Name: Beitans, John
Born: 06/24/1947 Geesthacht, Germany’s Displaced Persons Camp
Ordained: 06/10/1973 Indianapolis, Indiana (?)
Served: 1973-2020
Died: 04/04/2020 Indianapolis, Indiana
Burial: Calvary Cemetery, Priests Circle, Indianapolis, Indiana
“Reverend John Beitans, 72, a priest of the Archdiocese of IndiaIDnapolis, passed away April 4, 2020. Fr. Beitans’ parents, Adele and August Beitans, fled Latvia in 1940 to Geesthacht, Germany’s Displaced Persons Camp, where John was born on June 24, 1947. In 1952, John arrived on Ellis Island, then traveled to Terre Haute, Indiana, where he met his sponsor.
He graduated from St. Meinrad Seminary in June of 1969 with a philosophy degree and was ordained to the priesthood on June 10, 1973. Fr. Beitans served as associate pastor of Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, Jeffersonville, St. Patrick in Terre Haute, and St. Michael the Archangel Indianapolis. He was also honored to serve as the archdiocesan director for the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C. Fr. Beitans later served as pastor of St. Ann in Indianapolis, St. John the Baptist, Starlight, St. Lawrence, Indianapolis, St. Rose of Lima, Franklin, and lastly, Holy Trinity in Edinburgh. Most recently, Fr. Beitans was offering sacramental assistance at Good Shepherd in Indianapolis.
He learned to fly, loved large yachts, classical music, and fast cars. He traveled extensively In the United States, Europe, Canada, and Latvia. He could speak 4 languages and was a member of the Capital City Conservation Club, The Circumnavigators Club, the Indy Aero Club, Knights of Columbus, and the Friends of Garfield Park Club.
His family consists of all cousins, Mary and Dan Copp, Daniel Copp, Leah Copp; Mary Murans, Nicholas Murans, Paul and Sara Murans; Silvija and Voldi Kaulins; and Victor Dzelme.
A small, private graveside service will be observed, with burial in the Priests’ Circle at Calvary Cemetery, Indianapolis. A Memorial Mass and full celebration of Fr. John Beitans’ life and ministry will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the St. Vincent de Paul Society, 3001 E. 30th Street, Indianapolis, IN 46218. Funeral arrangements are entrusted to the O’Riley Funeral Home. Visit www.ORileyFuneralHome.com to share a favorite memory or to sign the online guest registry.
—————————————–
Father John Beitans served archdiocesan parishes and Latvian Catholics
By Sean Gallagher
Father John BeitansFather John Beitans, a retired priest of the Archdiocese of Indianapolis, died on April 3 at St. Vincent Hospice in Indianapolis. He was 72. At the time of his death, he was providing sacramental assistance at Good Shepherd Parish in Indianapolis.
Because of measures prohibiting large public gatherings due to the coronavirus pandemic, a private committal service was celebrated at the priests’ circle at Calvary Cemetery in Indianapolis. A memorial Mass for Father Beitans is expected to be celebrated at a later time.
Father Robert Robeson, pastor of Holy Name of Jesus Parish in Beech Grove and administrator of Good Shepherd Parish in Indianapolis, got to know Father Beitans well over the past few years while they served together at Good Shepherd.
“He was very conscious about how his relationship with individuals could impact their faith and was conscientious about treating others with dignity and respect, especially those who were isolated or lonely or alienated in some way,” Father Robeson said. “He had a very tender heart and great compassion for those who were on the margins. That was something I really respected about him.”
Father Beitans’ concern for people on the margins of society may have been rooted in his experience of isolation and alienation early on in life. He was born in 1947 in a displaced persons camp in Geesthact, Germany, to Latvian parents who fled their home country during World War II. They emigrated to the U.S. in 1952, arriving at Ellis Island before settling in Terre Haute.
“He was a huge figure within the Latvian community in Indiana and throughout the world,” Father Robeson said. “He was frequently called upon to travel all over the world to celebrate sacraments for Latvian families who were connected to him in some way and to celebrate Mass in the Latvian language.”
Retired Father Joseph Rautenberg said Father Beitans had an interest in various cultures around the world that may have been rooted in his own experience as an immigrant.
“He traveled widely,” said Father Rautenberg, an ordination classmate of Father Beitans. “He had an extensive collection of books on foreign sites and their history, art and culture.”
