Introducing Fr. Nels Gjengdahl, Assisting Sacramental Minister

Beginning this August, Fr. Nels Gjengdahl will be assigned as Sacramental Minister here at the Newman Center. This means he will be assisting Fr. Jake in sacramental duties such as Mass and Confession. His primary assignment will be at the Saint Paul Seminary assisting in the formation of seminarians.

Bio:
I was born in North St. Paul, MN and attended North Dakota State University, originally to study engineering.  I had a spiritual awakening while at NDSU with the help of the Newman Center in Fargo.  As a result, I put engineering studies aside and entered the seminary.

I was ordained a priest in 2007 and served for three years at St. Odilia parish in Shoreview, MN.  In 2010, I received a new and surprising assignment: Chaplain of Saint Thomas Academy, a high school in Mendota Heights.  I served as a full-time teacher and chaplain for seven years.

Following Saint Thomas Academy, I was pastor of Nativity of Mary parish in Bloomington, MN for a couple of years before I returned to high school ministry, this time at Holy Family Catholic High School in Victoria, MN.  I served at that school as a teacher and chaplain for the last four years.  I will now begin my ministry at St. Paul Seminary, helping in the formation of seminarians who are preparing for the priesthood.

My personal passions include disc golf, movies and especially hockey.  A fellow priest and I are trying to see a game in every NHL arena.  We have been to 29 so far.  Both of my parents are graduates of the U of M and I hope to attend many Gopher sporting events, including the hockey games.