Fr. Martin Coolidge joins Fr. Andy Upah in serving as Co-Campus Chaplains for Wahlert Catholic High School, Mazzuchelli Catholic Middle School and Our Lady of Guadalupe Spanish Immersion School on the Holy Family Central Campus.  Fr. Martin is also the associate pastor at St. Raphael Cathedral and St. Patrick in Dubuque. 

My name is Fr. Martin Coolidge. I grew up in Ft. Wayne, Indiana, with my mom, dad, and two brothers. Our family moved to Elyria, OH (near Cleveland) when I was a freshman in high school, where I attended the Catholic high school and then went on to Iowa State University for college.

Graduating with a degree in meteorology, I began graduate school in the same field. I planned to get into weather and climate research, but God had other plans! In my first year of graduate school, I felt called to the priesthood. Being in Iowa and away from my family, I had to decide whether to apply for seminary in my home Diocese of Cleveland or to stay in Iowa. God gave me the gift of faith that He led me out to the Archdiocese of Dubuque for more than just an education, but to hear and answer His call to the priesthood where he wanted me to serve him.

After two years of seminary at Loras College, I went on to Mundelein Seminary (north of Chicago) for four more years. I was ordained a priest of Jesus Christ on May 29, 2021, at the Cathedral of St. Raphael here in Dubuque. Archbishop Jackels assigned me to be the Associate Pastor at the Cathedral and St. Patrick’s Parish, as well as Co-Chaplain of Holy Family Catholic Schools with Fr. Andy Upah.

I am thankful to God for calling me to be a priest and happy to be in Dubuque and at Holy Family as a new priest. It is exciting to be able to help form young disciples of Jesus in his Church! Please pray for me as I am praying for you.

– Fr. Martin Coolidge