Bio: Hoffman, Father Paul (New Priest - 2013)

Contact: Robert Lipprandt
bob@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 

Surnames: Hiebl, Hoffman,

----Source: The Tribune - Phonograph (Abbotsford, WI) 07/10/2013

St. Anthony’s Church in Athens and St. Thomas’s Church in Milan have recently received a new priest to serve their parishes.

Father Paul Hoffman will be serving in place of Father Charlie Hiebl, who is retiring.

Father Hoffman, who was ordained a priest at age 62 in 2010, admitted he took a much different path to priesthood than most other priests do.

“I’m a second career vocation. That means I’ve gone to school, entered the workplace, made a career, finished my career and then decided to go to school for priesthood,” he said.

“I discerned a vocation very late in my life. I was married 10 years, and I have a son who lived in Bloomington, Minnesota.”

Although Father Hoffman said he could have retired from his original career before following his path to priesthood, it was not something he wanted to do.

“I could have been sitting on the front porch getting old, but I don’t choose to go out that way,” he said, laughing.

After Father Hoffman was ordained, he was assigned to Our Lady Queen of Heaven parish in Wisconsin Rapids for two years. His principle assignment was to be the chaplain of Assumption Catholic Schools.

One year ago, he was transferred to the parish of St. James the Greater in Eau Claire where he served as chaplain of Regis Catholic Schools.

About six weeks ago, Father Hoffman was notified of St. Anthony’s and St. Thomas’s need for a new priest, and he arrived at the St. Anthony’s rectory building just over a week ago.

Father Hoffman said St. Anthony’s and St. Thomas’s parishes are run differently than the larger parishes in Wisconsin Rapids and Eau Claire, but “the faith is the same.”

“The parishes I was at had about 900 families or so. That’s probably double the size of St. Anthony’s,” he said.

Nonetheless, Father Hoffman said he enjoys the experience of serving rural parishes.

“As I’ve told the bishop, ‘wherever you need me, send me there.’ The diocese is very good a matching us up with obvious choices. I have nothing negative at all,” he said.

Father Hoffman expressed his excitement to meet and serve the parishes.

“I look forward to meeting people. I love having fund, and I love being engaged with people,” he said.

Although Father Hoffman said he enjoys the Athens and Milan parishes, it is uncertain as to how long he will be serving as a priest at these churches.

“If you’re installed as a pastor, then the idea is that you’re installed for a six-year period of time,” he said. “It’s not etched in stone, but my objective is to stay here.”