Michael W. Penn, Lake Ozark, Missouri. He died in peace early morning, Friday, February 14, 2025. He was recently moved, the day prior, from SSM Health St. Mary’s, Jefferson City to Heisinger Bluffs, where he was rehabilitating prior to being hospitalized. Fr. Penn and his care team had just discerned earlier this week that hospice care was in his best interest. He was just beginning hospice care and died a few short hours into the morning.

Fr. Penn’s Services: A Vigil Service will be held at Our Lady of the Lake Church, Lake Ozark, Missouri
on Thursday, February 20, 2025 at 3:30 pm. Visitation will be from 4 – 7 pm. There will be an additional
visitation on Friday, February 21, 2025 at the Cathedral of St. Joseph, Jefferson City, Missouri from 10 –
11 am. The concelebrated Mass of Christian Burial will follow at 11 am. The Most Reverend W. Shawn
McKnight will preside, with Rev. Gregory Meystrik as homilist. A meal will follow the Mass in Cana Hall.
On Sunday, February 23, 2025 there will be a visitation from 3 – 4 pm at St. Joseph Church, Edina, Missouri with Evening Prayer for the Dead to follow. Burial will be in the St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery in Edina, Missouri immediately after the prayer.

Link to Facebook stream of Father Penn’s funeral is below. Under Live or video streams: https://www.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=986079002962845&id=100064534278851

Eternal rest grant to him, O Lord; and let light perpetual shine upon him. May his soul, and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.

OBITUARY FROM THE DIOCESE OF JEFFERSON CITY, MISSOURI

We announce with sorrow the death at Heisinger Bluffs, Jefferson City, on the 14th day of February 2025, at the age of 68 of 

REVEREND MICHAEL WILLIAM PENN

Priest of the Diocese of Jefferson City

Father Michael William Penn was born on March 15, 1957, in Kansas City, Missouri.  He was preceded in death by his parents Claggett S. Penn and Margaret M. (O’Hare) Penn, and is survived by his brother priests, Delaney Family, relatives, neighbors, and many friends.

Father Penn attended the following elementary and secondary schools in Kansas City, Missouri:  Our Lady of Good Counsel, Guardian Angels, Bishop Lillis High School, and St. John’s Diocesan Seminary.  Prior to moving to Edina, Fr. Penn worked in various retail and hospitality positions, and assisted in various church and parish ministries.  He then attended Penn Valley Community College, Kansas City, Missouri, Northeast Missouri State University, Kirksville, Missouri, and Conception Seminary College, Conception, Missouri where he received his BA in Theology.  Fr. Penn then attended Kenrick Seminary in St. Louis, Missouri where he received his Master of Divinity degree.  Fr. Penn was ordained on May 31, 2003, at the Cathedral of St. Joseph, Jefferson City by the Most Reverend John R. Gaydos, Bishop of Jefferson City.  

His pastoral assignments were:

–      Associate Pastor, Our Lady of Lourdes, Columbia from 2003-2004

–      Pastor, St. Mary, Glasgow from 2004-2010

–      Pastor, St. Joseph, Slater from 2004-2010

–      Pastor, Holy Rosary, Monroe City from 2010-2018

–      Pastor, St. Stephen, Indian Creek from 2010-2018

–      Pastor, St. Joseph, Palmyra from 2011-2018

–      Pastor, St. Joseph, Canton from 2015-2016

–      Pastor, Notre Dame, LaGrange from 2015-2016

–      Pastor, Queen of Peace, Ewing from 2015-2016

–      Pastor, St. Mary, Shelbina from 2016-2018

–      Pastor, St. Patrick, Clarence from 2016-2018

–      Pastor, St. Francis Xavier, Taos from 2018-2022

–      Pastor, Our Lady of the Lake, Lake Ozark from 2022 until his death

Other positions held by Father Penn:  

–      Bishop’s Master of Ceremonies from 2004-2018

–      Senator, Columbia Deanery from 2004-2008

–      Liturgical Commission from 2005-2019

–      Dean, Columbia Deanery from 2006-2007

–      Priest Representative to Diocesan Pastoral Council from 2009-2010

–      Dean, Hannibal Deanery from 2013-2018

–      Ministry to Priests Committee from 2017-2018

–      Priests’ Personnel Board from 2018-2022

–      Ex Officio, Helias Catholic High School Board of Directors from 2019-2022

–      Pastor Review Panel from 2019-2022

–      Served as the Bishop’s delegate to the Fr. Tolton Guild for the cause of canonization of Fr. Tolton from 2010 until his death

–      Presbyteral Council from 2022-2025

Fr. Penn was a Knight of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem and a member of the Knights of Columbus Fourth Degree.

A Vigil Service will be held at Our Lady of the Lake Church, Lake Ozark, Missouri on Thursday, February 20, 2025 at 3:30 pm.  Visitation will be from 4 – 7 pm.  There will be an additional visitation on Friday, February 21, 2025 at the Cathedral of St. Joseph, Jefferson City, Missouri from 10 – 11 am.  The concelebrated Mass of Christian Burial will follow at 11 am.  The Most Reverend W. Shawn McKnight will preside, with Rev. Gregory Meystrik as homilist.  A meal will follow the Mass in Cana Hall.  On Sunday, February 23, 2025 there will be a visitation from 3 – 4 pm at St. Joseph Church, Edina, Missouri with Evening Prayer for the Dead to follow.  Burial will be in the St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery in Edina, Missouri immediately after the prayer.  

Priests are invited to concelebrate the Funeral Mass and are kindly asked to bring their alb, diocesan chasuble and stole.  Deacons are also welcome and are asked to bring their alb, diocesan dalmatic and stole as well.  All priests and deacons should gather and vest in Cana Hall before the Funeral Mass.

Father Penn was a member of the Priests’ Purgatorial Society, as are all diocesan priests.  Priests are reminded of the obligation to celebrate three Masses for his eternal repose: one within a month of his death, the other two within three months.  Those who concelebrate his Funeral Mass may consider it as one of the required Masses for his intention.  

Please remember Father Penn in your prayers and also invite the prayers of your people for him.  We pray that the Lord look with mercy upon him and give him the reward of his priestly labors, the fullness of life promised to those who preach the Gospel.

For further information, please contact Very Reverend Christopher L. Cordes at the Chancery Office (573-635-9127).