The Archdiocese of Seattle will welcome two new priests June 6 when Deacon Simon Stehr and Benedictine Brother Damien-Joseph Rappuhn are ordained at St. James Cathedral in Seattle.

This is the first time in decades that the archdiocese and Saint Martin’s Abbey in Lacey have ordained priests together.

A Centralia native, Deacon Stehr entered Bishop White Seminary in Spokane at 19 while he also took classes at Gonzaga University. After graduating in three years, he began his graduate studies at Mundelein Seminary in Mundelein, Illinois.

Father Justin Ryan, the Archdiocese of Seattle’s director of vocations, met Deacon Stehr at a seminarians’ retreat in 2019. Over the years, Father Ryan said, Deacon Stehr has unveiled “the tremendous amount of gifts he has [and] the heart of service he has.”

He noted Deacon Stehr’s fluency in Spanish as well as his eagerness to learn more about Hispanic culture. He also described the new priest as a deeply prayerful person.

“He makes a lot of things look easy — and it’s not easy,” Father Ryan said. “With every opportunity and challenge that’s been thrown his way, he’s just responded. He’s excelled at just about everything.”

After ordination, he will serve as a parochial vicar at St. Michael Parish in Olympia and St. Edward Parish in Shelton.

A convert to Catholicism, Brother Rappuhn first made his vows as a Benedictine monk at Saint Martin’s Abbey in 2018. Three-and-a-half years later, he entered seminary at Mount Angel Abbey in St. Benedict, Oregon.

Abbot Marion Nguyen noted Brother Rappuhn’s deep spirituality, describing it as the source of his joy and perseverance.

“He’s also constantly working to be present to others at the moment,” Abbot Nguyen said. “That is the kind of engagement that everybody desires, but especially those that are going to college.”

His first assignment will be as chaplain at Saint Martin’s University.

Read on to learn more about these men.

Deacon Simon Stehr

What was your life like before you joined the seminary?

I was homeschooled, one of five children and grew up in Centralia. I loved playing sports. I was very into playing the piano, just involved in a lot of different things.

What person or experience most influenced your call to the priesthood?

Father Jacob Maurer was my pastor when I was in high school, and being one of his altar servers, seeing his priestly witness and his encouragement for me to consider seminary inspired and helped me to make that step.

What do you most look forward to about being a priest?

Celebrating the sacraments, especially offering the Mass. I look forward to helping people and journeying with people to discover the surpassing value and joy of being called to be a saint, of being called to share in the very life of God. That’s something as Catholics we sometimes take for granted or forget about even. Part of the joy and the excitement of the priesthood is being empowered to share that with people and help people receive that.

Deacon Simon Stehr enjoys spending time outdoors, like sandboarding on a sand dune. (Photo courtesy of Deacon Simon Stehr)

What gives you hope about the future of the Church?

The short answer is it’s only Jesus Christ, only confidence in God. Like, I have zero hope in terms of just humanity to figure out how to be holy or good. My hope for myself and for the whole [Church] is to place greater confidence in the grace of God and in his goodwill and his love toward us.

More broadly, though, I receive hope through having experienced firsthand the wisdom, the beauty and the truth and goodness of the Church in the context of seminary. The concern and intention that the Church has in careful formation of her leaders, of priests, I think is indicative of the real integrity and purity of the Church at that level. I am encouraged as well by the fraternity, faith and devotion that I’ve seen among my brother seminarians and priests.

Who or what inspires you?

It’s Jesus. He is the perfect model, the ideal of the priest. In the context of becoming a priest, he is the model, the ideal and the inspiration for my whole life.

Also, I can see [inspiration] in certain saints that I’ve developed a devotion to, in particular St. Thérèse of Lisieux. The acknowledgement of her own weakness is, for her, a moment of renewed confidence and joy that she can just rely on God in her weakness.

What charism(s) do you think you bring to the priesthood?

Things that I find great life and joy in have involved working with and teaching youth in parish schools, in youth groups, even in young adult groups. I also find great joy in talking to people, especially young people, about vocations and sharing the experience of that and encouraging people to consider their own calling.

Brother Damien-Joseph Rappuhn

What was your life like before you joined the monastery?

I grew up in an Army family, and we moved around so much. Before I was 18, I never lived anywhere for longer than two years. I graduated from high school in Germany [and] went to Western Washington University. Before joining the monastery, I worked for Saint Martin’s University as the web content manager for about 10 months.

What person or experience most influenced your call to the priesthood?

Father Joseph Altenhofen gave a really good homily about vocations — and I had never really thought about it at that point. I had an Ignatian spiritual director, Debra Black, who brought me into prayer with my life story, seeing where Jesus is in different moments, even in the bad moments.

 I found a common thread in my life was a lot of the hallmarks of Benedictine life: community, hospitality, obedience, contemplative prayer. I knew that if I was being called to religious life, these things would be essential for me.

Brother Damien-Joseph Rappuhn, center, attends a Seattle Sounders vs. Portland Timbers game in Portland with his friends Brody Stewart, left, and Darin Mohr, right. (Photo courtesy of Brother Damien-Joseph Rappuhn)

What do you most look forward to about being a priest?

Saying Mass and just being that close to Jesus and his sacrifice. Hearing confessions, bringing Christ to people in their darkest moments.

When I was doing clinical pastoral education in a hospital as a chaplain intern, I went in with a lot of trepidation and fear. But I found that, with prayer and a bit of faint courage, I could bring Christ to people. That was a very confirming experience that God could work through me that way.

What gives you hope about the future of the Church?

My hope is rooted in the fact that Christ loves his Church and died for his Church. The Church has been through so much in 2,000 years, and [things were] bad at different times. That Christ has sustained his Church and given her seasons of renewal and new life is an additional witness and that he will keep it safe.

Who or what inspires you?

I am inspired by a lot of the priests in our archdiocese. Their ministry shows me that this work that we’re called to is possible in our context here in the Northwest.

I was given [Father Damien of Molokai’s] name when I entered religious life, and he continues to inspire me. The fact that Father Damien was able to minister the way that he did shows that the Church’s compassion and ministry know no bounds.

I have to include my grandfather [Richard Rappuhn]. I have always wanted to be like him, and I still aspire to be. He passed to God in 2015.

What charism(s) do you think you bring to the priesthood?

I’m told I have a very contemplative and reflective manner of preaching. I love preaching and I love proclaiming the Word of God. [I want] to help people enter into the Word of God, which is ordered toward our salvation and healing.

I think ministry of presence is also a charism I bring. When I’m with someone who is in need in some way, I’m absolutely with them.

This article appeared in the June/July 2026 issue of Northwest Catholic Magazine. Read the rest of the issue here.