For transitional Deacon John Rumpza, discernment to the priesthood began when his father took him aside as a fourth grader and suggested he start asking God “what he wants you to do with your life.”
“So, from that moment on, (and) then just my dad’s example as a very good and holy man, a spiritual father for me and my siblings, and then just creating that openness to the vocation,” Deacon Rumpza said. “So, as a fourth grader, I was starting to listen for (God’s) voice.”
For transitional Deacon Ryan Glaser, openness to his priestly vocation was aided by the example of an uncle, Father Kenneth Glaser of the Diocese of Dubuque, Iowa, who showed him at a young age the normal but enormous gift of ministry.
“He just really showed me … (that) a priest isn’t like some sort of extraterrestrial, you know, far off, distant person,” Deacon Glaser said. “He’s a man that has a very special blessing and path in life, that gets to … minister to God’s people. So, he was actually the first phone call I made when I began feeling the Lord tugging at my heart to enter seminary.”
Now, both men are preparing for their ordination Mass, along with Deacons Kyle Etzel and William Kratt, at 10 a.m. May 27 in the Cathedral of St. Paul in St. Paul. All four men spoke recently about their faith journeys with “Practicing Catholic” host Patrick Conley, for a show that debuts at 9 p.m. May 26 on Relevant Radio 1330AM.
To hear the entire interview, including what Deacons Rumpza and Glaser are feeling as ordination approaches, tune into the show, which also 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 an interview with transitional Deacons Etzel and Kratt, as well as Father David Blume, director of vocations for the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis.
Listen to interviews after they have aired at PracticingCatholicShow.com or choose a streaming platform at anchor.fm/practicing-catholic-show.
