Over the past month and a half, the “Practicing Catholic” radio show has interviewed each of the 13 men from the archdiocese who will be ordained on May 25.
The class is the largest priestly ordination class for the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis since 2005. For the May 17 show, the last two deacons to be interviewed, Deacons Christopher Yanta and Hjalmar Gudjonsson, shared their stories with producer Kayla Mayer.
Deacon Yanta’s journey to the priesthood began when he was an altar server at his home parish of St. Timothy in Maple Lake.
“Ever since I was young and started altar serving, the Lord has put on my heart a love for the Mass, a love for the Eucharist,” he said.
Although he said that the call went on the “back burner” during high school and college, he felt at peace when he entered the seminary — a sign of following God’s will, he said.
“As I’ve discerned, (God) has really put a lot of peace in my heart and then conversely, in those areas where I’ve kind of discerned something else, he’s taken away that peace or made it very clear that this isn’t where he wants me.”
“It’s not all sunshine and daisies, as they say, but … my time in seminary has been overwhelmed with the Lord’s love and his peace,” Deacon Yanta said.
Deacon Gudjonsson, who is originally from Iceland, said that his vocation did not come in one “thunderous revelation” but was rather a collection of many moments of clarity.
“My calling to the priesthood has been maybe less about the singular defining moment of a calling, but more about the continuous unfolding journey. And it’s been a path marked by daily affirmations where I have been practicing my faith and those insights that have guided me deeper into that faith,” Deacon Gudjonsson said. Every encounter has shaped his journey to the priesthood in some way, Deacon Gudjonsson said. “Every single person I have met throughout this journey has had an important role for me to come to the place where I am now. And for that I’m very grateful,” he said.
To hear more about the deacons’ journeys and what they are most excited about after their ordination, tune into the “Practicing Catholic” episode that debuts at 9 p.m. May 17 on Relevant Radio 1330 AM and repeats at 1 p.m. May 18 and 2 p.m. May 19.
Produced by Relevant Radio and the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis, the program also includes a discussion with Bishop Michael Izen about how to understand the Gospel’s paradox of living in the world but not being of the world. Also, Rebecca Brubaker, founder and CEO of the Elija Institute, discusses the importance of an integrated Catholic psychotherapy.
Listen to interviews after they have aired at archspm.org/faith-and-discipleship/practicing-catholic or choose a streaming platform at Spotify for Podcasters.
