Note From The Pastor,
 
 
As I write this first bulletin note as your pastor, I want to take the opportunity to introduce myself and help you begin to know who I am and how I will begin serving as the pastor of both Holy Spirit Church and St. John Vianney Church.
 
I am not a native Hoosier or originally from the Diocese of Lafayette, Indiana.   I was born in St. Paul, Minnesota and primarily grew up in a small town just west of Minneapolis.  I have one brother and four sisters.  My parents divorced and my father is remarried.  Both parents are living in Minnesota.  My mother is in assisted living with the Little Sisters of the Poor in St. Paul.
 
Immediately after High School, I went to broadcast school looking for a career in radio and TV.  That changed and I first came to Indiana at age 21 to begin a college program for men considering priesthood. The program was in Fort Wayne and run by a religious order, the Crosier Fathers and Brothers.  I attended Purdue University at Fort Wayne and received a degree in Psychology.  After college I entered the order.
 
In 1990 I was ordained a priest for the Crosiers (Monday, Aug. 24 is the anniversary) and served in Minnesota as a priest for the next 13 years.  When the order moved to be more monastic, I sought an assignment outside the order and contacted the bishop of the Lafayette Diocese, then Bishop Higi, who offered me the position to assist in establishing Guerin Catholic High School.  I served there until 2011, when I was assigned to serve as both Vicar for Clergy (clergy personnel director) and Pastor of Sacred Heart of Jesus in Cicero. 
 
As a priest I have served in parish work, campus ministry, vocation ministry, teaching, school administration, chancery administration, and spiritual direction. In additional to my seminary degree, Master of Divinity, I received a Master of Arts in Christian Spirituality and Spiritual Direction.  I have served in small and very large parishes, one over 4300 families. I very much love being a priest and parish work.
 
Often people will ask what I do for enjoyment.  I like to read a wide variety of literature, exercise outdoors (primary walking), visit with friends.  I enjoy soccer. I have coached, refereed, and I played competitively up until about three years ago.  I’m not a fan of a particular team.  I just love the sport.

My style is to ask a lot of questions.  With the size and scope of both parishes, I expect I will have a lot to learn and will spend much of the first month asking questions and learning the what, how and why of these two faith communities.  I ask for your patience and willingness to share.
 
All the priests assigned to the pastorate will share in the duties at both parishes.   Fr. Matthew Arbuckle and
Fr. Cole Daily are assigned as Parochial Vicars (assistant pastor).   Fr. Daily and I will live in the rectory at
Holy Spirit.  Fr. Matthew Arbuckle will live in the rectory at St. John Vianney.  Fr. Derek Aaron, Associate Director of Vocations for the Diocese, will be assisting on an occasional basis and will live in the St. John Vianney rectory with Fr. Arbuckle. 
 
Finally, please know I feel both humbled and honored to be asked to serve as your pastor.  I know many of you are wondering what will be my approach to this ministry.  Simply I would say, prayerful discernment.  I believe that everything should begin and end with prayer.  You will hear me speak about, invite and call us all to grow in our prayer, our connection with our Lord.  Please know I will be praying for you each and every day.  I ask for your prayers.  Please also pray for the other priests assigned to our pastorate. 
 
 “Prayer can truly change your life. For it turns your attention away from yourself and directs your mind and your heart toward the Lord. If we look only at ourselves, with our own limitations and sins, we quickly give way to sadness and discouragement. But if we keep our eyes fixed on the Lord, then our hearts are filled with hope, our minds are washed in the light of truth, and we come to know the fullness of the Gospel with all its promise and life.” 
~  Saint Pope John Paul II

Yours in Christ,
Fr. Dale