Austin Catholics will be introduced to a new face and leader on July 1.

With the departure of Father Joe Fogal, St. Edward’s and St. Augustine church-goers will welcome Father Jim Steffes, who will leave parishes in Minnesota City, Rollingstone and Minneiska.

Though Steffes is much younger than Fogal, the two know each other well. Fogal said he couldn’t choose a better guy to replace him, and that feeling is mutual.

“Father Joe is a great guy,” Steffes said. “I’ve known him for many a year and have a great respect for him.”

Steffes is not inexperienced, either. He was ordained in 1993, has served in Washington D.C. for the U.S. Catholic Conference of Bishops and as vicar general of the Diocese of Winona.

Steffes is one of nine priests in the Diocese of Winona who is being reassigned to different parishes this summer. He is excited.

“It’s a time of transition I really look forward to,” Steffes said. “It’s an excitement and new adventure.”

The turnaround for Steffes is short, however. He’s only served his current parishes for a year. The Diocese usually reassigns priests roughly every six years, but it also makes arrangements as needed. Steffes knows he’s stepping in for a man who’s well respected in Austin, and he knows there are challenges.

“I cannot replace him, but I will take on the duties that he had, pastor the people and bring the Lord to them,” Steffes said about taking over for Fogal.

Part of Steffes’ new duties will be working with the schools, something with which he is familiar.

“I love working with schools,” Steffes said. “I’m a big supporter of Catholic education.”

One of the biggest challenges for Fogal and Steffes, however, is leaving their current parishes. As part of the Diocese’s rules, priests are obligated to their new churches.

“I love the parishes I’m at right now; and of course, there’s some grieving leaving those people,” Steffes said.

Fogal said priests aren’t supposed to go back to previous parishes, so they don’t step on new priests’ toes. Whether funerals, births, weddings, baptisms or other celebrations, those rituals belong to the priests of those parishes alone.

“That’s one of the challenges — we bond with our people as spiritual leaders,” Steffes said. But, he added, there’s some reason behind the reassignments. “It all happens with God’s help.”

Steffes said he also looks forward to serving in the community with Father Dale Tupper.