Priest’s path to ordination covers three continents
Fr. Forrest looks forward to serving the poor

By Candy Czernicki
Catholic Herald Staff

RACINE — Fr. Stephen Forrest probably could go to Uzbekistan and back with his frequent flyer miles.

Fr. Forrest’s path to the priesthood covers three continents, one university, a seminary and at least 12,000 miles — the last 40 or so of which took him from the Missionary Community of St. Paul the Apostle headquartered in Racine to the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist in downtown Milwaukee. Archbishop Timothy M. Dolan ordained Fr. Forrest, along with classmate Rafael Rodriguez, to the priesthood on Friday, May 21.

Fr. Forrest, the third of five children born to an Indian mother and Scottish father, was raised in London. At 18, a member of the community invited him on a mission trip to Africa. Fr. Forrest, who “at that time was not thinking of being a priest,” planned to stay in Turkana, Kenya for three months.

He left three years later, after assisting Fr. Avelino Bassos in beginning a mission community.

The community sent Fr. Forrest to southeastern Wisconsin in September 1995, to study at the University of Wisconsin - Parkside, Kenosha. After receiving a degree in philosophy, he entered Saint Francis Seminary in 1999.

The recipient of a Master of Divinity degree from the seminary, Fr. Forrest has no plans for future studies. “I’m glad to be done,” he said. “It’s been a long time.”

Fr. Forrest’s first assignment begins June 22, at Prince of Peace/Principe de Paz Parish on Milwaukee’s southside where he will be associate pastor.

“Working in a Hispanic community — it’s a different background, a good challenge. It’s exciting,” he said. “It’s a poor neighborhood,” and he’s looking forward “to try to help them. The church is the first place they go to for help; I’m looking forward to that.”

Working among the often-marginalized will not be a new challenge for Fr. Forrest. In addition to the internship he served at All Saints, a predominantly African and African-American parish in Milwaukee, he has personal experience with the physically disabled: His 27-year-old younger brother has cerebral palsy.

“People treat him differently” because of it, Fr. Forrest said. “But looking back, I see it was a blessing. It made you see life from his perspective.”

It’s not all work all the time for Fr. Forrest. In his spare time, he enjoys cooking “anything — Italian food, Indian food, I like to mix things together.” He doesn’t have a favorite author, but reads a good deal of history, theology, and lives of the saints. And he often considers his hopes for the future.

“My biggest hope is to be a good priest, to serve people well.”

Be An Informed Catholic!


For the rest of this week's news, visit the Catholic Herald web site.

Click here to subscribe to the Catholic Herald.