Tag Archives: Fr. Pat Kerst Diocese of Spokane

Still Making It Look Easy: Fr. Pat Kerst

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A Smooth Delivery

It’s quite impressive. If you ever attend a mass celebrated by Fr. Pat Kerst, don’t expect him to use the pulpit during the homily. Rather, Fr. Pat will stroll to the front of the sanctuary and naturally engage the congregation. No notes, no hesitation, no ego.

He makes it look so easy. Sunday after Sunday, Fr. Pat preaches in a seemingly effortless way. But make no mistake about it, each homily is crafted with prayerful thought and preparation. But after that prep work is done and the gospel is proclaimed, Fr. Pat’s God-given talent takes over and he connects with those in the pews in his conversational and sincere way.

Congratulations to Fr. Pat Kerst on his 35th anniversary of his ordination.

Full Circle With Fr. Pat

Today, Fr. Pat marks 35 years of not just impactful homilies but overall dedicated and holy service to his vocation. He was ordained a priest on May 23, 1990.

Today, Fr. Pat celebrates the 35th anniversary of his ordination. Last week I included this slide at the beginning of one of our Engaged Encounter presentations so our attendees could recognize his achievement.

If his 3.5 decades as a priest makes him feel old—don’t worry, Fr. Pat—it makes me feel old too! You see, some of my first vivid memories of Catholic clergy are of Fr. Pat. Early on in his priesthood, he served in Walla Walla at the three parishes in that community. When my family would make our frequent trips to town to visit grandparents and other relatives, Fr. Pat would be the celebrant when we attended Sunday mass at St. Francis of Assisi. A little bit later down the road, he would preside at my grandma’s funeral in that very same church.

I left the state for college and would eventually move across the country for my career, but Fr. Pat’s influence eventually caught up to me. In the late 2010s, nearly 3,000 miles away from Spokane in South Carolina, I found myself listening to Fr. Pat’s distinctive voice once again. It came via the Bishop and Vicars podcast, an outreach of the Spokane Diocese in which Fr. Pat would discuss topics with Bishop Thomas Daly and two other priests in diocesan leadership positions. By that time, Fr. Pat had ascended to the crucial Vicar of Priests post, a role he still holds today.

Fr. Pat Kerst has positively impacted me at different times and in different ways throughout the course of his priestly ministry.

Sharing the Stage

Eventually, the mileage between Fr. Pat and myself dwindled from 3,000 to 30. My family moved back to Spokane and I was delighted to find out that he was now the pastor at my parents’ home parish, St. Thomas More. On weekends when I needed a break from that priest at St. Mary in Spokane Valley (just kidding, Fr. Jeff 😉), we would drive “up north” to St. Thomas More. While there, it was obvious that Fr. Pat had not missed a beat from decades prior as I felt blessed to attend each mass that he celebrated.

A couple years after moving to Spokane, my family’s connection to Fr. Pat became even more profound. Sid and I were asked to join Spokane’s Engaged Encounter community, a ministry near and dear to Fr. Pat. If you ask him, he will say he jumped headfirst into EE after he was “pulled into it” a couple days after his ordination.

Fr. Pat Kerst joined the Engaged Encounter ministry soon after he was ordained and immediately started to make a difference in the relationships of engaged couples. This photo was from the March 2024 retreat.

Upon our inclusion in the group, we found ourselves now sitting at the same table as Fr. Pat during monthly EE team meetings. But our bond would soon become even closer. In March 2024, Sid and I presented at our first Engaged Encounter weekend retreat. The priest who teamed up with us during that weekend? Fr. Pat! What an incredible experience that first retreat was—thanks in large part to Fr. Pat’s experience, expertise, and support. Needless to say, we were ecstatic to serve another EE weekend retreat with him just last week.

Sid and I presented with Fr. Pat for the first time at the March 2024 Engaged Encounter retreat. What a pleasure it was to present with him and Joe & Natalie Schroeder.

Please take it from me: Fr. Pat is exceptional at these retreats. The way he connects with the engaged couples and pours all his energy into the weekend is inspiring. During the presentations we give about various marital/spiritual topics, Fr. Pat talks to the attendees in a relatable, knowledgeable, and—oftentimes—humorous way. Throughout the weekend he makes himself available for confession, sits with the couples during meals, runs the epic Yes/No game, sums up the key to marriage using a song, and presides over an intimate Saturday evening mass with a homily beautifully custom-made for the engaged couples in attendance.

Fr. Pat Kerst had fun with the engaged couples as he directs the infamous “Yes/No” game.

A Superb Priest

But there is a lot more to Fr. Pat besides his chops as an expert homilist, involvement with EE, and his privileged relationship with the Reser family (sorry, had to slip in another cringe-worthy joke 😂).

Fr. Pay stands with the engaged couples from last week’s Engaged Encounter retreat (May 2025). However, the Engaged Encounter ministry is just a drop in the bucket when it comes to all he does.

