Father Mark Underdahl

Father Mark Underdahl

Father Mark Underdahl said he believes that his vocation to the priesthood was borne out of his experience at his home parish, St. Gabriel the Archangel in Hopkins, and the example of his pastors as he grew up. “But in many regards, it was through the love and support of our family and friends,” he said. “And that certainly continues today.”

As he marks 25 years as a priest, Father Underdahl especially credited his grandmothers, both now deceased, but his maternal grandmother in particular, describing her as like angel wings on his shoulder.

Father Underdahl needed those wings March 20, 2019, when he had a disabling stroke at 51, at the parish where he serves as pastor, St. Francis of Assisi in Lake St. Croix Beach. He had symptoms while at one end of the building, tried to get back to his residence but made it as far as the chapel, where he sat down in front of the Blessed Sacrament and called for help.

With hospitalization and therapy, he was away from the parish for three months. He remains grateful for his care teams, his family and his parish family. “I thank God every day for my assignment,” he said. In addition to help provided by parish staff and parishioners, the parish layout is accessible for people who use a walker or cane, which he does.

“I am so grateful for their assistance,” Father Underdahl said. “It’s very humbling for me to receive that.” He has right side weakness and needs help with things like putting on vestments and carrying items.

“The whole experience was just a profound experience of life and love,” he said. Many people have prayed for his recovery, and as a minister accustomed to visiting people in hospital rooms, he has become more aware of things that patients might be feeling or experiencing.

He suggests to new priests that they get to know their parishioners and not be afraid of situations that might be uncomfortable or difficult. “Even though I’m not as active as I used to be, I’m a very hands-on, active kind of priest,” he said. “The sacraments become so much more meaningful when you know (someone’s) story or know part of their lives, or even when you know their name. So, I try to get to know as many of the people as I can.”

Because of COVID-related restrictions earlier this year at the Cathedral of St. Paul in St. Paul, where St. Francis of Assisi parishioners are normally confirmed, Father Underdahl was able to confirm his parish’s six entrants to full communion with the Church this year on Pentecost Sunday, May 23, at their parish. He also served as co-catechist, teaching the classes since last September. He said it was valuable for those entering the Church — all six were freshmen in high school — to see their pastor as “a real person.”

He said confirmation was a beautiful, awe-inspiring and “very personal” experience. “We just felt the Holy Spirit alive,” he said. “I’m getting tears in my eyes just talking about it, because it was such a powerful experience to know the kids and their struggles and their joys, and to see them filled with the Holy Spirit that day, to see them transformed.”