2007 Ordinations
Rev. Peter McCormick, C.S.C., Rev. James Gallagher, C.S.C., Rev. Gregory Haake, C.S.C. and Rev. Stephen Koeth, C.S.C., in front of the chapel at Moreau Seminary at the University of Notre Dame.
The Indiana Province of the Congregation of Holy Cross ordained four new priests on Apr. 14, 2007 at 2:30 p.m. at the Basilica of the Sacred Heart, located at the University of Notre Dame. The Most Reverend Daniel R. Jenky, C.S.C., Bishop of Peoria, conferred the Sacrament of Holy Orders on Rev. Stephen M. Koeth, C.S.C., Rev. James T. Gallagher, C.S.C., Rev. Gregory P. Haake, C.S.C., and Rev. Peter M. McCormick, C.S.C.
“These men bring energy and hope for us as a community and for the many people we serve throughout the world,” says Rev. Edwin H. Obermiller, C.S.C., director of the Office of Vocations, Congregation of Holy Cross, Indiana Province. “We welcome them with joy.”
Rev. Stephen M. Koeth, C.S.C.
Originally from Staten Island, NY, Fr. Stephen attended Our Lady Queen of Peace Grade School and Saint Joseph by-the-Sea High School, before entering the University of Notre Dame as a freshman in the fall of 1995. After graduating from Notre Dame in the spring of 1999 with a degree in history, Fr. Stephen worked at the University as an intern in the Office of Campus Ministry.
Upon completion of two years of theology studies in the Notre Dame Master of Divinity Program, Fr. Stephen spent a year working as a seminarian intern at Holy Redeemer Parish in Portland, Ore. He taught eighth grade religion in the parish school and assisted with liturgies in the parish.
Returning to Notre Dame, Fr. Stephen completed his theological studies and finished his initial formation at Moreau Seminary. He graduated with his Master of Divinity degree in May of 2006 and was re-assigned to Holy Redeemer Parish in Portland, Ore., this time as a deacon.
Fr. Stephen celebrated a Mass of Thanksgiving in the Basilica of the Sacred Heart on the Notre Dame campus, Sunday, Apr. 15 at 10:00 a.m. That evening, he also celebrated a Mass of Thanksgiving at 10:00 p.m. in Siegfried Hall’s Our Lady Seat of Wisdom Chapel at Notre Dame. His first Mass at Holy Redeemer Parish in Portland, Ore. will be celebrated Apr. 22 at 10:00 a.m. and in his home parish, Our Lady Queen of Peace Catholic Church, Staten Island, New York on Sunday, May 20 at 1:15 p.m.
Rev. James T. Gallagher, C.S.C.
The sixth of seven children for William and Mary Gallagher, Fr. Jim grew up in South Bend, Ind., where he attended Christ the King Elementary School and St. Joseph’s High School. He went on to the University of Notre Dame and finished his initial round of studies with a degree in aerospace engineering.
While in grade school Fr. Jim would often tell those who asked that he would like to be a priest when he grew up. It wasn’t until a year and a half after graduation from college when he was working as a civilian contractor on an Air Force base in Colorado that he began to give serious thought to that original idea.
Fr. Jim entered Moreau Seminary in the fall of 2000. During his course of studies, he spent a year as a pastoral intern at the University of Portland. He returned there for his placement as a deacon, serving as director of liturgy at the Chapel of Christ the Teacher, the director of several retreat programs, and as the pastoral resident in Villa Maria Hall.
Fr. Jim celebrated a Mass of Thanksgiving at Christ the King Parish in South Bend, Ind. on Sunday, Apr. 15 at 12:15 p.m., which was followed by a reception in the church basement. He will also celebrate Masses of Thanksgiving at the University of Portland in Villa Maria on Tuesday, Apr. 17 at 10:00 p.m. and at the Chapel of Christ the Teacher at 10:30 a.m. and 9:00 p.m. on Sunday, Apr. 22, 2007.
Rev. Gregory P. Haake, C.S.C.
During his senior year of high school, Fr. Greg decided to attend the University of Notre Dame, the first in his family of four boys, and enrolled as a freshman in the fall of 1995. In the classroom, he studied French Language and Literature, and he also played the trumpet in the University of Notre Dame marching band for two years.
After graduation in 1999, Fr. Greg volunteered in the Alum Service Corps, a one-year service program in the Missouri Province of the Jesuits. He taught French and music and coached cross-country and track at DeSmet Jesuit High School in St. Louis, Mo. While at DeSmet, Fr. Greg met a priest who subtly pressed the vocation issue and helped him with his decision to enter the seminary.
Fr. Greg graduated with a Master of Divinity degree from Notre Dame in 2006 and then moved to Holy Cross and St. Stanislaus Parish in South Bend where he has spent his deacon year.
Fr. Greg celebrated a Mass of Thanksgiving at Holy Cross Church on Sunday, Apr. 15, 2007 at 8:00 a.m., which was followed by a reception in the school auditorium and again that evening at 10:00 p.m. in O’Neill Hall’s St. Joseph the Worker Chapel at Notre Dame. He will also celebrate a Mass of Thanksgiving in his home parish, Church of the Nativity, in Leawood, Kan. on Apr. 22, 2007 at 12:00 p.m. followed by a reception in the Parish Center.
Rev. Peter M. McCormick, C.S.C.
The oldest of six children for Leo and Margaret McCormick, Fr. Pete grew up in Grand Rapids, Mich., attending St. James Grade School and West Catholic High School. It was during high school that Fr. Pete first considered priesthood, but he did not formally pursue his vocation until after graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Biology from Grand Valley State University, Allendale, Mich. In the spring semester of his senior year in college Fr. Pete visited Moreau Seminary for the first time. He entered the Candidate Program in the fall of 2000.
Fr. Pete spent a year at the Holy Cross Novitiate in Cascade, Colo. and professed first vows on Aug. 3, 2002. After two years of theology studies, Fr. Pete spent a year at St. John Vianney Parish in Goodyear, Ariz. His ministry at the parish was varied. He directed the confirmation program, taught in the school and coached basketball.
Fr. Pete returned to the University of Notre Dame where he lived at Old College as Assistant Director of the Undergraduate Seminary Program while completing his Master of Divinity degree. He graduated from the University of Notre Dame in the spring of 2006 and, as a deacon, Fr. Pete has been ministering as the Assistant Rector of Dillon Hall and the Director of the Freshman Retreat Program at Notre Dame.
Fr. Pete celebrated a Mass of Thanksgiving at the Basilica of the Sacred Heart on the Notre Dame campus on Sunday, Apr. 15 at 11:45 a.m. He also celebrated a Mass of Thanksgiving that evening in Dillon Hall’s Shrine of St. Olaf Chapel at 10:30 p.m. and will celebrate in his home parish, St. Anthony of Padua in Grand Rapids, Mich. on Saturday, May 26, 2007 at 4:30 p.m.