Father Herbert J. Raterman, SJ, Jesuit priest, radio host and counselor died on October 9, 2013, in Clarkston, Michigan.

A native of Cincinnati, Father Raterman attended Holy Family grammar and middle school before attending Elder High in Cincinnati for two years. After completing two years at Elder High, Fr. Raterman transferred to St. Xavier High where he graduated in 1942. His time at St. Xavier started him down the path to becoming a Jesuit, and he quickly entered the novitiate in Milford, Ohio, in 1942.

While studying to be a Jesuit, Fr. Raterman earned a BA and MA in English from Loyola University Chicago. He was ordained a priest on June 15, 1955, at West Baden, Indiana.

After completing his studies and ordination, Fr. Raterman was assigned to St. Ignatius High School in Chicago. At St. Ignatius Fr. Raterman was a student counselor and athletic director until 1959. In the fall of 1959, Fr. Raterman began his service at St. Xavier High School in Cincinnati serving as a student counselor at St. Xavier until 1969. “I will never forget Fr. Raterman at St. Xavier High School,” said former student Thomas Gardner. “He was one of many great people I remember from there in the early 60s and he stood out among the greatest.” In 1969 Fr. Raterman began a new project at St. Xavier, an Adult and Youth Sex Education Program. He joined LaSalle High School in Cincinnati in 1972 as the Chaplain for Students.

In 1979, Fr. Raterman developed a radio program that reached out to shut-ins, the elderly, and the sick. Father Raterman noticed how uplifting a visit from a priest could be for those who couldn’t leave their house or a hospital. However, there weren’t enough priests to make regular visits so he created Moments of Reparation. On December 31, 1979, the first program of Moments of Reparation was aired. At the time of Fr. Raterman’s death the program had daily broadcasts in 9 cities and was available on the internet. The format of Moments of Reparation has stayed the same in the 25 years since it was started; it is a do-it-with-them format. Each program included the Morning Offering, the Litany of the Sacred Heart, and a decade of the Rosary. In his years a moderator of Moments of Reparation, Fr. Raterman reached out to millions of Catholics and brought Christ to them.

Father Raterman moved to Colombiere Jesuit Community in Clarkston, Michigan, in 2005 where he remained until his death.

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