Catholic Order of Foresters member Rev. Derek Gilde’s inspiring path from social worker to Catholic priest.
My name is Father Derek Gilde, and I am one of the 13 newly ordained priests for the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis who received the grace of holy orders on May 25, 2024. As a later-vocation seminarian, I previously served the community as a mental health social worker in Minnesota.
Not being raised Catholic, I did not hear God’s call to serve him as a priest until later in life as a convert to the faith. Initially, it was simply a desire to further Christ’s saving message of hope in a deeply wounded and needy world. Needing more time to wrestle with theology, the Lord quietly confirmed an invitation instead to tend to the bodily needs of human brokenness in the world, so I followed the path of social work. During my 15 years of public service, my faith and understanding of God’s presence in the world became more fully alive.
These years were equally beautiful but were also met with great struggles in reshaping who I am and the capacity to see God’s providence in the messiness of my life and those around me. It was mainly the people who suffered most, but clung to God’s word and overcame, that inspired me to not give up on my study of scripture and theological wrestling. One circumstance after another led me to find some of my most profound questions answered by the Catholic faith.
I made the fantastic grace-filled plunge and entered the Church in 2017. In the process, the holy fire of wanting to bring Christ to the community in a more concrete way unexpectedly struck me once again, and it was then that I discerned a call to the priesthood.
Around this time, I met longstanding Catholic Order of Foresters members Richard and Laverne Schultz at my home parish, St. Mary’s in Stillwater, Minnesota.
Upon learning I had left my former job at Washington County to enter the seminary, Richard kindly approached me after Mass one day and informed me about Catholic Order of Foresters (COF).
I am no longer employed; it just so happened to be that I was in the market for a term life insurance policy, and providentially, Catholic Order of Foresters offered that and a whole lot more!
What I discovered was that as a COF member and seminarian, I would receive prayers, words of encouragement, and annual financial gifts made possible by Catholic Order of Foresters members who raised funds for me by selling raffle tickets.
When in formation, a seminarian has few opportunities to work, and having the extra support to cover expenses and personal needs was a blessing.
Beyond that, knowing I had my friends’ support lifted me in countless ways. For this, I want to personally thank all of you for impacting my priestly formation and walking with me to serve God and His people at the altar.
Effective July 1, 2024, I have been assigned to serve as parochial vicar of St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in New Brighton, Minnesota. If you are ever in the area and wish to stop in, please do so. I would love to meet you.
May God bless you for being part of such a fantastic community!
Article by Rev. Derek Gilde