Where do I begin?

He is fluent in Spanish, a major asset in a diocese with a large Hispanic population. He serves on numerous boards while still making time to attend the sporting competitions of the parish school. He is on speed dial at hospitals because nurses know he will always answer when a Catholic patient need him. He is an effective administrator and authentic relationship-builder as evidenced by his assignments at the largest and most complex parishes in the diocese. He willingly travels long distances to distribute the sacraments—sometimes out-of-state and on his own dime. He owns a memory that would make an elephant envious (just ask any parishioner at St. Thomas More if the pastor knows their name 😉).

And I could keep on going but I want to make sure I wrap this up before the 36th ordination anniversary comes around.

This was our ministry team at the May 2025 Engaged Encounter retreat. After we passed out the certificates of completion to the engaged couples, we posed for this photo. Fr. Pat Kerst is on the far left and Natalie and Joe Schroeder are on the right.

But there is something I admire about Fr. Pat even more than the many ways he excels as a priest. For me, it is his faith. Many people might not know this—and I am at no liberty to elaborate—but he has gone through some painful stuff that would have shaken me to my core if the events happened to me. Still, he pursued the priesthood with vigor and has continued to be dedicated to his vocation and faithful to God. Talk about an awe-inspiring example!

What a blessing it is for Sid and me to know Fr. Pat Kerst.

Setting Himself Apart

He makes it look so easy. That’s how I started this tribute to Fr. Pat. But when I mentioned it, I was alluding to his homily delivery style. He is calm, cool, and composed—the golden standard when it comes to public speaking.

However, a favorable stage presence can only get you so far. The big reason why Fr. Pat has been such a blessing to the Diocese of Spokane over the past 35 years is because of how he frames the content he pairs with his delivery. There is no doubt about it, he conveys the word of God with simplicity and straightforwardness. He speaks in terms that anyone can understand. In a world where religious leaders can lose followers within two minutes, Fr. Pat can relate biblical principles and church doctrine with accuracy and ease.

So let’s celebrate Fr. Pat Kerst today. Take a moment in prayer to thank God for a talented and kind man who has brilliantly answered the call of his vocation for the past 12,775 days. And trust me: Make the effort to visit St. Thomas More one of these weekends. Not only will you hear an epic homily but from that point forward, Fr. Pat will most likely never forget your name 😊. Don’t Blink.

The Servant Song

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Do you ever have an epiphany when it comes to the lyrics of a song? Hmm, let me ask a more pointed question. Have you ever thought you liked a song only to like it even more once you actually understood the lyrics?

As I mentioned in last night’s blog post, Sidney and I had the blessing of presenting at an Engaged Encounter weekend. But it just wasn’t us or our partner couple doing all the talking. A priest is always assigned to the weekend retreat team and plays a major role in conveying lessons and Catholic doctrine. We had the great fortune of having Fr. Pat Kerst on our squad.

At one point on Saturday, Fr. Pat passed out half sheets to all the couples. Copied on each sheet was a Catholic hymn called The Servant Song. Fr. Pat explained that the hymn wasn’t made with marriage specifically in mind but that he didn’t know of a better resource that so accurately depicted the essence and vocation of marriage.

The lyrics to “The Servant Song” are profound.

I was very familiar with The Servant Song, having heard it at mass on random Sundays throughout most of my life. But I had not taken the initiative to take a deep dive into the actual lyrics. I am so glad Fr. Pat brought it to my attention.

The song promotes the willingness to assume a Christ-like servant’s role to others over the course of a lifetime. It frames this service in the context of a journey that is filled with empathy, grace, suffering, and companionship. As I read the lyrics and digested them in context with my marriage to Sid, I couldn’t help but shed a tear or two.

After we dismissed the engaged couples to reflect on the lesson that was just completed, I played The Servant Song on my computer. It was even more beautiful than usual as I now knew and understood the profoundness of the lyrics. A couple more tears may have formed in my eyes 😉.

The half sheet with the song that Fr. Pat gave us is now on our refrigerator.

I encourage you tonight to listen to The Servant Song on YouTube. Listen carefully to each lyric and frame it within the context of your own marriage. I guarantee that you will go to bed with a greater conviction to “bear the load” for your spouse.

And, oh yeah, guess what? After Fr. Pat has brought up the song to couples at past retreats, some have actually decided to include The Servant Song in their weddings. I think Sid and I would have too. Don’t Blink.

Presenting With My Wife At Engaged Encounter

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This past weekend, Sidney and I strengthened our marital vocation in the most blessed way. We presented at our first Engaged Encounter retreat. 🙏

Many of you know that Sid and I prepare engaged couples within our parish for marriage on an individual basis. But in June 2022, we joined another marriage-based ministry—Engaged Encounter. This is an international Catholic organization that stages weekend-long retreats for engaged couples. Our pastor, Fr. Jeff Lewis, invited us to join the Spokane Diocese chapter.

