One of Saginaw’s newest priests applies life experiences to ministry
By Debbie Oglenski
The Catholic Weekly
MIDLAND — Eddie Dwyer was growing restless at Central Michigan University in the spring of 2005, when Pope John Paul II died.
The television coverage of the pope’s life and ministry to the Catholic Church changed Dwyer’s life.
The native of Escanaba completed his studies in communication and political science at CMU and went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in philosophy at Sacred Heart Seminary in Detroit, before completing his theological studies at Mundelein Seminary in 2011. He was ordained Fr. Edwin Dwyer in June for the Diocese of Saginaw and is the parochial vicar at Blessed Sacrament in Midland and assistant chaplain to Fr. Steve Gavit in ministering to students at Saginaw Valley State University. He also assists with Nouvel Catholic Central High School, saying Mass for the students, hearing confessions during the lunch hour, doing some teaching, holding Eucharistic adoration and attending sporting events, particularly talking to the football team.
Fr. Edwin Dwyer prays with the football team from Nouvel Catholic Central High School in Saginaw after a game this past fall. The new priest helps at the school and assist Saginaw Valley State University chaplain Fr. Steve Gavit in his ministry. Mark Haney/Catholic Weekly
Fr. Dwyer can relate to the players, and most high school athletes. He played football in junior high and high school, swam competitively from third grade into high school and ran track all during high school. He said he is still reaping the benefits from the lessons learned during competition. Those lessons included sacrifice, learning to work with people he didn’t necessarily like, a greater awareness of his surroundings and loyalty — all useful in ministry.
Another life experience which has proved to be an asset in ministry was his participation in youth groups in high school and college.
“It helped make the Church the center of my life,” Fr. Dwyer said.
In college he took on leadership roles in the youth group, which he hadn’t done in high school.
“That helped me understand the struggles and responsibilities of being a leader in the Church,” Fr. Dwyer said.
His background in communication also is an asset to his ministry.
“What I learned there has helped me quite a bit in the parish,” he said.
He said he also learned from a six-month internship with Fr. Bill Rutkowski at St. Stanislaus Parish in Bay City. Fr. Dwyer said he gained a lot of practical experience from both the pastor and the people of the parish.
“I walked out of there with a lot of confidence in my abilities to serve as a priest,” he said.
He also learned a lot on a 12-week trip with fellow classmates to the Holy Land in late 2009 and early 2010.
“Being over there and seeing the culture, climate and landscape of where Jesus walked and talked made the Gospels more real in my mind,” he said. “It helped me realize how radical the message of love and forgiveness really is in the world.”
Since deciding to become a priest, Fr. Dwyer said he has changed the way he sees life.
“It has definitely given me a wider perspective on everything in the world,” he said, “and a greater appreciation of how important family life is.”
He has seen the problems caused by the deterioration of family life. Fr. Dwyer said the breakdowns due to inconsistencies lead to frightened young people who start searching for false stabilities. While there is no perfect family, a stable family does provide confidence to young people.
The addition of the priest’s collar, he said, has changed how other people see him. He is treated as a man, rather than a kid in school, by other men, particularly husbands and fathers. He thinks there is recognition that he is now living for other people.
The meaning of priesthood for Fr. Dwyer parallels, in some ways, married life for men with families.
“It means being a husband and father to the Church, to be there for the people I am charged with in good times and in bad, and sharing the knowledge I have accumulated during my formation to help others grow in holiness and their vocations,” he said.
Despite his life experiences, education and formation, Fr. Dwyer said he could have used a little training in the seminary on the business end of parish life and budget training. His only experience with finance has been his own personal finances.
He said he is learning a lot this first year as a priest.
“I am making a lot of mistakes and learning from them,” Fr. Dwyer said. “I have a very supportive pastor, staff and parishioners who support me.”
They are helping him learn to keep a schedule, be attentive to only making appointments when he has a calendar in front of him and coordinating with staff.
Fr. Dwyer, who is naturally outgoing, said he is drawn to others who are outgoing.
His challenge as a priest, he said, is to reach out and minister to those who are more introverted or shy.
In his preaching and teaching Fr. Dwyer wants to show that being a priest is a “happy and good life filled with joy.”
His advice to those considering a vocation in priesthood: “Don’t be afraid of embracing it. It has all been worth it. It has been a joy and fulfilling. If you have a calling, run towards it and see where the Lord leads you from there.
“I believe there are vocations at SVSU and in the Diocese of Saginaw,” he said, “and we need to foster, encourage and support them.”