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 Only2025 is almost over. Now is the time to support your trusted local news source.
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Jane Roberts
Jane Roberts has reported in Memphis for more than 20 years. As a senior member of The Daily Memphian staff, she was assigned to the medical beat during the COVID-19 pandemic. She also has done in-depth work on other medical issues facing our community, including shortages of specialists in local hospitals. She covered K-12 education here for years and later the region’s transportation sector, including Memphis International Airport and FedEx Corp.
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