After a year of attending our Engaged Encounter monthly meetings and serving in support roles at the retreats, we timidly told our chapter’s leadership that we wanted to present at one. In June of 2023, Ric and Cindy Gaunt came to our house and planted the seeds for doing so. They ran us through what was expected, highlighted the presentations we would be responsible for, and provided us the materials to start preparing. We circled the March 1-3 retreat on our calendar!

We told our Engaged Encounter leadership that we wanted to present.

The next eight months passed quickly, with the latter half of those months heavily devoted to Engaged Encounter retreat prep. Sidney and I had to write our presentations, build slide decks, and practice! By the time this past Friday rolled around, although nervous, we were chomping at the bit to present.

The retreat took place at the Immaculate Heart Retreat Center in south Spokane. Although the quarters were a little cramped, I sure enjoyed having the time away with Sid.

Engaged Encounter retreats are presented by two couples and a priest at the Immaculate Heart Retreat Center in south Spokane. There is a senior couple and a junior couple. We served as the junior couple and were paired with an incredible senior couple with 38 years of marriage under their belts—Joe and Natalie Schroeder.

Sidney and I at our Engaged Encounter weekend retreat. After months of preparing, we got to present!

Completing our weekend team was a priest who I had looked up to for a long time. Fr. Pat Kerst, who will celebrate his 34th anniversary of ordination in May, sacrificed a busy Lenten weekend at his home parish of St. Thomas More to serve at this retreat. As a boy, I would listen to him say mass at St. Francis of Assisi in Walla Walla while I sat in the pew with my grandparents (a decade later he would preside at my grandma’s funeral). During my last couple years in Myrtle Beach I would listen to a podcast he contributed to. By the time I moved back to Spokane, he was the pastor at my parents’ home parish. Known for his personal and impactful preaching style, Sidney and I knew we would have to bring our “A” games to keep up with him.

We had 13 couples attend our retreat weekend, a healthy number for the current state of the Engaged Encounter ministry in eastern Washington. It was a lot of fun to meet these 26 soon-to-be newlyweds and learn about when and what church they were going to get married in. But after the introductions and the well-wishes concluded, reality set in: We now had to actually provide these couples with something useful.

Sidney and I were responsible for six presentations throughout the weekend. Using specific examples from our own marriage, we delivered talks on understanding oneself, communication, decision-making, unity, conflict resolution, and betrothal. The Schroeders presented on a host of other equally important marital topics while Fr. Pat provided his invaluable insight during each presentation. As a person who can get nervous enough just doing one presentation, doing a half dozen seemed pretty daunting. But with Sidney on my team and God’s abundant grace, it was much more of a blessed experience as opposed to a scary one.

Sidney presenting at the March 1-3 Engaged Encounter weekend while Fr. Pat Kerst and Joe Schroeder look on.

But the weekend wasn’t just about presentations. We watched videos, shared meals, and did activities. Confession was offered and the chapel was always open for prayer. On Saturday night, Fr. Pat offered mass. It was an intimate and beautiful way for our group to come together and celebrate the source and summit of Christian life.

It was gratifying to see the 13 engaged couples respond so well to everything we threw at them. Sidney and I really enjoyed getting to know the couples better as the weekend went on. We admired the overall humility, appreciation, and faith that was displayed. It wasn’t lost on us that they were giving up an entire weekend to sit inside the walls of a 1950s retreat house when they could be doing so many other things. Thanks be to God for their prioritization.

We had an incredible group of committed couples who brought plenty of faith and willingness to learn to the retreat.

Besides becoming acquainted with the couples preparing to be married, it was a complete pleasure to bond with the other members of our team. Collaborating with the Schroeders was extremely rewarding. They supported us immensely through our first weekend and we learned so much from the presentations they gave. The marriage that Joe and Natalie live out is one that Sid and I aspire to emulate. To share the stage with Fr. Pat was a thrill. Like I said, I have spent my whole life watching him and listening to him. But those nearly 34 years in front of congregation after congregation has surely not inflated his ego—Fr. Pat is as humble as they come! It was so special to see that up close.

This was our March 1-3, 2024 Engaged Encounter weekend team. What a pleasure it was to present with the Shroeders and Fr. Pat Kearst.

As I write this after allowing the weekend’s adrenaline to wear off and the significance to sink in, I just feel blessed for the opportunity Sidney and I were given. Thanks to Fr. Jeff for inviting us into the Engaged Encounter community, Ric and Cindy Gaunt for giving us the opportunity to present, Joe and Natalie Schroeder for teaming up with us, Fr. Pat for leading our weekend team, and everyone else in our EE chapter who so warmly welcomed us. Special thanks to my wife for being the best presenting partner ever! And, of course, praise to God for the grace to undertake such an intensive but worthwhile ministry. We can’t wait to present again. Don’t Blink.