Meet Fr Val
Fr. Val grew up near Pittsburgh, Pa. and moved to Los Angeles shortly after high school. He spent his 20s working and traveling. “I learned about service, hospitality, different cultures and religions, and shed some prejudices” he recalled. “It really opened my eyes up to the world. I realized, and believe, if we don’t know the other we can fear the other.” Although he was successful, busy and had many friends, he felt an empty space in his life. He said, “One Palm Sunday I found myself wondering what was missing. I had to go through everything; not money, not companionship. I had to go back to church.” His journey back to faith reignited earlier thoughts of vocation to the priesthood. He began priestly formation and was ordained a priest in service to both the Roman Catholic and some Eastern Catholic communities in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles on June 1, 1996.
During seminary, Catholic friends with Montana roots invited him to Polson during breaks from his studies. His trips to Montana continued after ordination and he felt drawn to relocate, saying, “I loved my time in Los Angeles, but always had a sense that I would go back to the country.” Montana has provided the environment for a more spiritual and one on one experience as a pastor. Smaller parishes rule! Fr Val has been Dean of our small deanery and was recently appointed to another 3 year term by Bishop Vetter. His love of sacred mass with her equally sacred music and traditions are what centers him in his vocation as a priest. Fr Val strives to acknowledge that “Christ IS in our Midst in his own life (with many fall-backs) and encourages all who profess the Catholic faith to do no less. Hobbies and passions are music, hiking with his Labrador “Olive”, cycling around Bozeman and any trail his 65 year old body can handle, growing summer veggies and with his love of food and hospitality, welcoming friends to his residence for a shared meal. Fr plans to retire in Bozeman and hopefully support RUP and other parishes as a “supply priest” after retirement. He has a strong sense of social justice, especially for the poor and marginalized and believes in the seamless garment that ALL life is sacred from conception to natural death with NO exceptions.
During seminary, Catholic friends with Montana roots invited him to Polson during breaks from his studies. His trips to Montana continued after ordination and he felt drawn to relocate, saying, “I loved my time in Los Angeles, but always had a sense that I would go back to the country.” Montana has provided the environment for a more spiritual and one on one experience as a pastor. Smaller parishes rule! Fr Val has been Dean of our small deanery and was recently appointed to another 3 year term by Bishop Vetter. His love of sacred mass with her equally sacred music and traditions are what centers him in his vocation as a priest. Fr Val strives to acknowledge that “Christ IS in our Midst in his own life (with many fall-backs) and encourages all who profess the Catholic faith to do no less. Hobbies and passions are music, hiking with his Labrador “Olive”, cycling around Bozeman and any trail his 65 year old body can handle, growing summer veggies and with his love of food and hospitality, welcoming friends to his residence for a shared meal. Fr plans to retire in Bozeman and hopefully support RUP and other parishes as a “supply priest” after retirement. He has a strong sense of social justice, especially for the poor and marginalized and believes in the seamless garment that ALL life is sacred from conception to natural death with NO exceptions.