Deacon Schwind To Be Ordained May 24

Amarillo—Deacon Scott Schwind, a seminarian for the Diocese of Amarillo, will be ordained to the priesthood by Bishop Patrick J. Zurek during a Mass Friday, May 24 at St. Mary’s Cathedral, 1200 South Washington.

The 6:30pm Mass is open to the public. St. Valentine Catholic Radio, 1360-AM, KDJW, will broadcast the Mass, beginning at 6:25pm.

Deacon Schwind, 44, is a native of Amarillo. He is a 1985 graduate of Alamo Catholic High School (now Holy Cross Catholic Academy), Amarillo. Schwind is a 1989 graduate of West Texas State University (now West Texas A&M University) in Canyon, where he earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Math and Physics.

After graduating from WT, Schwind entered the U.S. Navy, where he served for six years until 1995. Following his military service, he worked for Pantex for a number of years in the Engineering Department before he was employed by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission as a senior inspector.

In 2007, Schwind entered Assumption Seminary in San Antonio and received a Master’s Degree in Theology earlier this month.

In an Oct. 17, 2010 Seminarian Profile in The West Texas Catholic, Schwind described his call to the priesthood.

“I think God began calling me at a fairly young age but definitely by the time I was in college,” he said. “So why did I take so long to answer the call? I think God knew I was not ready and He wanted me to bring to the priesthood the experience that I could only have received through working and living in the world those extra 20 years.”

Schwind’s advice for those discerning a vocation: ask lots of questions and don’t rush things.
“Follow wherever God is leading you, trusting that He will always lead you to the right place,” he said.

Deacon Schwind has chosen to be called Father Christopher Schwind after his ordination to the priesthood. He acknowledges that it is uncommon for a diocesan priest to change his name at ordination but that there is a rich tradition in the Church and throughout Scripture of changing a name to mark the change God has made in a person’s life.

“This is a new beginning in my life and the priesthood is a tremendous gift that God is bestowing upon me so I feel it is appropriate to mark the occasion by taking a new name,” he said.

Deacon Schwind chose to be called Christopher since it means “Christ Bearer” and it was given to him as his middle name at baptism.

The newly-ordained Father Christopher Schwind is scheduled to celebrate his First Mass on Saturday, May 25 at 5:00pm at St. Hyacinth’s Church, 4500 West Hills Trail.