Recently retired priests in the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis have ministered for years in parishes across the archdiocese. The Catholic Spirit invited all priests who have retired since Sept. 1, 2022, to reflect on their ministries for this feature. The following priests — Father Patrick Hipwell, Father Terry Rassmussen and Father Steve Ulrick — agreed to be interviewed and share their stories with Barb Umberger and Dave Hrbacek, with photos by Dave Hrbacek.
Father Terrence “Terry” Rassmussen, 73, is retiring July 1 from the one parish he served as an archdiocesan priest: St. Joseph in New Hope, his home for the past 17 years. Father Rassmussen incardinated to the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis in 2006 after initially serving the Church as a Franciscan friar.
Father Rassmussen recalled the influence of his parish priest when he was discerning the priesthood. At the time, he was studying at Normandale College in Bloomington and his family attended St. Edward in Bloomington, with Father Paul Dudley as pastor.
“He was a wonderful example of priesthood to me,” Father Rassmussen said. “He was always cheerful, hugged people, so compassionate, and I thought, he really makes priesthood look like something I would want to do.”
Because he knew Franciscan friars in Chaska, Father Rassmussen entered the Conventual Franciscan Order at Mount St. Francis, Indiana, in 1970, and was ordained a religious order priest in 1979. His assignments included St. Cecilia in Ames, Iowa; the Shrine of Our Lady of Consolation in Carey, Ohio; St. Bonaventure in Bloomington; St. Joseph University in Terra Haute, Indiana; and back to St. Cecilia, this time as pastor.
The main reason he switched in 2006 from a religious order priest was that “the friars were pulling out of parishes, which we’ve seen here in the Twin Cities, too,” Father Rassmussen said. “And I wanted to be a parish priest in Minnesota.” He was born in Grand Rapids and has six living siblings; being near family is important to him, he said.
Father Rassmussen said he has enjoyed having liturgies at St. Joseph and is grateful for “a good staff.” The parish also has a reputation for its “very good youth program” and “effective marriage mentor couples,” he said. “It has been a joy to work with them, to kind of share the ministry of helping engaged couples prepare for marriage,” he said.
As he looks to retirement, Father Rassmussen said he has mixed emotions, in part because St. Joseph has been “a wonderful parish” and a place he has made good friends. “I will miss all of the different ministries that I was involved in here and the people that I’ve gotten to know.”
Challenges over the years have included paying for a new sanctuary, although that debt was paid fairly quickly, and getting through the COVID-19 pandemic, Father Rassmussen said. Overcoming those challenges, “that’s what makes me feel a little bit better about retiring now, because COVID is pretty much done and things are back to normal,” he said. “It just feels like the time is right.”
Following retirement, Father Rassmussen said he plans to help at parishes, and will likely spend time kayaking on Medicine Lake or other waterways. His youngest sister and her family have a cabin near Motley, Minnesota, which he enjoys visiting — “swimming and fishing and just enjoying a relaxing time at the lake,” he said.
In August, he will play guitar and sing with his band “The Holy Ground” when it performs at the Irish Fair on Harriet Island in St. Paul. Half Irish and the only clergy member of the band, Father Rassmussen said he and his friends perform three or four times a year.
