Home / News & Publications / Michigan Catholic News / 2008 / Deacon Charles Kaltz Altermatt
Deacon Charles Kaltz Altermatt
to be ordained for the Archdiocese of Detroit
Published May 9, 2008
Age: 40
Parents' names and hometown: Eugene J. Sr. and Lillian Altermatt, Sylvania, Ohio
Education: Roosevelt Elementary, Kenosha, Wisc.; Lance Junior High School, Kenosha, Wisc.; Sylvania Southview High School, Sylvania, Ohio; Michigan State University (undergraduate); University of Michigan (graduate); Sacred Heart Major Seminary.
Parish(es) where you grew up, and your current home parish: St. Mary, Kenosha, Wisc., and St. Joseph, Sylvania, Ohio. Current home parish is St. Anthony, Temperance.
Masses of Thanksgiving:
• National Shrine of the Little Flower, Royal Oak
10:45 a.m. Sunday, May 11
• St. Anthony, Temperance
5 p.m. Saturday, May 24
• Holy Family, Novi
12:15 p.m. Sunday, May 25
Briefly describe your route to the priesthood:
I first started thinking of the priesthood when I was about 8 years old, as I used to go with my family to the monastery near our house for the annual summer fundraiser chicken dinner. The religious and priests seemed happy and I thought maybe this could be for me. Later as I got older, in junior high and knew the difference between the married deaconate and celibate priesthood I thought, "The Lord wants me to be a married deacon," so I tried to put priesthood out of my mind. It came back up again several times and whenever it did suddenly people, priests, nuns, lay people would say, "Have you ever considered the priesthood?" I would respond, "Yes, Father, in fact I am now, but I think God wants me to be a married deacon." Eventually, I listened to what God actually wanted and ended up in the seminary.
Having decided you had a vocation, did you ever have second thoughts about it? How did you resolve any doubts or fears?
Yes, the first Lent I was at the seminary I really began to struggle, there was a wonderful Catholic woman studying at the seminary and I began to think, "Lord, do you really want me to be a priest or to marry someone like her and raise a family and be a deacon?" After a great deal of prayer and talking with my spiritual director, I discovered that I really did feel called to the priesthood, but had not quite let go of 25-plus years confusion over what I thought my vocation was to be. The following Christmas at midnight Mass, I got some wonderful spiritual consolation which helped confirm that I truly was on the right track.
Every year since then the feeling of peace, serenity and confidence in my vocation has grown. My ministerial experiences in the parish have also really helped stoke the flames of my vocation.
What are the greatest challenges you see facing the Church? Where do you see the greatest hope?
The greatest challenges I see facing the Church today are similar to those that have faced the Church throughout her existence, namely evangelization and re-evangelization of the people. Today's secular consumer-driven culture provides so many distractions to pull people away from their faith, coupled with the individualistic mentality of America. The Church faces an uphill battle to win the hearts and minds of the people. My hope lies in the fact that, as St. Paul said, in 1 Corinthians 3:6-7 "I planted, Apollos watered, but God caused the growth." Therefore, neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who causes the growth. It is not our job to bring forth the growth, it is our job to toil in the fields whether planting or watering or harvesting, God will bring the growth. This is true whether we talk about vocations to the priesthood or converts to the faith. Just work hard, in love, and trust in God.
What are your hopes for your priestly ministry?
I hope to serve the Lord and the people of the Archdiocese of Detroit for a very long time. I would like to think that I have at least as many years left for active ministry as a priest as I have had before ordination. I hope to be an instrument to share God's love with His people and following the lead of our Holy Father, Cardinal Adam Maida and the rest of the bishops attempt to be a good shepherd for the souls in whatever ministry I am assigned over the years.
What about your priestly ministry do you anticipate will be the most rewarding?
I think that my ability to provide the people of God with His grace through the sacraments will be the most wonderful feeling in the world. I can hardly imagine the feelings I will feel during my first Mass at the consecration or during my first confession during absolution. Of course, I also, look forward to the many wonderful relationships I will develop with parishioners and staff over the years of service as we toil together in the vineyards of the Lord. Last, but not least, I look forward to my continued spiritual journey as I grow closer to the Lord and try to conform myself evermore to the Good Shepherd as I follow in His footsteps in my ministry.
Lee Acervo | Charles Altermatt | Clint McDonell | Sama Muma | Mark Prill
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