WASHINGTON (CNS) — Pope Francis has appointed Father Frank R. Schuster, pastor of St. Vincent de Paul Parish in Federal Way, Washington, to be an auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Seattle.
A native of Washington state, Bishop-designate Schuster, 50, also is director of permanent deacon formation for the archdiocese. He was ordained a priest June 12, 1999. He will turn 51 in May and will be one of the youngest bishops in the U.S. Catholic Church.
His appointment was announced in Washington March 8 by Archbishop Christophe Pierre, apostolic nuncio to the United States.
Bishop-designate Schuster’s episcopal ordination will take place May 3 at St. James Cathedral in Seattle.
“It is truly a blessing to have Father Frank Schuster appointed to this auxiliary role,” Seattle Archbishop Paul D. Etienne said in a statement. “His love for Jesus and joy for the priesthood is expressed through his love of service and enthusiasm for the Gospel.”
The newly named auxiliary bishop will join Seattle Auxiliary Bishop Eusebio Elizondo in ministry, the archbishop said, adding that “together, as shepherds, they will extend the ministry of our Lord Jesus accompanying people in their faith life.”
Bishop-designate Schuster “will join in this season’s confirmations, attend deanery events, celebrate with the faithful and be a partner for the Gospel out in the field,” Archbishop Etienne said.
“As such, I intend to keep him with his parish community so that he may continue to be one with the people,” the prelate added.
Bishop-designate Schuster said in a statement that he is “delighted” the archbishop’s intention “is for me to stay in parish ministry. The ability to stay rooted in a community of faith is going to be grounding for me and lifegiving.”
He has served as a priest of the Archdiocese of Seattle for nearly 23 years.
About his appointment, he said he was “very grateful to the Holy Father for trusting me in this way.”
“I’m also especially grateful to Archbishop Etienne for his support of me. I am enthusiastic to do what he needs me to do as his auxiliary,” he added.
In July 2021, Pope Francis appointed Seattle Auxiliary Bishop Daniel H. Mueggenborg to head the Diocese of Reno, Nevada, after serving for four years as a Seattle auxiliary.
Archbishop Etienne requested a new auxiliary to help serve the Archdiocese of Seattle, which covers all of Western Washington, from the state’s border with Canada south to the Oregon border and serving more than 600,000 Catholics.
“My vision is to restructure how we’re operating in the Archdiocese of Seattle,” said Archbishop Etienne, who has been eager to get out with the people. “Moving forward, the bishops will spend more time on their pastoral duties and less time on their administrative duties, which will be handled by the new leadership at the chancery.”
Frank Raymond Schuster was born May 20, 1971, in Mount Vernon, Washington, to John and Virginia Schuster. When he was 6 years old, he, along with his parents and two siblings, Carolyn and John, moved south of Seattle to Maple Valley, where they lived along the Cedar River.
He enjoyed his family-focused, Catholic upbringing and admits to being a bit of a rascal as a child and while attending Kennedy Catholic High School, where his father was the principal for more than 20 years.
At the University of Washington, Father Schuster earned his bachelor of arts in psychology, but spent most of his time at the Newman Center in peer ministry.
After college he moved to Illinois and attended Mundelein Seminary where he received his bachelor of sacred theology and his master of divinity.
“After my third year of theology, I knew from the bottom of my heart that I had no other future. I knew it. I felt it,” he recalled.
“I love being a priest. I’m just happy to be of service,” he said. “It’s about going to the hospital when someone calls you. It’s about being there for people when they’re down. Having time to be able to sit down with someone who’s homeless. … Our lives should always point to Jesus.”
He has a blog where he posts his homilies: https://fatherfrankschuster.com.
His assignments since his priestly ordination in 1999 have included being a parochial vicar and a pastor at parishes in Bellingham, Washington. He also has served as chaplain for the Catholic campus ministry at Western Washington University in Bellingham.
He was appointed pastor of St. Vincent de Paul in Federal Way in 2021; before that he was pastor for four years at St. Teresa of Calcutta Church in Woodinville, Washington.
