Southern Nebraska Register
A 21-second video posted on social media by St. Wenceslaus School in Wahoo reached an enormous crowd this month.
The short video featured Father Dale Allder, assistant pastor, jumping rope with students at recess – but it caught the notice of hundreds of thousands.
The video said Father Allder “was showing his fancy footwork,” jumping a rope turned by young students at the school, turning and jumping, sometimes on one foot – all while wearing a cassock. Father Allder said he likes to joke that the source of his jumping skill “comes from wearing the cassock and from the grace of Holy Orders!”
But actually, the young priest, ordained in 2021, has always enjoyed physical activity and playing sports. He credited the ease of jumping to a hobby related to the arcade game “Dance Dance Revolution,” in which players step on arrow pads in time with fast-paced music. He said he didn’t mind being in a “viral” video for it.
“Jumping rope with the students was joyful and fun for me,” he said. “Part of my vocation as a priest is to spread the love and joy of Jesus to everyone. That love and joy isn’t just isolated to the church building and sacraments. It can be found in every facet of life, even in something as simple as a playground game with kids. I’m happy to share that experience with others, digitally or otherwise!”
Father Allder said he hoped viewers would see in the video that the St. Wenceslaus School community—which serves 290 students from preschool to the sixth grade—places “great emphasis on children and their upbringing.”
“And the upbringing we provide is more than just intellectual,” he continued. “They are loved. They are the future of the Church, and that future involves every aspect of what it means to be human and made in God’s image.”
Father Allder added that he hoped people would see that priests can have a wide variety of talents – and sometimes those talents might be unexpected.
“We may have dedicated our lives for ministry and saving souls,” he said, “but we don’t discard all those gifts, talents, and interests that God has given us. In fact, He often uses those very same things for His glory and to draw people closer to Himself. I hope that my part in that fun jump rope video does that.”
Mike Weiss is in his 21st year as principal at St. Wenceslaus School—and served the 18 previous years at Bishop Neumann High School just a block away.
“Having active priests in our Catholic school serves as a visible presence of the Church,” he said, “helping maintain the Church’s influence and visibility in our community. Their involvement in our Catholic schools is not just about providing support, it is about fostering a community that values the teachings of the church and encourages the spiritual growth of the students, staff, parents and the parish.”
Editor's note: Click to see the video on YouTube.
