Father Patrick Arens to serve churches in Windom, Heron Lake and Brewster
Father Patrick Arens held his first mass in the churches of the tri-parish cluster – St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church in Windom, Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Heron Lake and Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Brewster – this past weekend. He arrived at his home rectory in Windom earlier in the week.
Father Arens has a rich musical background. He plays the piano, organ and drums. He began playing the organ at mass at his home church when he was in eighth-grade. He went on to form a choir at that church, and was both organist and choir director until he graduated from high school.
He grew up in Kellogg, Minnesota, the son of John and Rita Arens. Father Arens is the oldest of the siblings in the family; he has two younger sisters and one younger brother. He graduated from Kellogg/Wabasha High School.
Father Arens attended St. Mary’s University in Winona after his high school graduation, and graduated with a degree in computer science. At the same time, he was attended Immaculate Heart of Mary Seminary, also in Winona. He followed that education by attending the University of St. Mary of the Lake in Mundelien, Illinois, where he received his masters in divinity. He was ordained to the priesthood for the Diocese of Winona in June 2001.
Ironically, Father Arens follows former local tri-parish priest, Father Russell Scepaniak, to the area from the same Chatfield, Preston and Lanesboro tri-parish once also earlier served by Father Russell Scenipiak. Father Russ now serves St. Theodore’s Catholic Church in Albert Lea and St. James Catholic Church in Twin Lakes, along with administrative duties with St. Theodore’s K-8 Catholic school.
From 2005 to July 2010, Father Arens served the congregations of St. Ann Catholic Church in Slayton, St. Columba Catholic Church in Iona and St. Mary Catholic Church in Lake Wilson.
Father Arens flashes a great sense of humor, often poking fun at himself.
He says the he became a priest because he likes to help people. He considers his strengths to be that of a good listener and the ability to reach out to people on a one-to-one basis. “I think this is where my gifts and talents have led me. Where God has led me.”
