News

Three seminarians will be ordained as deacons

By Jeff Kurowski
Compass Assistant Editor

Three seminarians from the Diocese of Green Bay will soon take another step toward priesthood. Andrew Kysely, Ben Sember and Joel Sember will be ordained deacons by Bp. David Zubik at 10 a.m., Saturday, Aug. 19, at St. Francis Xavier Cathedral in Green Bay. Ordination to the transitional diaconate is among the final steps to priesthood. All three men are scheduled to be ordained priests in June of 2007.

Next Saturday will mark the third consecutive year this type of ordination is celebrated in the diocese. Candidates are often ordained to the transitional diaconate at seminaries. Unlike previous celebrations in December, this year's ordination was moved to August to both accommodate the Sembers, who will be returning to Pontifical North American College in Rome, and to provide the men the opportunity to serve longer as deacons. Bp. Zubik supports longer terms as transitional deacons, said Fr. Tom Long, director of vocations. Future ordinations to the transitional diaconate will also be celebrated in the summer months.

Andrew Kysely

	Andrew Kysely

"I look forward to being in the parish more, the opportunities for preaching and doing baptisms as a deacon," said Andrew Kysely, a native of Okauchee, Wis., near Oconomowoc.

This fall, Kysely will continue his studies at the University of St. Mary of the Lake in Mundelein, Ill. He will serve as a deacon at a parish on weekends.

"It will be a pretty challenging year," he added. "We will be getting into more of the practicum courses about how to say Mass and preaching. The demands will be quite heavy, but it will be good preparation. I've been reflecting on where I've been and looking ahead to my 10 months as a deacon. I first thought about the priesthood as a first grader. The whole realization is coming soon."

This summer, Kysely, a graduate of Silver Lake College, interned in clinical pastoral education at Gunderson Lutheran Medical Center in La Crosse.

"I worked primarily with patients and families on the surgical and oncology floor," he said. "It was quite challenging, but at the same time, very rewarding. I was with one woman and her family for five weeks before she died. I received a card from the family thanking me, which meant a great deal to me."

"I look forward to being with families as a priest," he added. "I am from a large family (12 children), so family is very important to me."

Ben Sember

	Ben Sember

"I've been preparing for eight years and, looking back, it's been a long journey, but a beautiful journey," said Ben Sember. "It's been a great time for spiritual and personal growth."

This fall, Ben and his twin brother, Joel, will be returning to Rome to complete their studies at Pontifical North American College. They will serve as deacons at the seminary. Ben will also serve at an apostolate and school.

"I will be preaching at retreats and visiting classrooms," he said. "What I look forward to as a deacon is preaching the gospel, to be a minister of the good news of God. It is bringing everyday life into contact with the gospel and bringing the gospel to the people. If we just focus on what we can see in the world, life is too small."

"I also look forward to being available to families, to work with young people and to offer blessings," he added.

Prior to returning to Rome, Ben will serve as a deacon, for approximately a month, at Holy Family Parish in Brillion.

"Fr. Mat (Simonar) already has me scheduled to preach the Sunday after the ordination," said Ben.

"I look forward to the ordination," he added. "It's a chance for a lot of people who have shared in this journey to celebrate. A lot of family members, friends, classmates and a lot of people from Green Bay have been supportive. It's also been a blessing to have my brother with me throughout this experience."

Joel Sember

	Joel Sember

"I honestly got used to the fact of being a seminarian," said Joel Sember. "To be able to minister at the altar, to say some of the sacraments, and do baptisms and weddings, is exciting. It brings me closer to the altar."

Joel will serve as a deacon at Most Precious Blood Parish in New London before returning to Rome for his final year of studies. While in Rome, he will assist at an apostolate parish and preach in Italian.

"I enjoy the language," he said. "It's allowed me to encounter other Catholics."

Reflecting on his journey to ordination, Joel points to Fr. Doug LeCaptain, former director of vocations, and retired Bp. Robert Banks as "fine examples of priesthood."

"I'm grateful to my parents," he added. "They are responsible for the bulk of my formation. They taught me the faith. As a family, we prayed the rosary together. We attended Mass on the feast days together. They were influential in my brother and me becoming servers. When we served together, we were known as the 'bookends' in the early years."

This summer, Joel took part in an Ignatian retreat.

"I've been praying for a long time, and I thought I was good at it," he said. "I have more work to do. The retreat had a profound impact on me regarding the importance of prayer."

"I was hoping the experience would make me more holy," he added, "but being holy is a very long process. The key is to let God do the work. I've learned to trust in God, to do my will."

Profiles on Kysely and the Sembers are online at www.gbdioc.org/pg/vocationsSeminarians.tpl.