Former Protestant Minister Pursues Priesthood

Catholic Anchor, Newspaper of the Archdiocese of Anchorage ^ | October 17, 2008 | James DeCrane, Anchor Writer

[Titanites]

When Steve Olmstead served as a Presbyterian minister in Juneau, he would often finish his duties on Sunday, close up the church and head to Mass with his devout Catholic wife and their children.

“I had a place to worship, which a lot of pastors don’t,” Olmstead said in an interview with the Anchor. “It was nice to go to a place and worship where I wasn’t the minister.”

The Anchorage Archdiocese’s newest seminarian grew up in a Presbyterian home and always had a strong spiritual life. When Olmstead entered adulthood, he felt called to serve as a youth minister, and was later ordained a minister in the Presbyterian Church.

Throughout his life, he said he had many positive contacts with people who were strong in the practice of their Catholic faith, including his wife of 22 years, Janet.

“I married the most devout and most amazing Christian I’ve ever met in my life,” Olmstead said, crediting her with his conversion to Catholicism. Before the two wed, he agreed to raise the children in the Catholic faith. Steve and Janet Olmstead were married in Juneau by then Bishop Michael Kenny.

He continued to serve in a Presbyterian church in Juneau, but over the years grew enamored with Catholicism.

“I love the devotional practices of the Catholic church, its prayers and devotions,” Olmstead said.

He says he was especially drawn to some core beliefs that are often points of contention between Protestants and Catholics; matters of faith like belief in the true presence of Jesus in the Eucharist and devotion to Mary.

“Ultimately those core beliefs created this tug that led me to the (Catholic) Church so that I would be more congruent with myself,” Olmstead said.

His family’s faith helped with that tug. In addition to Janet’s steady faith, the Olmsteads’ seven children, ages 2-18 years, helped play a part.

The Olmsteads have three older biological children, another three they adopted, and one foster child, which they hope to adopt soon.

“My older kids started asking me questions (like), ‘How come you believe this, but you aren’t teaching it,’” Olmstead recalled. “I had this inner conflict and I had to make that decision.”

Ultimately he did, and left his position at the local Presbyterian church in Juneau to officially enter the Catholic Church in 2006, a decision that brought Olmstead much peace.

“A huge thing for me is mystery,” he said. “I really need mystery and mystery in my faith. The Catholic Church (allows) me to have that mystery — Christ held that for me.”

Having served as full-time Protestant minister, Olmstead still felt a strong call to a minsterial or religious vocation.

Last year he participated in a 30-day Ignatian Spiritual Exercises retreat to investigate how God wanted him to serve in his new church, and he felt called to serve as a priest.

“At the end of that retreat, I realized that this is where God was calling me,” he said.

While celibacy is the rule for Latin rite Catholic priests, there are approximately 100 married former Protestant clergymen in the United States who have joined the Catholic Church and received Vatican permission to become priests.

[Petronski]

...you're the only one saying that...

Uh...no.

[Petronski]

I'm speaking of the Catholic Church, founded by Christ and guided by the Holy Spirit to this day.

Your personal interpretation of Scripture seems founded on such false principles as sola scriptura and sola fide.

[WVKayaker]

Faith is to believe what you do not see; the reward of this faith is to see what you believe. -Saint Augustine

[Iscool]

His Book “The Catholic Church” tells you his relationship to The Christ. Faith and Reason go to together. Faith without reason is what the pagans practiced as do modern day Hindus.

But was he saved???

[Steelfish]

But their fruits you shall know them.

[Petronski]

Well then faith must be the way one finds sola scriptura in Scripture, since it cannot actually be seen there.

[WVKayaker]

I'm speaking of the Catholic Church, founded by Christ and guided by the Holy Spirit to this day.

No, you are speaking FOR the RC organization. The Mormons also have a claim to Jesus. They also have extra books, which explain why they are the true church!

The church is the entire Body of Christ. Your false principles are as good as Obama's vision of himself. Perception and false teachings can go a long way.

Petronski, Jesus is risen. His church is not headed by Rome. Jesus is the head of the Church. His residence isn't anywhere except where His Spirit rests. It rests in the hearts of the faithful... not in stone!

He is risen from the ground, and the cross is not the center of His story. There is a much better illustration available!

He is risen!

[WVKayaker]

Why do feel necessary to spout Latin? Is that where you think the power lies?

[vladimir998]

You wrote:

“You might want to read, say, Galatians 2:16.”

Already have. You might want to read about what “obedience of faith” means and what “works of the law” means in Paul’s writings.

You might want to read Chris VanLandingham’s Judgment & Justification In Early Judaism And The Apostle Paul.

[Petronski]

No, you are speaking FOR the RC organization.

Mindreading is not permitted on the religion forum. I am not speaking for any RC organization (I don't even like radio-controlled toys).

