Father Rassmussen: from Franciscan friar to archdiocesan priest

By Barb Umberger The Catholic Spirit

Father Terrence “Terry” Rassmussen, 73, is retiring July 1 from the one parish he served as an archdiocesan priest: St. Joseph in New Hope, his home for the past 17 years. Father Rassmussen incardinated to the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis in 2006 after initially serving the Church as a Franciscan friar.

Father Rassmussen recalled the influence of his parish priest when he was discerning the priesthood. At the time, he was studying at Normandale College in Bloomington and his family attended St. Edward in Bloomington, with Father Paul Dudley as pastor.

“He was a wonderful example of priesthood to me,”

Father Rassmussen said. “He was always cheerful, hugged people, so compassionate, and I thought, he really makes priesthood look like something I would want to do.”

Because he knew Franciscan friars in Chaska, Father Rassmussen entered the Conventual Franciscan Order at Mount St. Francis, Indiana, in 1970, and was ordained a religious order priest in 1979. His assignments included St. Cecilia in Ames, Iowa; the Shrine of Our Lady of Consolation in Carey, Ohio; St. Bonaventure in Bloomington; St. Joseph University in Terra Haute, Indiana; and back to St. Cecilia, this time as pastor.

The main reason he switched in 2006 from a religious

FATHER ULRICK CONTINUED FROM PREVIOUS PAGE pastor of Nativity of the Blessed Virgin in Bloomington (2005-2011), pastor of St. Hubert in Chanhassen (19912005), parochial vicar of St. Thomas Aquinas in St. Paul Park (1989-1991), chaplain at Children’s Hospitals and Clinics, and United Hospital in St. Paul (1988-1989), parochial vicar at St. Joseph in Hopkins (1984-1988) and associate pastor of St. Matthew in St. Paul (1982-1984). He also served as a regional vicar for the archdiocesan order priest was that “the friars were pulling out of parishes, which we’ve seen here in the Twin Cities, too,”

Father Rassmussen said. “And I wanted to be a parish priest in Minnesota.” He was born in Grand Rapids and has six living siblings; being near family is important to him, he said.

Father Rassmussen said he has enjoyed having liturgies at St. Joseph and is grateful for “a good staff.” The parish also has a reputation for its “very good youth program” and “effective marriage mentor couples,” he said. “It has been a joy to work with them, to kind of share the ministry of helping engaged couples prepare for marriage,” he said.

As he looks to retirement, Father Rassmussen said he has mixed emotions, in part because St. Joseph has been “a wonderful parish” and a place where he has made good friends. “I will miss all of the different ministries that I was involved in here and the people that I’ve gotten to know.”

Challenges over the years have included paying for a new sanctuary, although that debt was paid fairly quickly, and getting through the COVID-19 pandemic, Father Rassmussen said. Overcoming those challenges, “that’s what makes me feel a little bit better about retiring now, because COVID is pretty much done and things are back to normal,” he said. “It just feels like the time is right.”

Chancery (2013-2016), and he is a member of the Archdiocesan Corporate Board of Directors and the Archdiocesan Finance Council.

Holy Name of Jesus is “a very active parish,” Father Ulrick said, “and it’s a lot of fun.” For example, the parish has two youth ministers and 300 or more children on site for vacation Bible school. With younger children participating, middle school and high school students serve as mentors, he said.

His retirement plans are still unfolding, Father Ulrick said, but he wants to be available to assist priests. In fact, he is already helping some parishes on weekends. “Retired priests say you do keep busy,” he said, which he welcomes. Father Ulrick also wants travel to be part of his retirement, though he has no particular destination in mind yet. He also enjoys biking.

Following retirement, Father Rassmussen said he plans to help at parishes, and will likely spend time kayaking on Medicine Lake or other waterways. His youngest sister and her family have a cabin near Motley, Minnesota, which he enjoys visiting — “swimming and fishing and just enjoying a relaxing time at the lake,” he said.

In August, he will play guitar and sing with his band “The Holy Ground” when it performs at the Irish Fair on Harriet Island in St. Paul. Half Irish and the only clergy member of the band, Father Rassmussen said he and his friends perform three or four times a year.

Life will be different in retirement, not shepherding in the way he used to. “I don’t know what that’s going to look like, but I trust that the Lord has something in mind,” he said. “So, it’ll change, not end.”

2023

• WI Shrines (Fr. Grundman/Fr.Mischke) Sept 18 20

• Midwest Shrines (Fr. Todd) Sept 25 Oct 2

• WI Shrines Solemnity Day (Deacon Dan) Oct 8 11

• Branson Miracle of Christmas Nov 30 Dec 3

2024

• Our Lady of Guadalupe/Mexico City February

• Ireland Pub/Pew (Fr. Peter/Fr. Popp) April 2 12

• Holy Land (Fr. Fitz/Fr. Clinton) April 11 22

• Eucharistic Revival/IN (St. Cloud Diocese) July 17 21

• CA Mission/Wineries (Fr. Binsfeld) October

• Poland & Prague October

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