St. Cloud Priest Helping Fill Bus Driver Shortage

(KNSI) – A St. Cloud priest is helping fill the bus driver shortage for Cathedral High School.

Last fall, the school’s activities director sent out an email about a bus driver shortage leading to parents having to get kids to activities and events. Father Doug Liebsch, Cathedral’s Chaplin and the vocations director for the Diocese of St. Cloud, decided to get his bus driver’s license and help.

“I couldn’t really do it in the fall. I was a little bit more tied up. And then in January, I reached out to Voigt’s [bus service]. And then, I went through the process. There are four written tests that were a little bit more difficult than I thought, it definitely took some study. They gave me a thick binder. And then, I took my behind the wheel test a couple weeks ago.”

Thursday was the first time Father Doug put his new skills to use. He said his responsibility to the kids and their families isn’t lost on him.

“When I got on the bus yesterday, with the high schoolers, I was like ‘we definitely have to pray.’ I was a little bit nervous [it was] the first time going [on the bus], but then really reflecting, too on [the] precious cargo. Of course, all of the students’ lives in the vehicle, but then I’m really entrusted with the care of their souls as well, as a priest.”

He says driving the bus gives him another chance to reach Cathedral students.

“I think it’s just a good way to connect with them and gets me to their events, which I try to get to anyways. It’s a unique thing to be able to connect with them as the bus driver and just know the point of connection.”

Father Doug has a hectic schedule but says he will help drive for school events twice a month.

If you’re interested in becoming a bus driver, contact Cathedral High School’s, Emmett Keenan.

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