Our Pastor

My name is Tobias Ellis, and I am a seminarian currently studying theology at the Saint

Paul Seminary. 2027 is the year when I plan on being ordained to the priesthood for the

Diocese of St. Cloud. One of the blessings of these final four years of formation is to be

placed in a parish and given the opportunity to visit at least once a month, mainly to

learn about parish life and receive mentorship from the pastor. The Father Pierz Area

Catholic Community is where I will be until ordination, and I am excited to continue to

get to know Father Nett and the vibrant community in these four parishes.

I was born in the Twin Cities, but my family moved to the St. Cloud area when I was

three years old. However, this was not before my oldest brother who is fourteen years

older than me entered seminary for the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis. There

will be a bit of a border battle as he is now a priest for St. Paul and Minneapolis and I

will be ordained for St. Cloud! I have three other older siblings and eight nieces and

nephews. As the youngest, it is a great joy to spend time with them and spoil them!! As

for other hobbies, I enjoy hiking (my goal is to visit all the U.S. national parks), biking,

playing board games, riding around on my electric unicycle, and following yet being

consistently disappointed by Minnesota sports teams.

I am extremely grateful for my time in seminary. It has taught me how to form strong,

faith-filled friendships, a solid prayer life and relationship with the Lord, and how to grow

as a man of God that will enable me, God willing, to serve the people of God well as His

priest. Thank you for being part of my journey of formation, and please keep me in your

prayers!

Unless the Lord builds the house,  those who build it labor in vain.

Unless the Lord guards the city,   the guard keeps watch in vain. (Psalm 127:1)

Greetings brothers and sisters in Christ, Jesus!,

My name is Adam Hermanson and I want to start by sharing that my lovely bride, Annie, and our 5 children, (one in the womb) have experienced an outpouring of such love and support by this community that we find ourselves in a constant state of gratitude. We truly have been embraced by the arms of Jesus through this community and we cannot thank you all enough! From the hands and sweat that came together to remodel the rectory in Buckman, all the way to ensuring our fridge was stocked in anticipation of our arrival is beyond generous. When I think of how the Lord wants me to love my neighbor as myself, I must go no further than to see how this community has modeled it so wonderfully.

Service to others brings our family joy as well. My previous experience in ministry dates to 2004 when I started helping with the various youth programs while posing as a Lutheran, but becoming a closet Catholic through a friend’s authentic witness to the truth. The conviction became so strong I could not help but find myself in RCIA and later receiving the sacraments. I met my wife, Annie, about 5 years later and we got married in 2015. We have 4 beautiful children; Marina 8, Caleb 5, Dominic 4, Zelie 1.5, and a baby due at the end of December.

My professional background is in print manufacturing, computer graphics and office administration. It is my prayer that with everything I have learned, I will be able to properly provide the service needed to this community as your new parish administrator. I thank Father Aaron and his staff for this opportunity and it is truly an honor to be a part of this community!

Sincerely,

Adam Hermanson