For Father Nathaniel Daubner, who was ordained to the priesthood June 7 by Bishop Patrick Neary, his time as a transitional deacon brought a greater desire to serve in priestly vocation and a ‘deeper realization’ of spiritual fatherhood.
“I experienced the challenges of grief with families and joyful moments playing with the youth. I saw how beautiful that was and felt so much love as a result,” Father Daubner said.
After their ordination to the diaconate, seminarians serve an Area Catholic Community for the summer. Father Daubner was assigned to Come to the Water ACC, which includes St. Mary in Alexandria, Immaculate Conception in Osakis and St. Nicholas in Belle River.
His responsibilities included visiting the homebound.
“I would go week after week. It was such a joy to build those relationships,” Father Daubner said.
Back at Saint Paul Seminary that fall, he received an unexpected call. One of the elderly women he visited regularly had passed away. Her daughter called to let him know and to share how meaningful Father Daubner’s visits had been.
“It was so cool to be remembered in that way and to hear that I had an impact on her mom,” he said. “Those reactions, those moments help me remember ‘oh, this is why I’ve chosen this and why I’m studying and writing papers and taking exams.”
Seminarians are also assigned a teaching parish during their final year of study. Father Daubner served the Haven of Mercy ACC, which includes the parishes of St. Mary in Little Falls, Holy Family in Belle Prairie, Our Lady of Lourdes in Little Falls, Sacred Heart in Flensburg, St. James in Randall, and St. Stanislaus in Sobieski.
His work in this ACC continued to define his role as a spiritual father.
“It was tough leaving my teaching parish for the last time, but there is the reality of being called to a whole new parish, to walk with new spiritual children.”
He continued, “You don’t have the same relationship with your parishioners as a biological father does with a son, but there is that sense that I had as a deacon, now as a priest, that you are given the task to care for these souls. There’s a deep love for those people and a deep care that I have for them.”
His first weeks after his June 7 ordination will include his first Mass at his home parish, St. Mary in Milaca, time with his family, parents Nathan and Jennifer Daubner, and his seven siblings, a visit to the ordination of his classmates in Connecticut and speaking at discernment retreat in Milaca.
On July 1, he will begin his role as a parochial vicar of the parishes of Holy Cross, Butler; Sacred Heart, Dent; St. Henry, Perham; and St. Lawrence, Rush Lake.
There, it makes no difference to him if he’s called Father, Father Nathaniel or Father Daubner. He accepts all three gratefully.
“It’s a beautiful thing [being called Father], he said. “It reminds me that I’m a father to my community, but it also reminds me that I’ve been given the gift of the priesthood. It’s like ‘Wow! This is a gift!’ and I can’t forget that.”
Pictured above: During the Rite of Ordination, Nathaniel Daubner places his hands between Bishop Patrick Neary’s hands and promises obedience and respect. (Dianne Towalski / The Central Minnesota Catholic)
