Catholic Newman Center

His behavior in high school generally scared people, so he decided to study psychology to see if there was any validity to their fears. He minored in Italian because meatballs are one of his favorite foods – thank God chicken chow mien was a close second.

It was during his college years that many of his friends thought he completely lost his mind and sense of direction when he started spending too much time at the Catholic Newman Center at the U of A. By the end of his junior year he decided to pursue a calling that had tugged at his heart as a child: priesthood. He entered the Dominican Order after graduating from the University of Arizona in 1983. He was ordained a priest after eight years of study in the seminary.

Fr. Jordan returned to Seattle in 2009 to help at Blessed Sacrament Church and in July he was named Director at the University of Washington Newman Center.

Today he spends most his days doing what he loves best: being a priest and a Dominican, serving at the Newman Center, and preaching. He also likes reading big books, especially novels, watching football and soccer, and drinking copious amounts of coffee to accomplish all of this.

Oh, by the way, because he and St. Dominic love dogs so much, Fr. Jordan is confident that he won’t have any problems liking “Huskies.” Go, Dawgs!

As a kid, he fell in love with the richness of Christian traditions (the plural intended) while exploring the fascinating past of his lovely southeastern Polish frontier hometown, Przemysl, a 1000 years old home to more than a dozen churches, abbeys, monasteries, and a seat of two archbishops: Roman Catholic and Byzantine Catholic.

While in high school, he eagerly extended the scope of his interest to the complicated world of interpersonal relationships (aka dating!), raising constant anxiety of his pastor who for some reasons hoped one day Lukasz would end up as a priest. It was also in high school that he discovered the beauty of sacred music, working as an organist and singing in a church choir. Somewhat dissatisfied with the lofty subtlety of Renaissance polyphony, he came across a simple yet solemn piece of music composed by Polish Dominican friars and it changed his life forever.

Attracted by the way the Dominicans sing, Lukasz came to know the way the Dominicans live: with both contemplation and action, both rich community life and pastoral outreach, both learning and teaching. Moved by their preaching, very spiritual yet down-to-earth, and by a contagious joy of their brotherhood, he joined the Order in July 2000. As a friar, he studied philosophy and theology at the Dominican House of Studies in Warsaw and Krakow, and graduated from the Pontifical University of John Paul II in Krakow, Poland, with a master’s degree in patrology.

Following his ordination to the priesthood in May 2007, Fr. Lukasz worked two years as a high school teacher and youth minister in Poland until he applied to a PhD program, pursuing his dream of becoming an academic. Apparently God had some other plans for him, since instead of the quiet scholarly atmosphere of the theology department library in Fribourg, Switzerland, Fr. Lukasz found himself in the hustle and bustle of New York City with a mission to help the Catholics at Columbia University remain sane. His two year term there turned out to be an amazing learning experience which, after a short break from campus ministry he took last year serving in Anchorage, AK, he hopes to continue at the University of Washington!

Fr. Lukasz loves books, playing music, hiking, coffee, and… people. Especially talking to them :) But believe it or not, he can also listen, and he actually enjoys it quite a bit!

The grunt work of the front office is turned into a ministry of grace and virtue as she greets students, visitors and other staff members with her characteristic good humor and charm. Anyone can tell you that if you really want something to get done, go to Judy. If she cannot get it done she will certainly find someone who will.

It was during his time at the UW that he was introduced to the Newman Center (where he later met his wife) through which he began to deepen his faith as an adult. The Newman Center gave him the supportive community he sought, and he realized that God needed to be a part of every aspect of his life. He soon became heavily involved, even serving a year as a Peer Minister in 2003. The Newman Center, and the Dominican priests that serve it, continue to hold a special place in his heart.

After graduating with a degree in Communications and a minor in History, Chris worked in politics for two years as a Research and Communications Assistant, and then later as a Deputy Communications Director. Following his time in politics he was blessed to have the opportunity to co-found an electronic medical records company that continues to operate today. As the company moved into its next phase, he came to serve the Newman Center once again, this time as its Director of Advancement. He and his wife, Michele, were married in 2005 and have three children. Chris enjoys history, communication theory, technology, apologetics, soccer, and great conversation. He is a member of the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP), the Washington Planned Giving Council (WPGC), Catholic Campus Ministry Association (CCMA), and Catholic Professionals of Seattle (CPoS). He currently sits of the Development Institute Committee of the CCMA, and the Advisory Board of Catholic Professionals of Seattle.

Something that is not well known about Hien is her rich family history. Her father fought in the Vietnam war alongside American troops to protect his family and for political freedom. In 1954, due to the Geneva Conference, her grandparents fled from northern Vietnam in pursuit of religious freedom. After the war, her family gained special admittance to immigrate to the United States in 1991. So, while Hien was still a baby in her Mother’s tummy, they flew to California and became US citizens. Hien was a very active student growing up, bouncing from student senate during high school, teaching second graders for Sunday school, to establishing a new registered student organization at UW. She was successful with her work, but she wasn't happy. She felt a little lost and alone not having something that she could pour her love into. It was at the Newman Center where her love for the Church and being meticulously organized collided. Through the grace of God, Hien became involved in Freshman Group and the Alternative Spring Break mission trip to Yakima, WA and hasn't been able to leave since. She served a year each in the Fellowship committee and then as a Peer Minister and has been blessed with a position at the Newman Center managing the database and assisting with PR, marketing, and fundraising. Hien enjoys baking fancy desserts; discussions on criminal justice, drugs and society, incarceration, and social stratification; and reading about the lives of the Saints. Actually, she likes most everything except for wet socks, missing the bus, allergy attacks, and the like.

More content coming...

More content coming...