Ministry reflections

Recently retired priests in the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis have ministered for years in parishes across the archdiocese. The Catholic Spirit invited all priests who have retired since Sept. 1, 2022, to reflect on their ministries for this feature. The following priests — Father Patrick Hipwell, Father Terry Rassmussen and Father Steve Ulrick — agreed to be interviewed and share their stories with Barb Umberger and Dave Hrbacek, with photos by Dave Hrbacek. — The Catholic Spirit

By Dave Hrbacek The Catholic Spirit

When Father Patrick Hipwell retires from active ministry at the end of this month, he will continue doing what he has done for more than four decades — spend time with the many friends he has made in parishes where he has served.

The 73-year-old priest considers it “quite remarkable” to have been “surrounded by great people” during his years of ministry, dating back to his ordination in 1977.

“I have been befriended by people far beyond what a human being really has the right to expect in this life,” he said. “And, I feel very blessed.”

Most recently, he has been the pastor of Nativity of Our Lord in St. Paul, a role he has had for the last 15 1/2 years. That has been his longest assignment. He arrived in 2007, after Bishop Peter Christensen, the previous pastor, was ordained a bishop to serve in Superior, Wisconsin. Other parishes where Father Hipwell has served include Immaculate Heart of Mary in Minnetonka (1994-2007), St. Anne in Hamel (1988-1994), Maternity of Mary in St. Paul (1987-1988), Our Lady of Grace in Edina (1983-1987), St. Therese in Deephaven (19791983), St. John the Baptist in New Brighton (1978-1979) and St. Columba in St. Paul (1977-1978).

“I liked small town (ministry) in Hamel, I liked the

By Barb Umberger

The Catholic Spirit

Father Stephen Ulrick, who retires as pastor of Holy Name of Jesus in Medina July 1, said that he has too many highlights of his priesthood to name but a few.

“A priest gets invited into very sacred areas of people’s lives,” Father Ulrick said. They run the gamut of life from birth to death, including marriages and family crises and celebrations. “They’re all sacred areas,” he said. As a priest, he can “bring the Church’s blessing, sometimes be that instrument of the Lord who reminds them that he’s there or he’s guiding them through whatever is taking place, or he’s celebrating with them, whatever the event is,” he said.

Father Ulrick, 69, said his long ministry has presented special moments, including sacramental ministry to children whose parents he knew as children years ago at previous parishes he served. At this year’s first Communion service, for example, the mother of one of the second graders was a woman he had offered western ‘burbs and, of course, I like Nativity because it was basically the type of place I was raised in,” said Father Hipwell, who grew up in south Minneapolis and belonged to Annunciation, attending the elementary school there and later going to DeLaSalle High School in Minneapolis. “I’ve kind of run the gamut, and it’s all been good.”

At Nativity, he has been a part of the parish’s famous Nativity County Fair, which takes place every year in mid-September. Hundreds of volunteers eagerly participate every year, including a steering committee comprised of parishioners who “give it their all” to put on a three-day event that he calls “a well-oiled machine.”

“That county fair, for sure, sets the standard for church festivals,” he said. “I like it because it’s a nice kickoff in the fall.”

In the course of priestly ministry, he has enjoyed connecting with people at important times, like weddings and funerals. He found funerals particularly meaningful.

“Celebrating the funeral Mass of somebody who’s been a part of the eucharistic community is really a privilege,” he said. “We get a reinforcement of what the faith life is when we hand somebody over to the Lord after their earthly journey is over.”

Father Hipwell’s immediate plans for retirement first Communion to back when she worshipped at his former parish, St. Hubert in Chanhassen. And the father of one confirmation student was a student of Father Ulrick’s when he served at St. Joseph in Hopkins. “And the student’s mom was a second-grade teacher who helped mentor me into my teaching ministry by working with me,” preparing second graders for sacraments, he said. “So yeah, those memories are special.

“After 41 years of priesthood ministry, I get a lot of those and they’re special moments in a very special ministry,” Father Ulrick said. He also treasures the daily Mass communities that he’s been “privileged to walk with, to shepherd over the years.”

“As I move into retirement, that’s one of the things I will miss — that connection, unless the Lord fulfills it, and he’s going to fulfill it somehow,” Father Ulrick said. Being with parishioners at those times is both humbling and “what I’ve been called to do,” Father Ulrick said. And with the exception of celebrating sacraments, it’s the part of his vocation that he enjoys include moving to the Leo C. Byrne Residence for retired priests on Mississippi River Boulevard next to The St. Paul Seminary in St. Paul. He will step back from Nativity to let the incoming pastor, Father Rolf Tollefson, establish his ministry there.

“I will still be an active priest,” Father Hipwell said. “I already have gigs signed up for July and August. I’ll help my priest friends out when they need help — vacation help, weekend help. I plan to play a lot of bridge, read a lot, go walking. And I will enjoy not being tied to a very busy and strict schedule.” the most. “But flowing from that, just being a part of people’s lives,” he said.

Before Holy Name of Jesus, Father Ulrick served as FATHER ULRICK CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE