Upon ordination I was assigned as a deacon to Immaculate Conception Parish in Old Monroe, Missouri. During this time I continued my secular employment and pursued further academic studies. I eventually received numerous certifications for the administration of religious education programs through the Archdiocese of St. Louis.
In July of 2000 I accepted a position as the Director of Religious Education at St. Benedict's Parish in Florence, Colorado. In 2002 I took on the role of Vocation Director/Deacon Director for the Diocese of Pueblo at the request of Bishop Arthur Tafoya.
In 2003 my family moved back to Missouri and I became a Theology and Religion teacher at Valle Catholic High School in Sainte Genevieve, Missouri. I also served as the campus minister as well as the varsity boys head basketball coach during this time.
In 2005 I accepted a position at Assumption Parish in O'Fallon, Missouri as the Coordinator of Religious Education at Assumption School and the Coordinator of Inter-generational Faith Formation for the parish. These duties proved not to be static. Eventually I was asked to be the principal of Assumption School, and my last role at the parish was to oversee the religious education endeavors for both the school and the parish which impacted nearly 1,000 students.
In November of 2009 I began my current role as the Director of Pastoral Ministries for the Diocese of Cheyenne, Wyoming. In August of 2010 I received the additional role of Superintendent of Catholic Schools for the diocese. As a deacon I am assigned to the Cathedral of St. Mary in Cheyenne.
At the beginning of November 2014 I decided to mark my five year anniversary in Cheyenne by seeking excardination from the Archdiocese of St. Louis and incardination into the Diocese of Cheyenne. This endeavor became official on December 17, 2014. It has already been announced in The St. Louis Review newspaper and today it was officially announced to the clergy of the Diocese of Cheyenne as well. That official announcement stated the following:
"Deacon Vernon L. Dobelmann has been incardinated into the Diocese of Cheyenne. This incardination became effective December 17, 2014. Deacon Dobelmann is the Director of Diocesan Pastoral Ministries and Superintendent of Catholic Schools for the Diocese of Cheyenne. Deacon Dobelmann also serves as a deacon of St. Mary's Cathedral in Cheyenne."
Dated January 12, 2015
My diaconal ministry has been a tremendous learning experience during these 15 and a half years. Please pray for me that I may continue to grow in wisdom, grace, and holiness as an incardinated deacon of the Diocese of Cheyenne!