Las Vegas chaplain discusses ministry in Sin City

Father Shawn Dresden is pastor of Christ the King Parish in Las Vegas and is chaplain of Legatus’ Las Vegas Chapter. He was the youngest of eight children in an observant Catholic home; his father was a command sergeant major in the U.S. Army who received a Bronze Star for his service in the Vietnam War.
 
Father Dresden attended St. John’s Seminary in Camarillo, CA, 
and was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Las Vegas in 2015. The diocese encompasses the southern half of Nevada and serves an estimated 800,000 Catholics with 100 active priests and 
28 parishes and 11 missions.
 
Father has served as chapter chaplain for six years. About 
20 to 30 people regularly attend chapter meetings.

What led you to the priesthood?

I had always thought of becoming a priest but ignored my calling for a time. At age 25, I told God, “If this is what you are calling me to do, I’m willing to try.” After that, everything fell into place. I spoke to my parish priest, who sent me to the diocesan vocations director.

How strong are priestly vocations in the Diocese of Las Vegas?

We have nine seminarians and anticipate one ordination to the priesthood in June. We are expecting three or four more seminarians to enter later this year. So, we are definitely mission territory! We do suffer from a lack of personnel.
 
I want to be present to the people, but, like many priests, I find myself being pulled into many different areas. But we manage. This highlights how the role of the laity is so vital to a vibrant parish.
 
What do you like most about the priesthood?

Many aspects of the priesthood are fulfilling and life-giving. I love saying Mass. I love leading people in prayer and being a part of a family of believers.
 
Tell us about your parish, Christ the King. 

We have 3,500 parishioners who come from all walks of life. Some are casino workers, some are athletes or employees of Allegiant Stadium, the home of the Las Vegas Raiders football team. We are home to rich and poor alike. Like the diocese as a whole, we’ve experienced tremendous growth, and we may see the parish geographically split into two parishes soon.

You are located seven blocks from the Las Vegas Strip, an area many people associate with vice. How does this affect the parish?

The running joke is that I am a priest, so I have job security! Once you’re off the Strip, Las Vegas is much like anywhere else. It is home to families and has a rich community environment. Yes, the Strip is a major part of Las Vegas, but is only one piece of the puzzle. We have our Guardian Angel Cathedral and our Shrine of the Most Holy Redeemer there, so the Church is a beacon of goodness and forgiveness in the middle of Sin City.

The 2017 shooting at the Mandalay Bay Hotel killed 60 people. How did it affect the diocese?

It was a defining moment. Almost every parish was affected in some way, shape, or form. I was at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish at the time, and one of our parishioners was severely wounded. She was the last of the surviving victims to be released from the hospital. Many parishes had parishioners or staff there during the shooting and were deeply affected by it. 

Also, our shrine is located near the Mandalay Bay. When the shooter opened fire, many took cover there, and police officers made use of its facilities.

What advice do you like to offer your Legatus members?

I encourage them to be genuine followers of Jesus Christ, whether they are in the board room, at a conference, or in the office. We need to be authentic witnesses of the gospel.