Fr. Dale Allder Reflects on a Faith Journey that Began in Our Parish
“It Takes a Parish to Raise a Priest”
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xperiencing Rome strongly influenced Fr. Allder says. “I loved serving at the 8 a.m. Mass, Dale Allder’s calling to the priesthood, and my parents still attend it.” and after traveling to the seat of the Another influence was a Leadership Catholic Church in high school, Fr. Camp that Fr. Allder attended in Allder returned during his priestly grade school. Also, in the Diocese formation. of Lincoln, many excellent priests “Rome is where I first had a taste modeled for Fr. Allder the joy that of the global scope, the ‘catholic’ comes from the life of the priesthood. element, of Catholicism,” Fr. Allder Although Fr. Allder had considered says. “Returning to Rome was one of the priesthood since high school, it the greatest highlights of seminary. I wasn’t until college that he committed to was able to embrace and to soak in so pursuing it. much more than when I was there as a high “I always knew the priesthood was a school student.” thought, but I also felt encouraged to go to Fr. Dale Allder Born in Lincoln, Neb., Fr. Allder is the college and get a degree,” Fr. Allder says. “I son of Dave and Nancy Allder, Parish Secretary at St. had good grades and received a scholarship for UNL to Peter Catholic Church. He considers St. Peter as his study engineering. It was difficult to make the choice home parish. for the priesthood, but once I did, it was easy to stick “In some sense, it takes a parish to raise a priest, and with it.” this is my home parish,” Fr. Allder says. “Without this Fr. Allder studied philosophy at St. Gregory the community, I wouldn’t be who I am today.” Great in Seward, Neb., and then spent a few years at Fr. Allder felt his early callings to the priesthood Mount St. Mary’s Seminary in Emmitsburg, Md. While during grade school while training to be an altar server. he enjoyed the academic aspects of formation, he really “We were so close to everything on the altar,” Fr. embraced ministry. continued on back cover
Newly ordained Fr. Dale Allder celebrates his first Mass as a priest at St. Peter Parish.
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