Ordaining Men of Faith

By Marty Denzer

Deacon Paul Sappington to be ordained a priest June 25

Paul graduated from Missouri University of Science and Technology in Rolla, with a degree in electrical engineering, then worked at Burns & McDonnell in Kansas City for about a year. He also became active in City on a Hill, Kansas City’s young adult community. “I heard a call to the priesthood just a few months after graduation, and City on a Hill was helpful in confirming me in the decision to take the next step and enter continually give my seminary,” Paul said.

Having to decide whether to go on a field assignment to upstate New York or begin studying for the priesthood, he asked to speak with Bishop James Johnston, as he too had been an electrical engineer before he entered the seminary. “That conversation provided clarity and a new perspective on the situation that was a great help to me,” Paul recalled. Decision made: he entered the seminary. Now, “I am in my fourth year at the North American College (NAC) in Rome, and I attend classes at the Gregorian University, where I study spiritual theology. My first three years, while still living at the NAC, I attended classes at Santa Croce (Holy Cross University), where I graduated with a bachelor’s in sacred theology.” He expects to return home by mid-June.

Paul believes his family is excited for him to be ordained. “They have been a great support to me before and during my time in seminary, and my grandma is especially thrilled for me to be ordained.”

Father Adam Johnson, director of the Office of Priestly Vocations, said, “Paul Sappington is a great guy, a good athlete. I’m confident he’ll be a good, faith-filled priest!”

Paul is looking forward to saying his first Mass at Our Lady of Lourdes in Harrisonville, his home parish.

When asked about his hopes or dreams as a priest, Paul said, “I do not have any career goals or aspirations in that sense as a priest. I hope to continually give my life over to God to be his instrument in bringing people into his kingdom. Whatever way God wills for that to take place, I hope to be available.”

He concluded with gratitude for the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph. “I’m grateful to the diocese for all of their support throughout my time in seminary, and I am looking forward to serving the diocese as a priest.”

The public is invited to attend as Deacon Paul is ordained a priest at 10 a.m., June 25, 2022, at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception.

“Lord, make me an instrument of thy peace …”

SIXTEEN MEN of the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph will be ordainedto the permanent diaconate on June 18 at St. James Church in Liberty.These men mirror the complexity of the makeup of our diocese.Deacon Paul Muller, director of the Office of the Diaconate, evoked ajigsaw puzzle as he described the candidates hailing from 13 differentparishes in 11 towns across the diocese.

“Our diocese is blessed to have people from many cultures. A growing segment of our country comes from different cultures of the world, many from Spanish speaking areas of the world. Five of the newly ordained deacons are bilingual. Their ages range from 37 to 62 years of age,” said Deacon Muller.

The candidates have spent four and a half years in formation, a system Deacon Muller calls “a long but good process, a time of continued discernment and growth.” Throughout the formation period, the men and their wives have attended classes, retreats, seminars and workshops.

Permanent deacons are called by God to serve their local Church, the bishop, priests and members. If married, their wives and families play an important role in their formation and their ministries. After ordination, the Catechism of the Catholic Church says they will “assist the bishop and priests in the celebration of the divine mysteries, above all the Eucharist, in the distribution of Holy Communion, in assisting at and blessing marriages, in the proclamation of the Gospel and preaching, in presiding over funerals and in dedicating themselves to the various ministries of charity.”

Presently there are 71 ordained deacons in our diocese. Fifty are active, 16 are retired and five others serve in other dioceses. Deacon Muller adds, “The addition of these 16 deacons will witness the love that God has for the poor, the marginalized and those who feel forgotten. They can be a powerful force for evangelization.”

Saint Francis of Assisi, founder of the Franciscan Order, was a friar and an ordained deacon. His prayer, “Lord, make me an instrument of thy peace...” is central to the charism of deacons.

The Candidates

• Joe (Donna) Arnone, Nativity of Mary Parish, Independence.

• Mike (Jamie) Casteel, St. Gregory Barbarigo Parish, Maryville.

• Juan (Zulema) Garcia, St. Mark Parish, Independence.

• Jim (Kathy) Hall, Twelve Apostles Parish, Platte City.

• Randy (Susie) Holtman, St. Gregory Barbarigo Parish, Maryville.

• Richard (Stephanie) Isaacks, St. John LaLande Parish, Blue Springs.

• Carl (Marilyn) Johnson, Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish, St. Joseph.

• Mark Nold, St. Aloysius Parish, Maysville.

• Julio (Joselina) Lara, St. Anthony Parish, Kansas City.

• Corey (Sonja) Morgan, St. Bridget Parish, Pleasant Hill.

• Juan (Claudia) Rodriguez, St. James Parish, Liberty.

• Raymundo (Onelys) Sanchez, St. Anthony Parish, Kansas City.

• Rick (Amy) Schwind, Church of the Good Shepherd Parish, Smithville.

• Jordan (Jessie) Schiele, St. Anthony Parish, Kansas City.

• Dave (Becky) Talken, Our Lady of the Presentation Parish, Lee’s Summit.

• Sergio (Mariana) Ulloa, Holy Cross Parish, Kansas City.

Think you may be called to the diaconate? Learn more by visiting kcsjcatholic.org, click on Get Started, and scroll down to the Diaconate.