Deacon Philip Conklin, 36, grew up in a faithful Catholic family in New Brighton that regularly attended Mass at St. Charles Borromeo in St. Anthony and prayed a daily rosary.
Despite his faith-soaked upbringing, Deacon Conklin said that the priesthood, “didn’t even cross (his) mind” as a young man. He entered the Air Force and looked forward to a career in air traffic control.
But something didn’t feel right about the path he was on, said Deacon Conklin. When his career hit a roadblock at the same time that a relationship ended, he was surprised to feel excited for the opportunity to change course. Soon after, he entered The St. Paul Seminary in St. Paul.
He said that “there was no ‘aha!’ moment” that led him to the seminary, but rather small moments of saying yes to God’s plan for his life.
“Over time in the seminary, I found myself more at peace about the direction I was going. It’s a long process, and as time went on, I became more assured that this was the path I ought to go (on),” he said.
The seminary fostered Deacon Conklin’s deep love for the liturgy — a love he looks forward to exercising in his priesthood.
“Saying the Mass is probably the thing I look forward to the most,” he said. “I have a love for the liturgy and would like to bring as holy, reverent and beautiful liturgy as possible to feed the people’s souls.”
He is also excited to walk with his future parishioners through the ups and downs of life. Accompanying people as they enter the Church will be “life-giving,” he said.
“A priest gets to be present at people’s most joyful and sorrowful moments of life, which is very powerful,” he said.
In particular, he wants to work with the children and youth to help “children grow up in love in the Lord, whether that’s in the school, in Mass, or in faith formation.”
“I want them to be on fire for Christ and the Catholic Church.”
