Eucharistic Revival Preacher Coming to Diocese

January 19, 2023

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Dominican Father Samuel Hakeem, of Chicago, will be in the Des Moines Diocese in mid-February to share a series of talks focusing on the national Eucharistic Revival initiative.

Father Hakeem is among a group of 50 preachers being sent to dioceses across the country to enkindle the flame of Eucharistic faith and devotion.

The preachers share witness testimony about God and invites listeners into an encounter with him. The hope is that listeners experience a profound conversion to a deeper relationship with God.

Father Hakeem will speak Feb. 16 at the Catholic Pastoral Center, 601 Grand Ave. in Des Moines. A social hour begins at 5:30 p.m., the presentation at 6:30 p.m. and a holy hour will begin at 7:30 p.m. Babysitting will be provided; Register by Feb. 3.

Father will speak on Feb. 17 at St. Patrick Church in Council B luffs. Sign in is 9:30 a.m. to 10 a.m., presentation is at 10 a.m. and a holy hour follows at 11 a.m. Register here. 

Father Hakeem told is high school newsletter that when he was a senior in high school, he wanted to be an astronaut and have a family. The campus chaplain encouraged him to be open to the possibility of priesthood.

He went to Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Prescott, Arizona, where each year there was something that reminded him about the possibility of priesthood. One year, it was a character in a book. Another year, it was an astronomy presentation.

It was during his senior year in 2008 that he began to question his plans. The stock market plunged and dreams were on shaky ground. He found that difficult time also to be a time of openness to a vocation.

Father Hakeem got into graduate school and had a research position. He began studies at the University of New Mexico. As he discerned a vocation, he decided to join the Order of Preachers, also known as the Dominicans in 2010.

He was ordained in 2017 in St. Louis and has served in Madison, Wisconsin, and as vocations director for his Dominican province based in Chicago.