Deacon Scott Dodge serves the Father while being one

Intermountain Catholic

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Deacon Scott Dodge with part of his family after the commencement Mass for students at the Madeleine Choir School. From left to right, Timothy, Holly, Deacon Dodge , and Nathaniel. ?He is kind and thoughtful, and enjoys being a deacon,? expressed Timothy about his father. Deacon Dodge was ordained in 2004 and is currently an intelligence officer for the Air Force and a graduate student in Philosophy at St. Mary's University in Winona, Minnesota.  IC photo by Priscilla Cabral

SALT LAKE CITY — Being a parent is not easy. Now try combining it with being a full-time worker, a graduate student, and a deacon. The secret is to "have a good balance in life," said Deacon Scott Dodge, who is all of the above and more — and to have a very supportive family. "I could not do half the things I do if it weren’t for my wife Holly," he said.

"We know he’s got a lot going on, so we try to schedule time to spend together," said Holly Dodge, his wife.

Sometimes that quality time is spent in the cathedral, where Deacon Dodge and his family serve. "My three school-age children go to the Madeleine Choir School and come here after school," said Deacon Dodge, who was excited to share that his family is increasing. "We also have a two-year old son and are expecting a baby boy in October," he said.

Deacon Dodge says he is proud of being able to give his children opportunities he did not have, and of exposing them to the teaching of Jesus. "They know they should be kind to others and treat them how they’d like to be treated. They know however, they cannot expect the same treatment," he said.

From his father, Deacon Dodge said he has learned the values of integrity and hard work, two essentials in his life. "My primary responsibility is as the director of Religious Education and Formation. I also work for the marriage tribunal with Father Langes Silva, and I do some hospital work at the LDS Hospital doing patient visitations and emergency visitations for newborns," he said. Additionally, he works as an intelligence officer for the Air Force Reserve. "But I make sure my children know I’m busy, but not too busy for them," he said.

As a convert, Deacon Dodge says his most satisfying job in the church is teaching adults about the Catholic Church. "I served a mission for the LDS church in New Mexico from 1985 to 1987," he said. "After that I had a crisis of faith and stopped going to church."

But then he read "Essay in Aid of Grammar of Assent" by Cardinal John Henry Newman, and realized for the first time that "faith and reason work together." Consequently, he started to study the Catholic Church teachings and was hooked, just as he is with his children.

"Being a dad helps me be a better deacon because it translates very well into dealing with other people, especially in counseling," he said.