Father Paul Hedman first thought about becoming a military chaplain while in seminary prior to his priestly ordination in 2020.
With relatives serving in the military, it was a natural idea. But he put it on the shelf and focused on preparing for ordination and service as a priest for the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis. Then, in December 2023, he had an encounter with a parishioner at Epiphany in Coon Rapids, where he now serves as a parochial vicar, that set the stage for a calling he made official April 5, when he was sworn in during a small ceremony at the Cathedral of St. Paul in St. Paul. Swearing him in was Father Jerome Fehn, a retired lieutenant colonel in the Minnesota Army National Guard. Father Hedman also will be serving in the Minnesota Army National Guard, joining the 134th Brigade Support Battalion, which has about 500 soldiers.
“It was just a beautiful, beautiful next step in my ministry,” said Father Hedman, 30. “It was special to have Father Jerry Fehn there as the one to swear me in, because he’s a bit of a legend in the Minnesota National Guard.”
Father Fehn served as a chaplain in the Minnesota Army National Guard for 20 years (1998 to 2018) and was called upon unexpectedly to step in to do the swearing in. Father Hedman has a cousin in the military he hoped might swear him in, but she was unable to come to Minnesota for the ceremony. Father Hedman’s immediate family was there — his parents, Mike and Sharon, and siblings Joel, Stephen and Serena. All but Joel live in the Twin Cities and attend St. Raphael in Crystal.
Father Fehn said having another Catholic chaplain in the military will be important because there is “definitely” a shortage of priests in the chaplaincy. “There’s so few of them (serving in the military)” said Father Fehn, 72, who went on several deployments totaling 39 months. “They will do their best to keep them because they’re so needed.”
As a way to help Father Hedman get off to a good start, Father Fehn wrote him a check to cover the cost of his military uniform and is willing to go with him for a fitting. Father Hedman will put on that uniform soon as he prepares to meet the men and women of his unit at Camp Ripley in northern Minnesota, which will happen sometime in May or June.
Also attending the swearing-in ceremony was a key person in Father Hedman’s journey, Sgt. Terry Hong of the Minnesota Army National Guard, who is an Epiphany parishioner. The two men talked during a Veteran’s Day event at Epiphany in November 2023. Hong, who was at the swearing-in ceremony, recommended that Father Hedman consider becoming a chaplain. After some encouragement from the pastor of Epiphany, Father Thomas Dufner, Father Hedman contacted Archbishop Bernard Hebda in March 2024 to seek his approval. After the archbishop granted it in May, Father Hedman went through the application process, which brought him to a final meeting with National Guard leaders to make it official the morning of the swearing-in ceremony. Just a half hour after that meeting, he went to the Cathedral for the brief ceremony. He is now pondering what his future as a military chaplain will entail.
For more insight, he will talk with Father Michael Creagan, pastor of St. Michael and St. Mary in Stillwater, who currently is serving as a chaplain but is looking to step away in the coming months so he can better serve his parish and school, plus reduce the stress on his knees that comes with taking part in training exercises while serving in the Guard. He has helped Father Hedman through the application process and continues to provide support and guidance. Father Creagan has been a chaplain for the Minnesota Army National Guard since 2013 and has been deployed to both Afghanistan (2019) and Kosovo (2015). He said Father Hedman is a good choice to “take the baton” in the coming years after he steps away from the Guard.
“I think his joyful disposition and his faith as a Catholic priest are two keys to being with the soldiers,” said Father Creagan, 54. “I think that’s going to be a great gift and asset not only to the Catholics, but to the other soldiers he serves as well.”
Chaplain (Col.) Philip Winn oversees all Minnesota Army National Guard chaplains (22) and was one of several leaders who came to Father Hedman’s swearing-in ceremony. Chaplain Winn noted Father Hedman’s “youth, vigor, enthusiasm, strong degree of intellect, and passion” as attributes that will be helpful in the role of chaplain.
“Father Paul’s going to do a great job,” said Chaplain Winn, 54, who has been in the Guard for 37 years. “Soldiers will warm up to him just by his very presence.”
For the time being, the Guard will enjoy the double blessing of having two priests ministering to Minnesota soldiers, about 25% of whom are Catholic, Chaplain Winn said. He noted that Catholics represent the largest single denomination in the Guard, which makes having at least one Catholic priest important.
“We know how very in-demand Catholic priests are among parishes, cities, states and dioceses,” he said. “And so, for Father Hedman to respond to the call to military ministry as a Catholic priest is very exciting for us.”
Chaplain Winn has worked with Father Creagan since Father Creagan first became a chaplain for the Guard, and expressed deep appreciation for the priest’s ministry work, which now will include helping Father Hedman learn to serve in that role.
“Father Creagan is such a special member of our team because he truly, genuinely cares for all of his soldiers,” Chaplain Winn said. “Anyone that encounters Chaplain Creagan has a strong sense of his care for everyone.”
Father Hedman plans to follow the Stillwater priest’s example as he prepares for a six-year term of service, with the option to renew upon completion.
“I’m really excited to show up at my first drill weekend and meet the men in my battalion, meet the commanding officers and really start to get to know them,” Father Hedman said. “Just being able to be there for all the soldiers, of any denomination, to help them on their journey with God is really what it’s all about.”
