Rev. Daniel Belken

Father Belken is not exactly what you’d call a “foreigner” to southeast Missouri. He was born and raised in the Fredericktown, Missouri area and grew up working on the family farm. When he graduated high school, he decided to follow a calling that had been with him since he encountered then Pope John Paul II in his visit to Saint Louis. From that point he encountered this now saint, Father was determined that he wanted to be like Pope John Paul II- and to become a priest. He studied at Kenrick-Glennon Seminary in Saint Louis, and graduated in 2020. Father Daniel Belken was ordained to the priesthood for the Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau on June 12, 2020.

Since he has been ordained, he has worked with Immaculate Conception Parish in Springfield, Missouri, St. Mary of the Annunciation Cathedral in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, and as of March 2023, has been assigned here at St. Lawrence Parish and also at St. Denis Parish in Benton, MO. In addition to these roles, he also serves as the associate Diocesan Director of Worship.

When Father Belken isn’t busy around the two parishes, often you can find him simply reading a good book- out somewhere with his set of tools- or perhaps even in the choir loft still “tickling the ivories” trying to learn a new organ piece.

If you are into podcasts, be sure to check out Fr. Belken’s weekly homilies at https://openwidethedoors.podbean.com/