Father Paul Hedman, parochial vicar of St. Peter in Forest Lake, was ordained in 2020 for the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis. In 2021, he added teacher at the parish school to his responsibilities.
As the start of the school year approached last summer, the school needed someone to teach the sixth-grade religion block, Father Hedman said. His pastor, Father Daniel Bodin, asked if he would like to step into that role. “I was like, ‘Sure, could be fun,’” Father Hedman said. He returned this fall for his second year of teaching at the school.
Father Paul Hedman
Father Hedman recently joined “Practicing Catholic” radio show host Patrick Conley to describe his experience serving the parish as priest and classroom teacher.
While saying he is sad to miss officiating at some parish funerals and burials, as they are often scheduled the same time as his religion class, Father Hedman described finding a lot of fun and some challenges in his teaching role. Previously, he may have stopped in to visit a classroom, “but actually teaching a year-long class is just so much work,” he said. “I had so much more appreciation for all that our teachers do.”
Father Hedman said he often felt “wiped out” after teaching one class of sixth graders but “certainly full of blessings as well.”
It’s been “wonderful” seeing how a school operates, Father Hedman said, especially as he could someday be named pastor at a parish with a school and would not be “thrown in blind.”
His teaching experience has given him insight into the inner workings of the school, he said, and given him “such a great appreciation for all of our wonderful Catholic school teachers out there and all that they do, all the sacrifices that they make.”
In addition to describing his first-year teaching experience, Father Hedman offered tips to parents talking with their children at the end of a school day. For one, ask them to name one fun thing students learned that day, something they really enjoyed, or perhaps something confusing the parent could help with later when children complete homework, he said.
“Really just letting the kids know that you’re there for them as well, and want to help them and the school, and just being involved,” he said. “And of course, … a family that eats together stays together, a family that prays together stays together.”
Family dinners can be so important, if they can be shared even in the midst of sports and other commitments, Father Hedman said, including as a time to let children know “what’s important in life.”
During the interview, Conley asked Father Hedman for ways parents can get involved in helping the life of local Catholic schools, including ways to volunteer. To hear his response, and to hear the full interview, tune in to the 9 p.m. Sept. 9 “Practicing Catholic” show, which repeats at 1 p.m. Sept. 10 and 2 p.m. Sept. 11 on Relevant Radio 1330 AM.
Produced by Relevant Radio and the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis, the latest show also includes interviews with theologian Mark McInroy, associate professor and associate chair of the theology department at the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, who describes the theology of beauty; and Father Tom Margevicius, director of worship at the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis, who delivers his latest “Mass Class” on preparation of the gifts and the eucharistic prayer.
Listen to their interviews after they have aired:
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