Fr. Dale Allder Reflects on a Faith Journey that Began in Our Parish “It Takes a Parish to Raise a Priest”

Experiencing Rome strongly influenced Fr. Dale Allder’s calling to the priesthood, and after traveling to the seat of the Catholic Church in high school, Fr. Allder returned during his priestly formation.

“Rome is where I first had a taste of the global scope, the ‘catholic’ element, of Catholicism,” Fr. Allder says. “Returning to Rome was one of the greatest highlights of seminary. I was able to embrace and to soak in so much more than when I was there as a high school student.”

Born in Lincoln, Neb., Fr. Allder is the son of Dave and Nancy Allder, Parish Secretary at St. Peter Catholic Church. He considers St. Peter as his home parish.

“In some sense, it takes a parish to raise a priest, and this is my home parish,” Fr. Allder says. “Without this community, I wouldn’t be who I am today.”

Fr. Allder felt his early callings to the priesthood during grade school while training to be an altar server.

“We were so close to everything on the altar,” Fr. Allder says. “I loved serving at the 8 a.m. Mass, and my parents still attend it.”

Another influence was a Leadership Camp that Fr. Allder attended in grade school. Also, in the Diocese of Lincoln, many excellent priests modeled for Fr. Allder the joy that comes from the life of the priesthood.

Although Fr. Allder had considered the priesthood since high school, it wasn’t until college that he committed to pursuing it.

“I always knew the priesthood was a Fr. Dale Allder thought, but I also felt encouraged to go to college and get a degree,” Fr. Allder says. “I had good grades and received a scholarship for UNL to study engineering. It was difficult to make the choice for the priesthood, but once I did, it was easy to stick with it.”

Fr. Allder studied philosophy at St. Gregory the Great in Seward, Neb., and then spent a few years at Mount St. Mary’s Seminary in Emmitsburg, Md. While he enjoyed the academic aspects of formation, he really embraced ministry.

“I would consider myself a nerd by many metrics, but actually being out in the field and bringing Jesus into people’s lives was such a challenging and rewarding experience,” Fr. Allder says. “Once such experience was the summer I was assigned to Madonna, the rehabilitation hospital here. I encountered intense suffering in many patients, but ministering to them brought me great joy.”

On May 29, 2021, Fr. Allder was ordained to the priesthood and has since been able to do what he was most looking forward to, namely celebrate the sacraments.

Fr. Allder will be in McCook, Neb., where he is assigned to serve the faith communities at St. Patrick Church and two mission parishes, St. Ann and Sacred Heart.

“I didn’t want the assignment to be my decision because I don’t know the needs of different parishes, but the Bishop does, so he knows where I’ll be more effective,” Fr. Allder says.

As young people discern their vocations, Fr. Allder would encourage them to pray and to foster a devotion to particular saints, for the saints always intercede on our behalf.

“Honestly, the advice given throughout the ages is tried and true — so prayer, devotion to the saints, and fasting,” Fr. Allder says. “If you — or anyone — think you know your vocation, then pray that you can live it out. Have the courage to live it out.”

Newly ordained Fr. Dale Allder celebrates his first Mass as a priest at St. Peter Parish.

Fr. Dale Allder