Father Brian Barker Leaving St. Bruno in Pinckneyville
</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[Father Brian Barker bids farewell to Pinckneyville on March 1 to join the Augustinians religious order. He has served at St. Bruno Catholic Church in Pinckneyville for the past eight-and-a-half years.
His first stop as an Augustinian will be teaching at Providence High School in New Lenox, Ill.
Father Barker is a certified music teacher. Following that, he will embark upon a one-year retreat or novitiate in Wisconsin.
"I want to use the gifts God gave me," Father Barker said, adding that he is interested in working in college ministry in the future. The Augustinians have several universities and many different ministries across the globe.
It is not known at this time who will replace Fr. Barker at St. Bruno. The Belleville Diocese could select another parish priest or have retired priests serve on weekends to perform Mass.
"I'm hoping to make a smooth transition," he said.