By Susan Stevenot Sullivan, Staff Writer

MARIETTA – Father Ron Nikodem, SM, parochial vicar at St. Joseph’s in Marietta, is relishing his role in the parish since his ordination to the priesthood in the parish church Oct. 8.

The ordination, by Archbishop John F. Donoghue, preceded Father Nikodem’s 47th birthday by nine days and marked a new life and mission for the former high school math teacher.

“Having the ordination at the parish was nice way to share part of my life with the people I’m servicing,” Father Nikodem said. “My primary responsibilities are working with the parish outreach commission and the altar servers and, of course, baptisms, funerals, weddings and Masses.”

Father Nikodem was born in Cleveland, Ohio. He did not attend parochial schools, but was active in religious education programs. He has a bachelor’s degree in math and education from Case Western Reserve and a master’s in education from Kent State.

While teaching high school math for 17 years, Father Nikodem was active at St. Pius X Parish in Bedford, Ohio, which is a Marist parish.

He took some classes in theology and philosophy at John Carroll University, he said, and the direction of his life began to change.

“I didn’t want to retire as a teacher,” he said. “I began to get burned out. I began to think about how I could serve.”

In 1987 he went into a novitiate program in Dublin, Ireland. After a year he took first vows at St. Pius X and went on to enter the seminary at Catholic University in Washington, D.C.

After two years of study he served an apostolic year in Paulina, La. He then returned for two and a half additional years of study at Catholic University.

Father Nikodem was ordained to the transitional diaconate at the national Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, which is on the campus of the university.

He came to St. Joseph’s in Marietta on Jan. 26 of this year.

“I had never been here (Marietta) before I came in January,” he said. “The people are great.”

Though he is a member of a teaching order, Father Nikodem plans to do little teaching beyond some religious education.

“I would probably not teach on a full-time basis,” he said. “I prefer pastoral-type work in the parish. I like working with the school kids and visiting hospitals and nursing homes and the sacramental aspects.”

After celebrating his first Mass at St. Joseph’s, Father Nikodem returned to St. Pius X in Ohio for his second Mass shortly after his ordination.

Father Nikodem said he used to enjoy coin collecting and fishing, but doubts he’ll have much time for either now. He also enjoys all types of sports, with baseball heading the list.