About Father Tom Knoblach

Fr. Tom was born in 1961, the youngest of four children of Alois and Mary (Steinbach) Knoblach. He was baptized at St. Anthony’s and grew up in St. Peter’s parish, St. Cloud. Fr. Tom is a graduate of Cathedral High School (1979) and entered the seminary in 1981. He graduated from St. Mary’s College in Winona in 1983 and studied at the North American College and Angelicum University in Rome. Fr. Tom was ordained on June 13, 1987 for the Diocese of St. Cloud.

Fr. Tom has served the parishes of Sacred Heart in Sauk Rapids and St Anthony’s in St. Cloud as associate pastor. As pastor, Fr. Tom has served the parishes of St. Mary’s in Milaca, St. Ann’s in Winona, St. Joseph’s in Bertha, St. Edward’s in Henning, St Charles in Herman, St. Mary’s in Chokio, St. Wendelin’s in Luxemburg, and St. Anne’s in Kimball prior to coming to the Lumen Christi cluster of Holy Spirit, St. Anthony, and St. John Cantius in June of 2007.

Fr. Tom was asked to return to graduate studies in Houston (M.A. in Philosophy, 1994) and St. Louis (Ph.D. in Health Care Ethics, 2003). In addition to his parish work, Fr. Tom is the Consultant for Healthcare Ethics for the Diocese of St. Cloud. He also serves on several committees and boards on issues related to theology and ethics.

Fr. Tom enjoys reading, biking, walking, woodworking, and auto mechanics.

About Father Peter VanderWeyst

Fr. Peter VanderWeyst is from the small town of St. Stephen, though he was baptized at St. Anthony’s. Fr. Peter moved to St. Stephen with his parents, Myron and Linda (Asmus) VanderWeyst, when he was five. He is the oldest of five children. From the oldest down to the youngest: Peter, Marie, Daniel, Jason, and Charlie. Fr. Peter attended Sartell High School graduating in 1994. He then moved on to St. Cloud Technical College and earned a two-year Associate Degree in Architectural Construction Technology in 1996 and worked in the construction industry for three years before entering college seminary in 1999.

Fr. Peter has spent the last eight years studying at the University of St. Thomas, first at St. John Vianney College Seminary (B.A. in Philosophy and Catholic Studies, 2002) and then at the St. Paul Seminary School of Divinity (M.A. in Divinity, 2007). During his time at the St. Paul Seminary, Fr. Peter also served St. John’s Parish in Foley, MN as part of the seminary’s Teaching Parish Program (a gradual internship over a four year time period). Fr. Peter was ordained on June 16, 2007 for the Diocese of St. Cloud.

Fr. Peter will also admit that he has more hobbies than he can keep up with. Though, that does not stop him from trying. Some include: golf, disc golf, horseshoe pitching, fishing, volleyball, basketball, softball, football, drawing, painting, sculpting, juggling, walking, ping pong, darts, pool and some card games.