‘I learned the importance of walking with people’
By Jeff Kurowski | On Mission
ALLOUEZ — Twenty-five years ago, when Bishop Emeritus Robert Banks provided Fr. Mark Vander Steeg a few dates as options for his ordination to the priesthood, it was an easy choice. Fr. Vander Steeg selected July 10, the birthday of his mother, Marjory.
“For years and years and years, we would go out to the Carmelite monastery in Denmark to offer a thanksgiving Mass for my priesthood and a thanksgiving Mass for her birthday,” he said.
Fr. Vander Steeg, who currently serves the Diocese of Green Bay as vicar for clergy and pastoral leaders, has a special connection to the monastery. He said that when he was 17 or 18 years old and discerned to continue looking at the priesthood, he gave the Carmelites his name for prayers.
“Mom used to always come with me (on July 10). We had pictures taken in front of the Carmelite monastery year after year,” he said with a smile. “She just turned 87.”
A Green Bay native, Fr. Vander Steeg points to growing up as a member of St. Patrick Parish as having a significant impact on his vocation.
“I was moved by the Mass in second grade, the consecration of the Mass,” he said. “My childhood pastor, Fr. John O’Brien, was a devout, good man. I served as an altar (server) all my younger years.”
He also credits his Evangelical friends at Green Bay West High School for challenging him about his Catholic faith, which, in turn, he said led him to dig deeper.
“I found the books that my mother studied,” he said. “It captured my heart. It confirmed all the early inspirations.”
The support of his family also played a role, he added. His mother was the coordinator of religious education at St. Patrick Parish for many years. Fr. Vander Steeg said he fondly remembers her handwritten lesson plans.
When Fr. Vander Steeg was still in high school, his father, Leon, died. But, before that, he knew that his son wanted to be a priest.
“I had floated that by him before he passed away. I told him I was thinking about becoming a priest. He was so happy,” said Fr. Vander Steeg. “He told everyone.”
Fr. Vander Steeg is the youngest of nine children in his family.
“My brother, Paul, who is wonderful, fun and faithful, likes to say, ‘Eight is great, but nine is divine.’ He’s number eight,” said Fr. Vander Steeg. “I have four brothers and four sisters. I was the tiebreaker.”
Following his ordination the priesthood in 1999, Fr. Vander Steeg, who earned a degree from Marquette University in Milwaukee before studying at the Pontifical North American College in Rome, spent the summer serving at SS. Peter and Paul Parish, Green Bay. In the fall, he returned to Rome as a priest to complete a degree in biblical theology from Gregorian University.
“That was a glorious year,” he said. “I did six months in Rome and then I wrapped up my studies with six months in Jerusalem, in the Holy Land. I then took my final exams and came home.”
Fr. Vander Steeg was appointed an associate pastor (parochial vicar) at St. Pius X Parish, Appleton, where he served for four years. His next parish assignment was as pastor at St. Mary Parish, Greenville, which, he said, “changed my life.”
“Those friends are friends for a lifetime. Those young people there that I mentored and accompanied went on youth trips and March for Life trips with me, became married and have families,” he said. “They’re friends to this day. I learned the importance of walking with people.”
Two years into his assignment in Greenville, Fr. Vander Steeg also became pastor of St. Edward Parish, Mackville. In 2012, Fr. Vander Steeg was appointed pastor at St. Bernard Parish, Green Bay, where he served for 11 years. He describes his parish ministry experiences as “true joy.”
He said that he’s learned to trust in the providence of God as a priest.
“The longer I’m a priest, you see the golden thread of providence weaved through life stories and sufferings, lessons, joys, contacts and people, how incredibly lovingly interested God is in the intricacies of our lives. This sovereign power to work all things for the good of those who love him,” he said.
Fr. Vander Steeg recently surpassed one year as vicar for clergy and pastoral leaders. He strives to be a “bridge to the younger and older priests.”
“We have such a respectful presbyterate here,” he said. “I want to help unite the priests more closely in fraternity.”
As far as his future path as a priest, Fr. Vander Steeg said that he will continue to follow advice that an older priest shared with one of his seminary classmates.
“Don’t ask for assignments. You can pray about them, but accept what is offered to you,” he said. “Find great peace in accepting what comes your way.”
