Led to the priesthood by the Master Teacher

Legatus’ Fort Wayne chaplain FR. DANIEL SCHEIDT is an educator at heart . . .

Fr. Daniel Scheidt

Fr. Daniel Scheidt
Fort Wayne Chapter

In addition to serving as pastor of St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church, Fr. Daniel Scheidt serves as chaplain of Legatus’ Fort Wayne Chapter, which has witnessed extraordinary growth in the past year. He was attracted to the priesthood through education, and teaching remains his passion. He completed his undergraduate degree at the University of Notre Dame, then spent time at the Casa Balthasar house in Rome. He later spent a year studying at the Pope John Paul II Institute for Marriage and Family in Washington, D.C., before entering seminary in 1997. He spoke to Legatus magazine’s editorial assistant Tim Drake.

Tell me about your family.

I was born in 1969 and grew up in Highland, Ind. I was taught by the Sisters of St. Francis of Perpetual Adoration at Our Lady of Grace School.

I have a sister and two brothers — all of whom are happily married. Both of my parents are in good health and thoroughly enjoying retirement. My dad worked on large electrical meters his whole life, and my mom started a dance apparel business with a neighbor that lasted over 20 years. They instilled a strong work ethic in us children.

When were you ordained?

I was ordained a priest in 2001 by Bishop John D’Arcy [head of the Fort Wayne-South Bend Diocese from 1985-2009], and have now served at three parishes. I cannot begin to describe the transformative graces of my first years as pastor. My deepest love continues to be connecting people. I’m happiest when people come together and enjoy each other’s company. I have come to fall in love with every aspect of priestly ministry, even the practical and administrative tasks which once intimidated me.

What are your hobbies?

I’ve always had a profound love of history and philosophy, and later a generalist’s attraction to science and medicine. An abiding interest in ecclesiastical art and architecture has led me to do some amateur consulting work in church design. A boyhood visit with my dad to Thomas Jefferson’s home of Monticello sparked a truly excessive interest in our nation’s third president; Jefferson was my introduction to the encyclopedic range of the human mind.

I also enjoy running and in-line skating. I do my best thinking and praying on my nine-mile course, every other day. I also thoroughly enjoy reading at the beginning and end of each day and am pretty much an omnivore.

What have been your impressions of Legatus?

In the short two years since our chapter’s founding, I’ve seen new friendships formed which have led members to take an active interest in building up each other’s faith lives. Usually one thinks of priests or consecrated religious as the ones having “professional” responsibility for the spiritual lives of people beyond their immediate families. But I’ve noticed in Legates a growing confidence and joy in mentoring each other in growing in holiness.

I think the genius of Legatus is in recovering in Catholic business people a spirit of evangelical zeal that their work really can be a proclamation of the gospel. Their businesses are, after all, “in the world.” What Legatus offers is the truth that one’s work in Christ becomes more than merely “of the world.”

It’s no coincidence that Jesus chose businessmen as the first four apostles — the fishermen Peter, Andrew, James, and John (and a tax man, Matthew, as the fifth apostle, for dealing with the government) — rather than temple priests or scholarly scribes.

He knew that his disciples would need an entrepreneurial scrappiness unafraid of engaging the rough-and-tumble of the world to link people together in the giving and receiving of those goods which would carry the divine love of eternal life.

###