On Saturday, May 23, Bishop Thomas John Paprocki will ordain four men priests for the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois during 10:30 a.m. Mass at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception. Recently, Deacon Samuel Bagyo Jr., Deacon Adam Prichard, Deacon Martin Smith and Deacon Jason Stone — all who are completing their theology studies at Mundelein Seminary in Mundelein — shared with Catholic Times how they look forward to serving in the future.
Deacon Samuel Bagyo Jr.
Deacon Samuel Bagyo Jr. names St. Paul Parish in Highland as his home parish, yet he grew up far away from the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois. He comes from "a very large extended family" and is from the Diocese of Wa, which is part of the Tamale Ecclesiastical Province or as he explains it: "I hail from the Republic of Ghana in West Africa, south of the Sahara, from the Upper West Region, which is in the Northwestern section of the country, from a village in the Lawra District called Zambo."
As a youth, Deacon Bagyo studied in Catholic "basic" schools and, along with his brothers, attended minor seminary for a high school education. He later obtained a bachelor's degree in philosophy/psychology from the Salesians's college seminary, Don Bosco Higher Institute of Philosophy and Human Sciences. After college, he worked in Africa in a hospital setting, and as a teacher, catechist and in youth ministry. Later, of course, he came to America.
He remembers that his late parents, James and Grace, did much to raise their seven children in the teachings of the Catholic Church. Following his parents' death, Deacon Bagyo's aunt Juliana Kala (who is the mother of diocesan priest Father Paul Kala) helped to raise him. She also prayed for his vocation, he says.
In addition to his aunt, he feels lucky to have so many people to support him and to pray for him. "I am grateful to the Lord first and foremost, my brother Father Paul Kala, my entire family, friends, the Diocese of Springfield, the bishop, Father Chris House under whose charge I was invited and accepted into this diocese, Father Charles Edwards, the parish of St. Paul in Highland, Msgr. Michael Kuse of Blessed Sacrament in Quincy, the current vocation director Father Brian Alford, the faculty of Mundelein Seminary and all who have played a role in my coming to this stage," he says.
Deacon Bagyo looks forward to his ordination, which will be attended by family members, friends — priests, religious and classmates — and seminary faculty. "My brother, Father Paul Kala, will be vesting me," he says.
At age 33 he says, "I feel ready for the new phase of my life with this coming ordination and trusting the Lord's graces to work through me. I am ready for ordination."
The newly-ordained Father Bagyo will celebrate his first Mass on Saturday, May 23 at 5 p.m. at St. Paul Parish in Highland.
As a new priest, he will be traveling a long way home before he begins his new assignment. "During the month of June I will be in Ghana to say a Mass of Thanksgiving with my kinsmen before I return to assume my new assignment."
Beginning July 1, the newly-ordained Father Bagyo will be parochial vicar of Our Saviour Parish in Jacksonville, St. Alexius Parish in Beardstown, St. Fidelis Parish in Arenzville, and St. Luke Parish in Virginia.
Deacon Adam Prichard
Deacon Adam Prichard says he is looking forward to the day — very soon — when he will be ordained to the diocesan priesthood. But his ordination, he likes to say "will happen in God's time."
He was born in the Netherlands, because that is where his father was stationed in the Air Force, but Deacon Prichard says he moved with his family several times. Eventually, however, the family (which includes his parents William and Patricia Prichard, two older brothers and a sister) settled in Effingham. There he was a member of Sacred Heart Parish and graduated from Effingham High School. Later, he relocated again, to Quincy and Blessed Sacrament Parish.
Over the years, he attended college, spent two years at Cardinal Glennon College Seminary in Shrewsbury, Mo., and then went back to finish college at Quincy University. After college graduation, during a summer pilgrimage to the Shrine of the Miraculous Medal in Perryville, Mo., Deacon Prichard discerned that God was "calling him back" to a priestly vocation. Now at 30 years old, he is ready to be ordained.
Vesting him at the ordination will be Father Daniel Bergbower. "Father Dan was the pastor at the first parish my family joined when we moved into the diocese," Deacon Prichard says. "I have always looked up to him and valued his input as a good man and holy priest."
During the month of June, as a newly-ordained priest, he will be helping out with Totus Tuus training as well as celebrating Masses at several of the parishes that have played a special role in his life.
Beginning July 1, the newly-ordained Father Prichard will be serving in the Quincy parish he has called home since 2005: Blessed Sacrament. There, he'll be serving with one of his mentors; the priest that vested him as a deacon last spring.
"I am very thankful to have been assigned to Blessed Sacrament," he says in conclusion. "I look forward to serving the people of the parish in this capacity, as well as learning even more from Msgr. (Michael) Kuse."
