VOL. 69, NO. 11
WWW.CROOKSTON.ORG
JUNE 10, 2015
Ordination fulfills call to priesthood
Two sons of the diocese devote their lives to Christ’s Church By Katrina Genereux Staff Writer, OND
CROOKSTON, MINN. – Every celebration of Mass is meant to be a time of transformation for all in attendance. This was especially true for two men in the Diocese of Crookston on May 23. They entered the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception as transitional deacons, but left as priests. Years of preparation and study on their part, and prayer and support on everyone else’s came to a culmination as Johnathon Christianson and Bryan Kujawa were ordained to the ministerial priesthood for the Diocese of Crookston. The Cathedral was filled with family, friends, classmates and priests from near and far who came to show their support, witness the Sacrament of Holy Orders and pray for the two new priests. “The unity of the Catholic Church is so evident when it comes time to ordain priests,” said Father Bryan Kujawa prior to his ordination. “People from all over the diocese will be there, along with people from other dioceses. They’ll all be coming because of the priesthood, which was instituted at the Last Supper. So many people have been praying for Deacon John and me simply because we’ll be ordained to the priesthood. What a gift!” Jeremy Bock, a seminarian in his second year of theology for the Diocese of Duluth, said, “It is nice to see how others enter into the celebration in another diocese, and to see the life of the Church and the hope that two newly ordained priests give to the diocese.” Bock was a classmate of Father Bryan and Father John for four years. “It is surreal for me still,”
INSIDE VOL. 69, NO. 11:
Deacon Bryan Kujawa and Deacon Johnathon Christianson lie prostrate on the floor of the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception during the Litany of the Saints at their ordination on May 23. (Photo credit: Janelle C. Gergen/OND)
said Father Blake Rozier who was ordained for the Diocese of Duluth last June, and is the Associate Pastor at St. Francis, Brainerd. “It is amazing and humbling hearing priests again called to be servants. God provides the grace.” He added, “The Lord is doing good things, calling young men, and they are answering. It’s exciting and builds me up too. We’re brothers; we’re in this together.” During the Rite of Ordination, Father Peter Williams, Vice Rector of St. Paul Seminary, was invited forward to testify to the readiness of the two candidates. “It has been a great honor for me and all of us at the seminary to accompany these men to this sacred moment,” he said. “They are worthy, mainly because they know themselves to be unworthy. Because in these years
of their formation, they have opened themselves in countless ways to the growth that God has wanted to give them, and also because they have learned to trust the one who has called them.” Father John Christianson said the most impactful part of his time at seminary was having the opportunity to work in a parish. Debbie Schultz is a member of St. Peter’s Catholic Church in North St. Paul, the teaching parish Father Christianson was assigned to. “It was beautiful getting to know him during the last four years,” she said. “We learned a lot from him, and he was very open to listen to our ideas and the discussions we had. He’s going to be a wonderful parish priest; he wants to know people’s names and be of service to the Lord.” Father Kujawa was most im-
Pg. 3 - Sacred Heart School Graduation Pg. 7 - Local Rice Bowl Grants Awarded Pg. 8 - Priestly Ordination Photo Spread
pacted by the sense of community he encountered at seminary. “When I was in college seminary, I became very good friends with another seminarian from Illinois and we both saw how much stronger disciples can be when working toward holiness together. We challenged each other a lot and we prayed together almost every night.” During his time in St. Paul, Father Kujawa found a similar group. “We keep each other accountable as well as sharing the graces of the Lord with each other,” he said. “Community is a powerful gift.” Bob and Jeanne Karschnia of Chaska belong to Guardian Angels Parish, Father Kujawa’s teaching parish, and were glad to attend the ordination. “It is exciting to share this with him after watching him grow these last few years,” said
Jeanne. “Bryan used to come to our house for dinner a lot,” said Bob. “Our family enjoys him,” added Jeanne. “It has been really good for our children to see a priest grow up.” The Karschnia’s added that Father Kujawa is great at engaging young people, and they wish he was staying in their area. During his homily, Bishop Michael J. Hoeppner outlined the duties of those called to priesthood and offered words of encouragement and advice to the pair to be ordained. “Now dear sons, you are to be raised to the order of priesthood,” he said. “For your part, you will exercise the sacred duty of teaching in the name of Christ, the teacher. Prior to handing on the Word of God, which you have received with joy, … see that you believe what you read, that you teach what you believe and that you practice what you teach.” He continued, “Let the holiness of your life be a delightful fragrance to Christ’s faithful, so that by word and example, you may build up the house which is God’s Church.” Bishop Hoeppner added that, as priests, it will be their duty to help those they serve know that, “whatever their duties and circumstance … they will grow in holiness day by day through the very situations of their lives, if they accept them with faith from the hand of our ORDINATION: Continued on Page 10
Turn to Pages 8 and 9 for more ordination photos
Pg. 11 - World Meeting of Families Catechesis Series Pg. 15 - Word to Life Faith Sharing Commentary Pg. 16 - Retired Priests Collection Information