When Fr. Jerry Herda was growing up, he dreamed of playing baseball for his favorite team — the Milwaukee Brewers.

Fr. Jerry Herda, Milwaukee Brewers chaplain for 19 seasons, poses with Brewers mascots Bernie Brewer and Barrelman. (Submitted Photo)

But God had a different plan for him.

As a freshman in high school, after his exposure to divinity through the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and doing youth ministry, the Holy Spirit called him on a different path — to the priesthood.

At seminary, Fr. Jerry found his sports calling in coaching track and cross country; first at St. Mary’s Academy, then at Divine Savior Holy Angels High School from 1995-2002. “One of my proudest moments as a coach was to see one of my runners become a state champion in cross country,” he said. His coaching expertise would come into prominence later in life as a pastor.

But how did he land his dream job: Brewers chaplain?

“I was a secretary to Archbishop (now Cardinal) Dolan at the time. An amazing group called Catholic Athletes for Christ had a goal of making sure Mass was said in all 30 major league parks,” he noted. “Jeff Suppan, a Brewers pitcher at the time, reached out to Archbishop Dolan, and I was offered the job of saying Mass on the weekends of the home games.”

“I have all kinds of Mass attendees from ushers to announcers to front office people to the head of stadium events, and of course, players. One notable attendee was Hall of Fame reliever Trevor Hoffman,” Herda said. “I say Mass early on Saturdays before night games or Sunday morning if that Saturday has a day game.” Fr. Herda mentioned right fielder Sal Frelick, a former altar boy, as a frequent attendee. The visiting players are also welcome.

On the 25th anniversary of his ordination, in 2015, he was able to throw out the first pitch in a game at then Miller Park.

Nineteen years into the chaplain role, Fr. Herda is saying Mass, not playing shortstop, for the Brewers. But he is an unabashed fan, collector of bobbleheads and has his own business card — a baseball card at the front entry of his parish office. This is truly a great way to connect with his parishioners — many of whom are baseball fans.

Fr. Herda is now the pastor at St. Matthias in Milwaukee. His philosophy is to build a relationship with the people of his parish. He quotes Pope St. John Paul II when he says, “The main job of a pastor is to love his people.”

He mirrors the late Packers president, Bob Harlan, who used to define leadership as ‘hire the right people and get out of their way.’

Fr. Jerry Herda personal parish “baseball” card. (Submitted Photos)

Fr. Herda calls his parish at St. Matthias a sleeping giant that needed to be awakened. The parish is in the midst of its 175th anniversary celebration. Archbishop Jeffrey S. Grob opened the anniversary year with Mass on Sept. 14, 2025. Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan returned to St. Matthias to celebrate the concluding Mass on Sept. 13, 2026.

“We really feel like the parish has been rejuvenated,” Fr. Herda said. “We had over 175 people for our service day, Mass attendance is up and so is our Catholic school enrollment!”

After 19 seasons as Brewers chaplain, Fr. Herda continues to bring together two important parts of his life: his priesthood and his lifelong love of baseball.

Now if only he could get the Brewers to the World Series.