Ordinations

Diaconate class of 2023 — Robert Burns

A simple question posed by my wife, Ashley: “Have you ever considered being a deacon?” This helped me realize, through prayer, that God had been preparing me through my 13 years of naval service for a deeper eternal calling to serve his Church as deacon.

Diaconate class of 2023 — Wayne Bellefeuille

The seed was planted 20 years ago on a sidewalk in Minneapolis when I bumped into a former pastor, (the late) Father Eugene Tiffany, and he told me he was praying for vocations the previous night and my name came to his mind, and that he believed I was supposed to be a deacon.

Corporate layoff steers Deacon Rumpza to the priesthood

A 30-hour drive from San Diego to Minnesota in 2015 helped pave a path to the priesthood for transitional Deacon John Rumpza, who grew up in St. Paul and attended Nativity of Our Lord parish.

Deacon Kratt excited for sacramental ministry, priestly fraternity

Transitional Deacon William “Wil” Kratt had some impressive role models while growing up at Divine Mercy in Faribault.

Deacon Glaser: God calls us not for who we are, ‘but because he knows who we can become’

Transitional Deacon Ryan Glaser recalled fall of his senior year at St. John Vianney College Seminary in St. Paul when he brought to prayer where he should enroll for the rest of his seminary studies: The St. Paul Seminary in St. Paul or the North American College (NAC) in Rome.

Deacon Etzel credits the ‘holy two-by-four to the back of the head’ for role in discerning priesthood

Transitional Deacon Kyle Etzel, 31, grew up Catholic, he prayed with his family every day, but said he “mostly went along with” the way that his fellow middle school, high school and college students were living.

St. John the Baptist factored into Deacon Nguyen’s path to priesthood

Deacon Joseph Nguyen’s vocation “came in gradually,” he said, with no “aha moment.” But St. John the Baptist has been a recurring figure since his fourth year of college seminary.

Deacon Selenski’s road to priesthood wound through Rome, Boston and Denver

Deacon Michael Selenski was a college senior on the brink of graduation with plans to join a restaurant venture when he made an abrupt about-face: He instead took a job with Fellowship of Catholic University Students, known as FOCUS. Six years with the college ministry organization included stints in Colorado, Iowa and Boston, interspersed with mission trips to China, Gayana, Ireland, Peru, Russia and the Holy Land.

Service with NET Ministries ‘a powerful experience’ that led to the seminary

Back in junior high, Deacon John Utecht experienced “a powerful experience of God’s love and mercy” on a day he went to adoration and confession.

Restless spirit leads Deacon Gilbertson to priestly vocation

Life seemed to be falling into place for Deacon Sam Gilbertson in the first months after he graduated in May 2015 from Franciscan University in Steubenville with a major in finance and a minor in economics.

Seven men to be ordained permanent deacons Dec. 4

What stands out to Deacon Joe Michalak about this year’s class of deacons is how culturally diverse it is for its small size, seven. Three of the candidates are immigrants, natives of Colombia, El Salvador and southern India. Five are married, one widowed, and one never married.

Victor Susai

Victor Susai, 63, a native of India who tests software in Eden Prairie and is a parishioner of Pax Christi, had a simple but profound response when asked what inspired him to pursue the diaconate: “Weekly adoration at St. Bonaventure Catholic Church in Bloomington.”
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