What brought you to this vocation? Serving Mass when I was in grade school, I started wanting to be a priest in 4th grad
Archdiocese of Seattle Seminarians and Recently Ordained Priest Profiles After graduating from the University of Michigan in Sociology. Paul moved to the NW in 1974 and began a career in Crisis Family Counseling. He worked for DSHS of Washington for 17 years. Following a divorce in 1986 he began a full life of lay ministry and involvement with the Church. Being divorced and over 30 he didn’t think the priesthood was an option, but it always felt like where he belonged. Inspired by hearing of a priest ordained at the age of 60, and his involvement at St. Michael in Olympia, he entered the Seminary in 2006. Ordained a Deacon on October 9, 2010 and will be ordained a priest on June 11, 2011.
What brought you to this vocation? Realizing this was how I was living my life. It’s what I was called to do. It was a reminder of my call to vocation at the age of 13. Once I took the first step. It all made sense. What has reaffirmed your choice while in the Seminary? The interactions with friends and ministerial experiences. My first night in Seminary it was a relief of knowing this is where I belong. It was like a light came on. What has you excited to become a priest? Being able to minister to broken people. Being there for people in times of stress to be a hope and source for calm in the middle of a storm. What is your favorite passage of scripture? Psalm 63 - I will lift up my hands in thy name.
Deacon Joe Altenhofen - Mundelein Seminary - Ordained: June 2010 Joe comes from St. Alphonsus in Ballard and was involved both as a Sacristan for the parish and ran an after school program for children. The second of four brothers, Joe attended O’Dea high school in Seattle. Before the Seminary, he graduated from UW. Joe attended Seminary at Mundelein, outside Chicago, and he was odained in June 2010. Many know Joe from the Seminarian Challenge at Archbishop’s Golf Tournament. This year, Joe is excited to bring a foursome from the new parish he gets assigned to.
What brought you to this vocation? Serving Mass when I was in grade school, I started wanting to be a priest in 4th grade. What has reaffirmed your choice while in the Seminary? Getting catechesis and teaching it during my parish experiences. What has you excited to become a priest? Celebrating the Eucharist, acting as the person of Christ for the people. What is your favorite passage of scripture? Psalm 18 - I love You Lord, You are my strength.
Archdiocese of Seattle Seminarians and Recently Ordained Priest Profiles Jerry Burns - Sacred Heart School of Theology - Ordained: June 2009 Jerry Burns comes from All Saints Parish in Puyallup. He ran his own business, working with school districts and other public institutions before applying to the seminary. Jerry went to high school in Whatcom County, and claims to have hit a baseball clear into Canada during a game. He is in his third year of theology at Sacred Heart. Jerry did his pastoral internship in Lewis County with Fr. Dave Mulholland.
What brought you to the Seminary? A constant thought throughout my life. I always had an attraction to the priesthood. It’s like the Gospel says: “To come and see.” The idea kept coming up in my mind, and I finally recognized the invitation. What reaffirmed your choice while in the Seminary? It was my pastoral year at St. Joseph in Chehalis; being amongst the people, part of the community. After a year there I didn’t want to leave, I felt closeness to the ministry. Why are you excited about becoming a priest? It addresses the big question in life. Why did God make me, and why am I here? I am here to know him, to love him and to serve him.
Todd Strange - Sacred Heart School of Theology - Ordained: June 2009
Deacon Todd Strange is from Central Indiana and became a Catholic as an adult. During his pastoral year he served at St. Anthony in Renton. He will be ordained on June 13, 2009.
What drew you to your vocation? I had a real love of faith that had been germinating in my twenties. I saw wonderful men who served as priests, and was moved by how they served in liturgy and then how they interacted with the people following Mass. I enjoyed my involvement in various service ministries such as soup kitchens and bringing my dogs to hospital visits.
What has reaffirmed your choice while in the Seminary? A Seminarian and Youth Rally with the Pope. I also went with Catholic Relief Services to Nicaragua in August 2008 to see how the US church serves all over the world. My pastoral year gave me an opportunity to realize how much people expect of and want to support their priest. What do you look forward to most about being a priest? I’ve been able to recognize all sorts of experieces in my life which shaped me. It indicates to me that God has things in store for me that I can’t even imagine. The day we are acceptd as Seminarians, we start thinking what our lives will be like as priests. There is a certain amount of excitement and a little fear to be finally ready to do it.
Archdiocese of Seattle Seminarians and Recently Ordained Priest Profiles Jack Shrum - Mount Angel Seminary - Ordained: June 2008 Deacon Jack Shrum was born in Montana, but grew up in Snohomish County. He had completed two years of college when he was accepted as a Mount Angel seminarian. Deacon Shrum has learned the art of iconography, and has created several icons for parishes in the Archdiocese. He is fluent in Spanish, and has done his intershp at St. Charles Borromeo in Tacoma. Archbishop Brunett ordained Jack a deacon last August at his home parish of Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Everett.
What brought you to the Seminary? In Italy I was able to see Pope John Paul II and to make a pilgrimage to the original shrine of Our Lady of Perpetual Help. During the novena I started weeping with a strong sense of gratitude for the gift of my life from God. After the service I got down on my knees and told God, “Guide me to do Your will.” What reaffirmed your choice while in the Seminary? I’ve always kept stock of where I’ve been in my discernment. Every year I go over this and I’ve always felt that I am in the right place. During my pastoral year, I really enjoyed sharing the ministry with the people and being part of the parish. Why are you excited about becoming a priest? I’m looking forward to bringing people into the Church and sharing sacraments with the parish community.
