Staff Member

Fr. Seth grew up in Westphalia, Texas, a Catholic German farming community, located close to Temple and Waco, Texas. Growing up, he and his family would make annual trips to Lubbock to visit their grandparents. He attended Texas Tech and after a secular career returned to the Lubbock Diocese as a seminarian. Many of us met Fr. Seth during his seminarian years and supported him with our prayers while attending Mundelein Seminary in Chicago and his summers here in Lubbock. As a postgraduate, he earned an advanced degree in Sacred Theology Licentiate, S.T.L., from St. Mary of the Lake in Mundelein, Illinois.

Fr. Seth was ordained a priest at Christ the King Cathedral on May 22, 2021. During his ordination, when Bishop Coerver placed his hands on Fr. Seth’s head to administer the sacrament of Holy Orders, Father Seth felt God calling him to use his voice. “You have a voice; I want you to use it.” Fr. Seth celebrated his first Mass the following day with us here at Holy Spirit. After a lengthy illness and receiving a liver and kidney transplant, Fr. Seth learned how to walk again. When he was challenged for pushing himself too hard, he would say to the therapist, “I need to walk again. I need to take three steps to get up on the altar to celebrate Mass.”

Father Seth will continue to serve as the All Schools Chaplain, Christ the King Cathedral Campus, as well as being our associate pastor. One of the joys of serving as chaplain that Fr. Seth mentioned is the opportunity for Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament throughout the day with  Benediction at 2:30 pm. Each class has an opportunity to spend thirty minutes in Adoration. Devotion to the Blessed Sacrament can serve students throughout their lives especially during times they need consolation and discernment.

 As Chaplain, Father Seth directs the biannual retreats that CTK students enjoy. Eating lunch with students and getting to know them on a casual basis is another chaplain role. Fr. Seth meets with the students for classroom instruction, during which questions and answer sessions present interesting opportunities with the students. As a priest is called to help others grow in holiness, being the chaplain offers many opportunities to counsel and advise students with spiritual direction.