Of his upcoming ordination he says, "It is an amazing and humbling feeling. I thank God for calling me to this vocation and pray that I will be able to be a priest after the heart of Jesus. I look forward to celebrating the sacraments and being able to be present and minister to the people of God."
As a new priest he will be celebrating his first Mass at Blessed Sacrament in Quincy on Sunday, May 24 at 3 p.m.
Deacon Martin Smith
A native of the little town of Mt. Zion, Deacon Martin Smith says the thought of becoming a priest has been with him since he was a young man. Yet in the years that have passed since that time — he's now 32 — he's finished school, spent four years in the United States Army as a paratrooper (which included a tour in Iraq), studied economics, worked as a police officer and even volunteered to work with birds of prey. Now, he feels blessed to be looking forward to his ordination to the diocesan priesthood and "just being able to be an instrument of love."
Deacon Smith says there have been many priests in the Springfield diocese and other places who have become great friends, supporters and mentors. "However there are four big mentors I would like to mention," he says. "First is Father James O'Shea, who will vest me. He has been a great mentor and model priest for me. He became my pastor when I was around 13 years old. He was the first priest to invite me to consider a call to the priesthood, and has had such an impact on my life. A holy, gentle and loving priest, he is my greatest mentor.
"Second is Father Christopher House who has been my vocation director for most of my time in the seminary; my respect and loyalty to him is beyond words," he says. "Third is Father John Titus, who has been a close friend, confidant and mentor for nearly nine years, a priests' priest and a model of priesthood for me. Fourth is Father Joe Molloy, who has been my pastor at my diaconal assignment at Holy Family in Decatur this past year. He has been a constant model for me of the love of Christ and a priest of mercy, compassion and joy. I will forever be grateful and hope to be a priest like him with those same virtues."
Deacon Smith has two brothers and three sisters and many nieces and nephews, who will be at the ordination Mass along with his parents Jerry and Faye Smith. His newest nephew, Sabastian, turns 1 this month. "I was happy to get to baptize him in June," Deacon Smith says. He is also expecting other guests, including special college friends from Marian University in Indianapolis, and friends and parishioners from Holy Family Parish in Decatur, Sacred Heart Parish and St. Anthony Parish in Effingham, and his home parish, Our Lady of the Holy Spirit in Mt. Zion.
During June, the newly-ordained Father Smith will take some time to relax and travel a little to visit family and friends. Mostly he says he will "give thanks to God for the blessings and goodness he has given."
Beginning July 1, he will become parochial vicar at Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception Parish and chaplain of Sacred Heart-Griffin High School, both in Springfield. "I am really looking forward to getting to know the families at the Cathedral Parish and becoming part of the parish community," he concludes. "I am also really looking forward to getting to know the students, teachers and staff at Sacred Heart-Griffin High School and the Cathedral grade school and being involved in school activities."
The newly-ordained Father Smith will celebrate his first Mass on Sunday, May 24 at 3 p.m. at Holy Family Parish in Decatur. He will celebrate a Mass at his home parish in Mt. Zion the following Sunday, May 31, at 9:30 a.m.
Deacon Jason Stone
Deacon Jason Stone says of the years leading up to ordination, "It's been a long road and I'm almost there."
A convert to Catholicism, a lawyer as well as a musician, Deacon Stone grew up in Sullivan and was raised in the Methodist Church. He went on to get both his bachelor's and his juris doctor from the University of Illinois and was admitted to the Illinois bar in 1996. He practiced law in Quincy for 12 years and also worked as an organist at Trinity Episcopal Church in Hannibal, Mo., and then at St. Rose of Lima in Quincy. He was received in the Catholic Church at the Easter Vigil in 2007 at Blessed Sacrament Church in Quincy.
Just two years after his initiation into the Catholic Church, he entered the seminary, studying philosophy at Kenrick-Glennon for two years before moving on to Mundelein. "It's great to be at the end of my studies and almost ready to set to work," he says.
Deacon Stone, who is 43, is the son of Paul Stone and his stepmother, Sandra Stone and his mother, Annet Hlava and her husband Nathan Stein. He expects "family, people from along my journey, classmates, etc." to be his special guests at his ordination.
Vesting him will be Father Arnaud Devillers, FSSP, who is pastor of St. Rose of Lima Parish. "For about nine months before I entered seminary, I was organist and choirmaster at St. Rose of Lima and I have usually been back there for Christmas and Holy Week as a guest at his rectory," Deacon Stone says.
Beginning July 1, the newly-ordained Father Stone will be parochial vicar of Holy Family Parish in Granite City and St. Mary and St. Mark Parish in Madison. He will be serving with Father Jeffry Holtman. "I have spoken to Father Jeff a couple of times and I met several parishioners at the diaconate ordination since Deacon (Paul) