By John Rohlf, The Message assistant editor
Diocesan Director of Vocations Father Tyler Tenbarge was recently honored as one of the Rotary Club of Evansville’s 2025 20 Under 40 recipients.
Father Tenbarge is one of 20 individuals who were recognized in the Evansville community who are younger than 40 years old and have exhibited leadership qualities and characteristics in their various roles throughout the community.
Father Tenbarge, 37, said he is proud that a non-religious body decided to welcome a religious person “to the table.” The Rotary Club of Evansville selected a wide range of folks from the greater community this year, most of whom are in business, healthcare or education, Father Tenbarge said.
“That someone who is attempting to represent Christ and the Church in daily work was also noticed and chosen for the list shows me that our community values business, healthcare and education, but that we in southwest Indiana also value faith and mentorship of young people. I’m proud Evansville values that,” Father Tenbarge said.
In addition to serving as the diocesan director of vocations, Father Tenbarge is also director of the diocese’s propaedeutic program for first-year seminarians and chaplain and director of the Father Deydier House of Discernment for those not in seminary but discerning their vocation.
Father Tenbarge was ordained to the priesthood June 11, 2016. Father Tenbarge’s previous assignments include associate pastor of St. John the Baptist Parish in Newburgh, parochial vicar at St. Boniface Parish in Evansville and chaplain at Reitz Memorial High School in Evansville. Father Tenbarge also served as chaplain and director of the Father Deydier House of Discernment in Evansville and associate director of vocations prior to being named vocations director for the diocese.
“I congratulate Father Tyler on this well-deserved honor,” Diocese of Evansville Bishop Joseph M. Siegel said. “He has done outstanding work as the Director of Vocations for the Diocese in engaging young men and women to assist them in discerning their calling from the Lord. His many initiatives, including the Monday evening Vocations Mass at Sacred Heart Church in Evansville, has helped form a culture of vocations in families and parishes in our 12 counties.”
Bishop Siegel added that Father Tenbarge’s effectiveness in this ministry was recognized by the National Conference of Diocesan Vocation Directors, who recently chose him to serve as the organization’s secretary.
Father Luke Hassler, pastor of Corpus Christi Parish in Evansville and director of spiritual formation at the Father Deydier House, said if he were to describe Father Tenbarge’s presence and ministry style, it is one that is centered around bringing the joy of the gospel into the hearts of everyone he encounters in ministry, especially seminarians and young men striving to live out God’s will in their lives.
“Through his preaching at Monday night Masses, Father Tyler has inspired many people, both young and old, that holiness is not just a relic of the past, but it can be lived in the here and now,” Father Hassler said.
Father Tenbarge said Catholic World Report ranked the Diocese of Evansville as ninth in the country for fruitfulness of vocations out of 194 dioceses, putting the diocese in the top 5 percent. The Diocese of Evansville ordained seven men 30 years old or younger over the past two years to the priesthood. Additionally, many young men and women are asking about God’s plans for their lives, and parents and those caring for children are more supportive than ever of this discernment for each young person, Father Tenbarge said.
“While Rotary didn’t tell me I was chosen for vocations ministry, I have a feeling the wider community is noticing, at least subconsciously, the leaven that faith and following one’s vocation brings to a community,” Father Tenbarge said. “It’s exciting to be a part of such good things the Holy Spirit is doing in our corner of the world.”
Father Tenbarge believes his recognition for this award shows people care about mentoring and forming young people. In his various vocations ministries, most of his time is spent with teenagers and young adults, helping to facilitate opportunities for them to build relationships with Christ and one another.
“To be a ‘leader’ is to be a servant,” Father Tenbarge said. “Jesus taught us that by everything he said and did. I try to serve the Lord and His Church. And if that makes me be seen as a leader, then I’ll take that as a sign I’m following, at least to some degree, the model of Christ.”