Rev. Craig Vasek

About the Author

Faculty

Pastor
St. Bernard's Catholic Church, Thief Rivers Falls, Minnesota

Father Craig Vasek currently serves as pastor of St. Bernard's Catholic Church in Thief River Falls, Minnesota. Previously, Fr. Vasek was Chaplain for Marauder Athletics at the University of Mary from 2019 until 2022, and as Specialist for the National Eucharist Revival in the Secretariat of Evangelization and Catechesis at the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.

Ordained in 2010 as a priest of the Diocese of Crookston, Minnesota, Fr. Vasek is a graduate of the Pontifical North American College in Vatican City, having obtained a Licentiate of Sacred Theology in 2011 from the Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas located in Rome, Italy. In 2020, Fr. Vasek earned a Master of Science in Psychology from the Institute for the Psychological Sciences of Divine Mercy University in Arlington, Virginia. Having served in multiple churches, Fr. Vasek also served as chaplain to a university and a Catholic high school.

Father Vasek has worked extensively with the Missionaries of Charity of Saint Teresa of Calcutta in Europe, Asia, Africa, and North America. He has produced works on the topics of Scripture and the Spiritual Life, hosts an evangelism ministry through a blog and podcast called Evangelical Disciple, and is a host for various shows on Real Presence Radio.

Published Pieces

Facing Life's Hurdles

National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame Coach Dale Brown explains the four major hurdles all of us face in our lives.

Dale Brown

Rev. Craig Vasek

Feb 20, 2023

Virtue and Mental Health

What does virtue have to do with mental health? A psychologist explains.

Dr. Paul Vitz

Rev. Craig Vasek

Jan 4, 2023

Tougher Together

Tim Miles, head coach of the San José State University men's basketball team, offers insights on leadership and the formation of students and athletes.

Tim Miles

Rev. Craig Vasek

Joe Kittell

Mar 3, 2022

Restoration from the Heart

Sr. Miriam James Heidland and Fr. Craig Vasek discuss prayer, healing, and the restoration Christ offers.

Sr. Miriam James Heidland

Rev. Craig Vasek

Jan 27, 2022

A football helmet in the grass during practice

Snaps. Chutes. Boards. Repeat.

Retired Super Bowl champion Matt Birk speaks on the importance of virtue, commitment, and doing the little things right both in athletics and the life of faith.

Matt Birk

Rev. Craig Vasek

Dec 9, 2021

Leveraged Arenas and College Athletics

Thomas Wurtz, founder of FOCUS's Varsity Catholic, joined Fr. Craig Vasek to discuss the relationship between athletics, evangelization, and leveraged arenas.

Thomas Wurtz

Rev. Craig Vasek

Oct 14, 2021

Awe and Admiration

Sabrina Little, PhD, a philosophy instructor at Morehead State University in Kentucky and an elite ultramarathoner, spoke with Fr. Craig Vasek on awe, admiration, and motivation.

Dr. Sabrina Little

Rev. Craig Vasek

Sep 23, 2021

A quaterback preparing to throw in pre-game warmups

Docility, Detachment, and Identity

Retired professional quarterback and football coach Brooks Bollinger joined Fr. Vasek and Coach Craig Bagnell to discuss docility, detachment, and identity in sport.

Brooks Bollinger

Craig Bagnell

Rev. Craig Vasek

Jul 1, 2021

Football and Faith

Pat McCaskey, VP of Special Projects for the Chicago Bears, discussed his experiences of faith and family, growing up within and eventually working for the Bears' organization.

Pat McCaskey

Rev. Craig Vasek

Jun 3, 2021

A soccer player preparing to kick the ball

Finding God's Greatness

Fr. Chase Hilgenbrinck, a priest and retired professional soccer player, spoke with Fr. Craig Vasek, Athletics Chaplain of the University of Mary, on virtue, greatness, and sport.

Rev. Chase Hilgenbrinck

Rev. Craig Vasek

Feb 25, 2021