The director of vocations for the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis has a unique role in witnessing the transformation men throughout the archdiocese undergo as they prepare for the priesthood.
Father David Blume reflected on this transformation with “Practicing Catholic” radio show host Patrick Conley during a recent interview.
Transitional Deacons Kyle Etzel, Ryan Glaser, William Kratt and John Rumpza will be ordained to the priesthood during a 10 a.m. ceremony at the Cathedral of St. Paul in St. Paul.
“It’s this culmination of so many years of preparation; these men have worked hard,” Father Blume said. “And all of this comes together here at ordination, when now they’re kind of being launched out of a canon, if you would. And I remember years ago someone saying that being ordained is kind of like stepping onto a fast-moving train. And that’s really true. There’s a lot happening in our parishes and so it’s a beautiful time to be ordained and to enter into full time priestly ministry.”
Father Blume said the ability to witness the preparation the men undergo is a privilege. “I’ve seen that … transformation in some of the men who have really, they’ve grown so much.”
Looking ahead, Father Blume said there are various events taking place this summer.
One is the Totus Tuus program, which Father Blume described as “a catechetical program for both grade school and high school.”
“We have teams of young adults. There are two men and two women on each team, and we have six teams, and they receive training for eight days and then they go out to the parishes and each team goes to six different parishes,” Father Blume said. Teams will be at 36 parishes this year, he said.
More information about the program can be found online.
Then, on Aug. 5, Father Blume said there will be a Seminary Information Night for young men in their junior and senior years of high school, as well as their parents, to learn more about the St. John Vianney College Seminary in St. Paul.
“We’re going to begin with Mass of the Assumption at 5 p.m. and then after Mass, we’ll have the dinner presentation and then we’ll do a tour of the seminary,” Father Blume said.
More information and a place to RSVP can be found online at archspm.org/seminary-information-night.
Information about the archdiocesan Office of Vocations can be found at 10000vocations.org.
To hear the full interview, listen to this episode of “Practicing Catholic,” which debuts at 9 p.m. May 26 on Relevant Radio 1330 AM and repeats at 1 p.m. May 27 and 2 p.m. May 28.
Produced by Relevant Radio and the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis, the latest show also includes interviews with transitional Deacons Etzel, Glaser, Kratt and Rumpza.
More information about the ordination event can be found online at archspm.org/ordinationpriesthood.
Listen to interviews after they have aired at PracticingCatholicShow.com or choose a streaming platform at anchor.fm/practicing-catholic-show.
