By Deacon Matthew Hecker, Ph.D.
Father Harlan Waskowiak is a priest who desires to accompany his people in via, “on the way.”
He is currently pastor of St. Joseph Parish in Geneva and St. Mary Parish in Shickley. He also serves as chaplain and director of Camp Kateri Tekakwitha near McCool Junction.
Waskowiak was raised in Ravenna, the youngest of six children – until at 12 years of age when his youngest sister was born. With that kind of gap, and being the youngest boy, Waskowiak said, at least among the older siblings, he was always “the baby.”
Without Catholic schools close to Ravenna, Waskowiak attended public school. However, Waskowiak said, “Faith was an important part of our life and was a way of life.”
He recalled how his family, attended Mass every Sunday and on First Fridays, CCD on Wednesdays, prayed a daily rosary and the stations of the cross during Lent. Several times a year, the parish priests were dinner guests in the Waskowiak house. Waskowiak said his mother played the organ at their parish, Our Lady of Lourdes, for nearly 60 years.
After his high school graduation in 1988, Waskowiak enrolled at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL) and pursued a degree in civil engineering. He said he considered the seminary but at the time thought, “the priesthood wasn’t for me.”
A musician, Waskowiak proudly played trombone in the Cornhusker Marching Band and in several of the Cornhusker pep bands. He said he also sang at Mass at the St. Thomas Aquinas Newman Center.
During his junior year at UNL and working as an engineering intern, Waskowiak began to have second thoughts about civil engineering. The experience, he said, led him to think he might not be interested in an engineering career. Instead, he felt God calling him to the priesthood. By the time spring semester began, Waskowiak said it became clear he wanted to “check out the seminary.”
The year was 1993, and that summer, prior to graduation, Waskowiak traveled with a couple of friends to World Youth Day in Denver. There, he said, he encountered the future saint, Pope John Paul II. From that time on, Waskowiak said, St. Pope John Paul II has had a powerful influence on him.
Ordained by Bishop Bruskewitz in 1998, Waskowiak said the first pastor he worked with, Father Rudolf Oborny, encouraged him to get involved in diocesan activities. Reminded that he was “ordained for the diocese not just the parish” and having long enjoyed the energy of youth activities, Waskowiak chose to get involved in SKY Camp, TEC, canoe trips, World Youth Day, camping, hiking and other youth events.
Not having grown up with Catholic schools, Waskowiak said he knew family life and youth programs have the biggest impact on Catholic youth. In addition, Waskowiak knew that, before becoming Pope John Paul II, the then-Father Karol Wotyla invested significant time in youth and young adult evangelization.
And after being involved with SKY Camp since his ordination, it became a natural fit to spend some of his priesthood on Camp Kateri property and have some type of involvement there. Father Waskowiak has long been the spiritual director for SKY Camp. Therefore, he said, it was natural for him to become the overall spiritual director for Camp Kateri. His parishes’ close proximity to the property now provides Waskowiak with an opportunity for more direct involvement in the management of camp facilities and operations. This spring he was named interim executive director.
Youth ministry has become second nature to Waskowiak’s priesthood. In addition to being a pastor, he continues to remain actively involved in youth programs. Most recently, Waskowiak said he participated in the diocesan canoe trip. He is currently in Lisbon, Portugal, attending his eighth World Youth Day as part of the diocesan delegation. He always makes time for TEC and other youth retreats.
Waskowiak’s interest in active, outdoor events comes, he said from a love of nature, “God’s first book.” He said he finds great satisfaction in his priesthood accompanying people on their spiritual journey. In particular, the beauty and wonder of nature provide a powerful opening for the Holy Spirit.
Like Jesus on the road to Emmaus— “Jesus himself drew near and walked with them” (Luke 24:15)— Waskowiak loves his role as Christ present and walking with his children.
“The name of the very earliest Christian community was, The Way. We are people in via, ‘on the way’ not in patria, ‘at home,’” he said. Through the Blessed Mother, he loves making Christ available to the people on the way.
Ravenna is on the Burlington Northern mainline. Daily many trains pass through the town. That and receiving the gift of a model train set at age 10 set in motion a life-long hobby of model railroading for Waskowiak. He said he loves working on his trains, attending area shows and the state fair and interacting with other model train enthusiasts. For Waskowiak, model railroading is a genuine passion, “the world’s greatest hobby” he called it.
As his parishioners know, he has another hobby: Waskowiak owns an extensive collection of Fontanini nativity pieces. He said he displays his collection at the parish in Geneva every year for the Christmas season, from about Gaudete Sunday through the feast of the Presentation.
Model trains, model nativity sets, and modeling Christ to youth and others; accompanying people, being Christ present on the way, showing them how to get to Heaven, describes the life of this holy, faithful priest.
Editor’s Note: This story has been corrected to remove Fr. Waskowiak’s assignment as chaplain of the Youth Rehabilitation and Treatment Center in Geneva, as that facility has been closed. We regret the error.
