News Release #384

Two Seminarians of the Diocese of New Ulm to be ordained to the priesthood

July 2 in New Ulm

New Ulm, MN – The Most Reverend John C. Nienstedt, bishop of the Catholic Diocese of New Ulm, will ordain to the Holy Order of Priesthood two seminarians of the diocese. Deacon Mark Steffl a member of St. Mary Parish in New Ulm, and Deacon Craig Timmerman, a member of St. Clotilde Parish in Green Valley , will become priests of the Diocese of New Ulm on July 2, 2005, 10:00 a.m. at the Cathedral of the Holy Trinity, New Ulm.

Deacon Mark Steffl, age 29, is the son of Mark and Mary Steffl of New Ulm. He attended Cathedral High School in New Ulm graduating in 1993, and attended St. Cloud State University receiving a Bachelor's degree in accounting prior to entering the pre-Theology Program at St. Paul Seminary. Deacon Mark has attended the North American College in Rome since the fall of 2000 and was ordained to the diaconate on October 9, 2003 and returned to the diocese for his internship year, serving at the Cathedral of the Holy Trinity in New Ulm. Following his internship he returned to Rome to continue his studies. After his ordination to the priesthood he will return to the North American College to complete his license in Sacred Theology in Fundamental Theology at the Gregorian University in Rome .

Deacon Mark's past assignments prior to ordination in the Diocese of New Ulm have been working in the Diocesan Tribunal, St Mary Parish in Willmar, and St Philip Parish in Litchfield.

Fr. Steffl will offer a Mass of Thanksgiving on Sunday, July 3, 2005 at 10:00 a.m. at St. Mary Parish in New Ulm, and on Sunday July 10, 2005 at 9:30 a.m. at the Cathedral of the Holy Trinity in New Ulm .

Deacon Craig Timmerman, age 27, is the son of Gary and Patricia Timmerman of Marshall . He attended Lake View High School in Cottonwood and graduated in 1996 and attended St. John Vianney College Seminary and the University of St. Thomas, graduating in May of 2000. He has attended the North American College in Rome since the fall of 2000. He was ordained to the diaconate October 9, 2003 and served his internship year at Holy Redeemer Parish in Marshall. He then returned to Rome to continue his studies. Following his ordination to the priesthood he will return to the North American College to complete his license in Sacred Theology in Marriage and Family.

Fr. Timmerman will offer a Mass of Thanksgiving on Sunday, July 3, 2005 at 2:30 p.m. at St. Clotilde Parish in Green Valley.

For further information, please contact the diocesan Office of Communication, (507) 359-2966; email : dnu@dnu.org