I am speaking for the Catholic Church, founded by Christ.

Petronski, Jesus is risen.

Congratulations, you agree with the Catholic Church.

His church is not headed by Rome.

Congratulations, you agree with the Catholic Church.

Jesus is the head of the Church.

Congratulations, you agree with the Catholic Church.

You're doing very well.

[Petronski]

I'm not spouting Latin. I am describing the false tradition of men known as sola scriptura. The term is Luther's, and no, that is not where the power lies.

Luther tore books out of the Bible wholesale, he even added language to Scripture, to make Scripture better conform to his own personal interpretation.

But to no avail. The Truth lives, in spite of Luther.

[starlifter]

I reconsidered my response in light of your rookie mistake: you assumed my motivations are the same as yours.

[fortunecookie]

I think many people do love the prayers and devotionals. They just don’t admit it.

That's been my experience, too.

[onedoug]

Married priests seem to warp the otherwise celibate standard...to me anyway.

[lonestar]

It would be nice if the Catholics would stick to Catholicism and stay away from discussing Protestants. If we wanted to be Catholic we would be...and we don't trash Catholicism except in retaliation.

I have friends who are now married. He was a Catholic priest until he married a widow in his parish. That's their business and I don't get on here and rub the Catholic's noses in it.

It's getting very old always seeing something about Catholics on what is supposed to be a political forum. I will say it should bother you that many of the worst Democrat congressmen are Catholics...and I mean THE very worst. I think Catholics think a lot more about Protestants than we think about Catholics! I don't think about Catholics until I see something on FR and that is all toooooo often!

End of rant.

[Titanites]

It would be nice if the Catholics would stick to Catholicism and stay away from discussing Protestants.

You must have missed it. This article was discussing a Catholic.

[lonestar]

You must have missed it. This article was discussing a Catholic.

You're right, the headline was more than enough for me.

[Salvation]

For everyone's perusal:

In Seminaries, New Ways for a New Generation
Seminary Springtime: Father Darrin Connall s Big Success
EVIDENCE GROWS OF DIRECT DISOBEDIENCE TO VATICAN IN MAJOR AMERICAN SEMINARIES
Pope to Church: Risky Seminarians Must Go
Priests Down, Seminarians Up
U.S. Priests and seminarians survey: more vocations in orthodox dioceses
Vatican Announces Surge in Seminaries during JPII Pontificate
Seminary Reform Needed in Wake of Sex Abuse Study ["the crisis in the Church is ... homosexuality"]
Homosexuals in seminaries? The latest.....
Priests 'In Orgy' at Seminary

Bishop urges gay ban in clergy; presses for overhaul in screening priests
A New Breed of Priest
AUSTRIAN SEMINARY SHUT DOWN FOR PROBE
Seminarians Show Support For Celibacy
556 Reasons for Hope [Seminarians Support Celibacy]
No Shortage of Vocations From Conservative Parishes
Oakland seminary housing sex offender priests
Phoenix bishop to helm Priestly Formation Committee [of USCCB]
Vatican Firms up Plans for U.S. Seminary Visitation in 2005
SIBLING VOCATIONS - Early calls led two sisters to same religious order

On the admission of homosexuals to seminaries
Catholic priests demand the right to marry
New Start For Austrian Seminary
Disciples of Pope John Paul (Faculty of Gregorian University Gripe About Piety of New Seminarians)
New Priests in U.S.: Older, and More >From Abroad (Survey Tracks Trends Since 1998)
U.S. seminarians welcome Pope Benedict XVI
Vatican review of seminaries to raise issue of gay priests
Some Decry Retirement Despite Priest Shortage
The Priesthood Ordination Class of 2005 “People would be surprised to know that I…”
(Catholic) Seminarians Double In 25 Years

Pope's death inspires would-be priests
Changes Add Up for Priesthood
Irish Bishops Apologize to Seminary Whistle-Blower
SIGNAL CALLING - UB quarterback foregoes family and career to train for priesthood in Rome
Pop Culture Heros Help Recruit Priests
Small Bible-belt (Catholic) diocese sees increase in seminarians
Dashing young priests turn heads at Youth Day br> Vatican to Start U.S. Seminary Evaluations
Apostolic Seminary Visitation To Begin This Fall
U.S. Bishops to Begin Inspecting Seminaries

Prelate Says Gays Shouldn't Be Ordained
American overseeing Vatican evaluation of US seminaries says gays should not be ordained
Vatican to Check U.S. Seminaries on Gay Presence
POPE APPROVES BARRING GAY SEMINARIANS
Pope bans homosexuals from ordination as priests
Questions Arise Over Seminary Inspections
New Vatican Rule Said to Bar Gays as New Priests
New Vatican Rule Said to Bar Gays as New Priests (ABOUT TIME)
VATICAN: HOMOSEXUALS ARE NOT TO BE ORDAINED AS CATHOLIC PRIESTS
Homosexuals in the seminary; A Global Church in a Globalized World
Gay Men Ponder Impact of (Anti-Gay Clergy)Proposal by Vatican(Barf Alert)

