Our Priests

- Fr. Patrick Behm
  
  Pastor
  
  Fr. Patrick Behm is the pastor of St. John Paul II parish. He was born in Fort Dodge, IA but grew up in Storm Lake. He completed seminary studies at St. John Vianney College Seminary in St. Paul MN, and at St. John Vianney Theological Seminary in Denver, CO. On June 2nd, 2012 he was ordained a priest by Bishop R. Walker Nickless.
  
  Fr. Behm loves being a priest, and loves being a priest for this parish. He feels honored to serve all of the people of St. John Paul II.
- Fr. Peter Pham
  
  Parochial vicar
  
  Fr. Peter Khoan Van Pham is the parochial vicar for St. John Paul II parish. He was born in Vietnam to a devout Catholic family with five sisters and two brothers. Fr. Peter studied at the University of Saigon, receiving an English degree in 2003 and a bachelor’s degree in 2005.
  
  After graduating in 2005, he taught at the college opened by the bishop of his home diocese until 2014. Initially, Fr. Peter had planned to attend seminary in his home diocese, but in 2013 he felt the calling to be a priest in the United States. After discernment and discussion, he came to the U.S. in 2015 and completed seminary at Conception Seminary College in Conception, MO and at Kenrick-Glennon Seminary in Shrewsbury, MO.
  
  Fr. Peter was ordained a priest by Bishop R. Walker Nickless on June 3rd, 2023.
  
  Fr. Peter has been a priest for St. John Paul II since July 2023, and he feels blessed to serve the people of God in the parish. He finds God’s care and love for him through the parishioners, and he gives thanks daily to the Lord for all the blessings He has granted through His people.