Rev. John Szatkowski

Father John Szatkowski, pastor of Saint Paul the Apostle Catholic Church, grew up in Richardson and attended Saint Mark the Evangelist Catholic Church in Plano. SPCCS holds a special place in Father Szatkowski's heart, and not only because his beloved niece attends our school. He loves visiting the classrooms, serving at special school events, greeting families in carline, and interacting with students during all-school Mass on Fridays.

Father Szatkowski is a product of Plano public schools, graduating from Plano East Senior High School in May 2001. Having felt a possible call to the priesthood from the time he began serving Mass in the fifth grade, he decided to enter seminary formation with the Diocese of Dallas following his graduation from high school. Father Szatkowski began seminary formation in August 2001 at Holy Trinity Seminary and the University of Dallas, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy and Letters in May 2005, then entering graduate studies at Saint Mary’s Seminary and the University of Saint Thomas in Houston, earning the degrees of Master of Divinity, Master of Arts in Theological Studies, and Bachelor of Sacred Theology in May 2010. Father Szatkowski was ordained to the transitional diaconate on April 25, 2009 and priesthood on June 5, 2010 by Bishop Kevin Farrell. He spent his first two years of priesthood serving as parochial vicar at Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church in Plano followed by two years serving as the Director of Vocations for the Diocese of Dallas while residing at Saint Monica Catholic Church in Dallas. His ministry as Vocation Director consisted of promoting vocations to the priesthood, screening and processing seminary applicants, and overseeing all diocesan seminarians. In July 2014, Bishop Farrell appointed Father Szatkowski to the formation faculty at Holy Trinity Seminary, where he served for three years as Associate Director of Formation and Director of Spiritual Formation. He returned to his hometown of Richardson upon his appointment as Pastor of Saint Paul by Bishop Edward Burns in July 2017.

In his free time, Father Szatkowski enjoys spending time with his dog Ruger, who joins him in his office at the Parish Center daily. He also loves to travel, go whitewater rafting and hiking.