Aquinas Seminary is First for Scrutiny
Vatican Begins Inspections At St. Louis Seminary (Rector: No homosexuality-pedophilia link)
The Sins of the Seminaries
Notre Dame Experts React to Potential Seminary Rules
Seminary Reviews Not Just About Homosexuality, Says Prelate
Jesuit Official Rips Expected Ban on Gays
Jesuit Official Rips Expected Ban on Gays
Jesuit official protesting expected Vatican ban on gay priests
A Catholic Moment of Truth

Gay Catholics Angry Over Seminary Searches
New Rules Affirm Pope Benedict's Stance Against Gays
New Report on Vatican Gay Priests Document Said to be Gay Lobby “Rumor Mill”
Gay men can be priests if celibate
Gay men can be Catholic priests if celibate-paper
No ban on gays expected in Vatican document; will advise 'prudential judgement'
African Cardinal Views the Vocation Shortage - With Full Seminaries, Ghana Shares Its Wealth
Keep the Ban
Today's seminarians: The Vatican survey
Lincoln diocese boasts highest number of priests to Catholics

Vatican Document on homosexuals in seminaries will be published tomorrow
Married Priests Aren’t the Answer (a seminarian states his view)
Vatican document restricts gays in priesthood: paper
Barring gays from priesthood not discrimination, say Italian bishops
Roman Women are Converts to Convents
Heads Up!! Zero Hour is 9am on December 29
Why I Thank God I Couldn’t Be A Priest
A look inside the Denver seminaries
Ordination Challenges: Out of the Seminary, Into the Fire
Vatican teams checking seminary effectiveness (in all, 229 US seminaries to be reviewed)

Seminaries Are Overflowing in Socialist Vietnam
Seminaries Full in Southern India (despite new anti-conversion law)
Ordination Class of 2006 - New Catholic Priests include twins, converts and some surprises
Twin ordinands, youngest of 13, credit parents for priestly vocations
Eleven new priests for Denver, largest ordination class in 40 years
Religious vocations can come from anyplace
Coordinator of U.S. seminary visitations expects report this fall
Continued growth for Australian seminaries
Journey of faith runs through R.I. (young Polish immigrant ordained to priesthood)
A leaf of Faith (Catholic convert enters religious life)

More twins (enter priesthood)
These twins are doubly blessed - Identical brothers from Erie to become priests today
New, stricter Priestly Formation Program issued for U.S. Catholic seminaries
O Father, Where Art Thou? (US catholics coping with shrinking priesthood)
Pope Tells of Key to Awaken Vocations (address to religious and seminarians at Vespers)
U.S. Catholic Seminary Probe Sent to Vatican
Homosems, A Year On
Vocations Are Up at English-Speaking Seminaries
Vocations Surge - The Priest Shortage Isn’t Over, But Seminaries Are Filling Up
To Know, To Love, To Lead (Pope Benedict XVI ordains 22 new priests)

God delivers (IL) mail carrier to the priesthood
No shortage of priests in Atlanta, more than 50 seminarians
Not so much catechism as conviction (Thomas Aquinas College Produces a Harvest of Priests)
Archdiocese of San Antonio dedicates new seminary dorm to meet vocational demands
Filled to overflowing (MN seminary at an all time high)
The Priesthood of Jesus Christ - Body and Blood (Confessional ... Consecration ... and Calvary)
Interest in the priesthood is on the upswing, says Baltimore archdiocesan vocations director
Thousands of inquirers visit vocations advice web site [Catholic Caucus]
Chase Hilgenbrinck, from the pitch to the priesthood
Many Types of Vocations Blooming in Missouri Diocese

Vatican finishes work on psychological testing of seminary candidates [Catholic Caucus]
Catholic Caucus: Seminary Revival in Boston ( Good News for Mass )
Vatican report: Most U.S. seminaries are generally healthy (so say the USCCB)
More students pursue vocations
Catholic priest numbers increase
Former Episcopal bishop discusses his new life as Catholic priest
Wagga seminary full (No room down under)
Former Protestant Minister Pursues Priesthood

[chase19]

“I will say it should bother you that many of the worst Democrat congressmen are Catholics...and I mean THE very worst.”

Do you know how many Protestant politicians are pro-abortion? I have no idea but as a Protestant I was wondering if you do. I know exactly how many are Catholics.

[Titanites]

the headline was more than enough for me.

I'm glad that it apparently wasn't enough for you and you decided to contribute to the discussion on this thread.