Richard “Dick” Schiblin, 89, of Barnhart died Dec. 21, 2024, at St. Clement Redemptorist Mission Community. Father Schiblin was known as a strong proponent of spiritual renewal and social justice; he served as the first secretary of the General Secretariat of Justice & Peace in Rome. Growing up in Holy Redeemer Parish, attended Holy Redeemer Grade School and later entered Redemptorist formation at Holy Redeemer College in Oakland, Calif. After completing novitiate at Mount St. Clement’s in De Soto, he professed temporary vows in 1956. He professed perpetual vows in 1959 and was ordained to the priesthood in 1961. He completed Tirocinium at Holy Redeemer College in Oakland and was appointed to the faculty. Within two years, he was named dean of students and director. He continued his education abroad at the Institute Catholique in Paris, France. He enrolled from 1967 to 1971 and also spent time at Harvard University. He earned a licentiate in theology from the institute in 1971.
Once returning to Oakland, he dedicated 12 years to developing the Holy Redeemer Center for retreats and conferences, as well as forming Christian Life Communities. He helped establish “The House on the Way,” a center of social analysis and theological reflection of justice and peace issues. His social justice ministry also brought him to Latin America, notably Nicaragua, Cuba and the Dominican Republic. His book, ‘The Bible, the Church and Social Justice,’ was published in 1983. Later, after receiving his doctorate in moral theology from the Alphonsian Academy, he went on to teach at the regional seminary in South Africa in “kwzulu,” the heart of Zululand.
He served as a bilingual itinerant preacher in Oakland from 2001 until 2005, when he joined the theology student community at St. John Neumann House in St. Louis. Shortly before his 81st birthday, he moved to the Pagani House community at the Redemptorist Retreat Center in Oconomowoc as a senior member in residence and later to the St. Clement Redemptorist Mission Community in 2019. He will be remembered for his wit, sense of humor and contributions to the worldwide Congregation. Born July 6, 1935, in Portland, Ore., he was the son of Louis and Marvel (Hogan) Schiblin.
Arrangements are under the direction of Vinyard Funeral Home in Festus.