Deacon Hjalmar Blondal Gudjonsson most anticipates walking with people on their faith journeys when he becomes a Catholic priest.
Deacon Gudjonsson, 48, is among 13 men being ordained to the priesthood in the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis this year — the largest class since 2005. The presbyteral ordination is set to take place at 10 a.m. May 25 at the Cathedral of St. Paul in St. Paul.
“A call to become a priest is something I have been experiencing for a long time,” Deacon Gudjonsson told The Catholic Spirit.
“Throughout my life, my calling to the priesthood has been maybe less about the singular, defining moment, but more about a continuous, unfolding journey,” he shared with “Practicing Catholic” radio show producer Kayla Mayer when his interview aired May 17. “It’s been a path marked by daily affirmations where I have been practicing my faith and those insights have guided me deeper into that faith.”
Deacon Gudjonsson grew up in Iceland and Sweden. He obtained a Master of Laws degree in civil law and a Bachelor of Science degree in commercial law and business administration, both at the University of Bifrost in Iceland. Deacon Gudjonsson passed the bar exam in Iceland and practiced as an attorney before the district courts in Iceland for several years, he said.
Deacon Gudjonsson also obtained a Pontifical Bachelor of Sacred Theology degree at the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas, also known as the Angelicum, in Rome.
“The Pontifical universities in Rome offer a solid intellectual formation,” Deacon Gudjonsson told The Catholic Spirit. “I was blessed to have lived at Sant’Anselmo in Rome, where I had some of the best years of my life.”
Deacon Gudjonsson said he arrived in the United States three years ago and concluded his formation last spring at The St. Paul Seminary in St. Paul.
After his diaconate ordination, he spent this past year working in a parish setting. He currently serves at Divine Mercy in Faribault and has been teaching theology at Holy Family Catholic High School in Victoria.
“Teaching at Holy Family was a profound experience,” Deacon Gudjonsson said. “The dedication and spirit of both the staff and students truly embody the core values of our archdiocese. Their commitment to excellence and community made my time there deeply rewarding.”
Meanwhile, Deacon Gudjonsson was invited to serve at a July 2023 Mass celebrated by Pope Francis in Rome. This included duties as “deacon of the altar” such as incensing Pope Francis and the Mass’ concelebrants, cardinals, bishops, priests and the roughly 15,000 faithful present, as well as preparing the principal chalice and lifting it alongside Cardinal Kevin Farrell during the consecration.
“It was a great honor to have represented the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis at the papal altar in Rome,” Deacon Gudjonsson said at the time.
Reflecting on the Church’s greatest needs, Deacon Gudjonsson said he aligns with Pope Francis’ call for a Church that heals wounds and warms the hearts of the faithful.
“The Church needs to be more pastoral, focusing on nurturing the spiritual growth of the people,” he said. “It needs to be present for those who are neglected and marginalized.”
Deacon Gudjonsson, who speaks seven languages fluently and can communicate in five others, said he recently learned Spanish.
“I decided to learn Spanish when I moved to the U.S. so I could be of service to a broader group of people in the archdiocese,” he said. “The number of Spanish-speaking people is growing every day in the archdiocese. We are in dire need of more Spanish-speaking priests. I like the idea of randomly assign two priests a year to study Spanish.”
He said he is also looking forward to “interacting with new environments and cultures” within the parishes that make up the archdiocese.
“I like to work with people and I’m there for the people,” Deacon Gudjonsson said. “It’s exciting to connect deeply with diverse communities and to find a common ground based on our shared values and spiritual beliefs — being a part of something larger and coming together to our collective faith and humanity.”
Deep gratitude shines through Deacon Gudjonsson’s reflections on his journey to the priesthood. Every person he has encountered along the way, he said, “represent(s) some kind of invitation for me to serve and to grow in my vocation. Every single person I have met throughout this journey has had an important role for me to come to the place where I am now.”
As ordination day approaches, Deacon Gudjonsson said he is most looking forward “to continuing to serve and help people” as a newly ordained priest.
“To stand with people on their journey and that they invite us (as priests) to be a part of their journey, that’s an honor for me.”
