Our Saviour Pastor Joe Ring Dies, Jacksonville Mourns

The Rev. Joe Ring, 66, pastor of Our Saviour Catholic Church in Jacksonville, died around noon on Thursday in St. Louis after being hospitalized in a cardiac care unit the previous day in critical condition. Ring had been in the priesthood since his ordination in 1988 and served as pastor of Our Saviour beginning with his 2020 installation alongside Adam Zawadzki.

Ring was a Jacksonville native whose years of service made him a familiar presence in the parish and the city. Parishioners, including students at Our Saviour School, had been praying for his recovery. Students gathered on November 14 to pray the rosary for his health just days before he was admitted to cardiac care on Wednesday and died on Thursday, November 20, 2025.

In the immediate aftermath of his death, leadership changes were announced to maintain parish operations. Richard Chiola, pastor emeritus of St. Frances Cabrini Parish in Springfield, will lead most weekend Masses. Daniel Bergbower, pastor of St. Agnes Parish in Springfield, will oversee the church administration while funeral arrangements are pending. The diocese and parish have not released firm dates for memorial services or burial.

Ring served as a priest for 37 years and led Our Saviour as pastor for five years. That tenure meant he oversaw not only liturgical life but also pastoral care, school connections, and community outreach activities that are central to local civic life. Churches of this size play a role beyond worship, offering support networks for families, volunteer coordination, and services that help social cohesion. For families and schoolchildren, the sudden loss of a longtime pastor can affect routines and morale even as lay staff and neighboring clergy step in to keep programs running.

Parishioners and community members expressed condolences and reflections after the announcement, and the parish will need time to organize memorials and to plan for a sustainable leadership transition. The appointment of visiting clergy for weekend Masses and an outside pastor to run administration reflects a short term approach to continuity while the parish awaits diocesan guidance on longer term arrangements.

As funeral plans are prepared, parishioners seeking information should follow updates from Our Saviour Catholic Church and diocesan communications. The coming weeks will determine how the parish replaces pastoral responsibilities and how the community honors a priest whose ministry spanned nearly four decades.