Father Beitans’ thirst for knowledge was wide and varied. He had an interest in music and astronomy, earned a pilot’s license and even did skydiving.
“He was not afraid to try new things,” Father Rautenberg said.
Through it all, though, Father Beitans was dedicated to parish ministry. Ordained an archdiocesan priest in 1973, Father Beitans spent 47 years of priestly life and ministry in faith communities across central and southern Indiana, while also at times leading archdiocesan ministries.
“He was kind, generous and a faithful pastor of his people,” Father Robeson said. “He had a deep love for life, and a deep appreciation for the beauty of the world. He genuinely cared about his parishioners.
“He would often talk about his previous parishes with great fondness and became very close to quite a number of people over the years … who have often expressed their love for him.”
John Beitans was born on June 24, 1947, to the late August and Adele (Spila) Beitans in Geesthacht, Germany.
After he and his parents emigrated to the U.S., Father Beitans was educated in Terre Haute before becoming an archdiocesan seminarian. He received priestly formation at the former Saint Meinrad College in St. Meinrad, and at Saint Meinrad Seminary and School of Theology, also in St. Meinrad.
Archbishop Paul C. Schulte ordained Father Beitans a priest on June 10, 1973, at Sacred Heart of Jesus Church in Terre Haute. Father Beitans celebrated a Mass of Thanksgiving the following day at the church.
His first pastoral assignment was as associate pastor of Most Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish in Jeffersonville, where he served from 1973-74. He then ministered as associate pastor of St. Patrick Parish in Terre Haute from 1974-77.
In 1977, Father Beitans became associate pastor of St. Michael the Archangel Parish in Indianapolis, continuing there until 1982.
During that time, Father Beitans also served as archdiocesan director of activities for the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, from 1982-83.
After serving at St. Michael, Father Beitans ministered as associate pastor of St. Christopher Parish in Indianapolis from 1982-83.
In 1983, he became a pastor for the first time, leading St. Ann Parish in Indianapolis from 1982-88.
Father Beitans then began a series of pastoral assignments in the New Albany Deanery. He led St. John the Baptist Parish in Starlight from 1988-99. He also served as administrator of St. Mary Parish in Navilleton from 1995-96, and of Most Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish in Jeffersonville from 1998-99. Father Beitans also ministered as dean of the New Albany Deanery from 1996-99.
From 2000-10, Father Beitans served as pastor of St. Lawrence Parish in Indianapolis, while also ministering as chaplain of the Latvian Catholic Association from 2006-10.
His last assignment as a pastor was of Holy Trinity Parish in Edinburg and St. Rose of Lima Parish in Franklin, leading those two faith communities from 2010-14. During that time, he also served as director of the archdiocesan Office of Ecumenism.
In 2014, Father Beitans was appointed sacramental minister of Good Shepherd Parish in Indianapolis. He was granted retirement in 2017 while continuing to provide sacramental assistance at Good Shepherd.
Memorial contributions may be sent to the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, 3001 E. 30th St., Indianapolis, IN 46218. †
——————————————–
Born June 24, 1947. Ordained June 10, 1973. Associate pastor, Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, Jeffersonville; 1974, associate pastor, St. Patrick, Terre Haute; 1977, associate pastor, St. Michael the Archangel, Indianapolis; 1982, archdiocesan director, activities for the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, Washington, DC, and continuing as associate pastor, St. Michael the Archangel, Indianapolis; 1982, associate pastor, St. Christopher, Indianapolis, and continuing as archdiocesan director, activities for the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, Washington, DC; 1983, pastor, St. Ann, Indianapolis; 1988, pastor, St. John the Baptist, Starlight; 1995, administrator, St. Mary, Navilleton, while continuing as pastor, St. John the Baptist, Starlight; 1996, dean, New Albany Deanery, while continuing as pastor, St. John the Baptist, Starlight; 2000, pastor, St. Lawrence, Indianapolis; 2006, reappointed pastor, St. Lawrence, Indianapolis; 2010, pastor, St. Rose of Lima, Franklin, and Holy Trinity, Edinburgh, director of the archdiocesan Office of Ecumenism;2014, sacramental assistance, Good Shepherd, Indianapolis; 2017, retired, while continuing with sacramental assistance, Good Shepherd, Indianapolis. Died April 2020.” 1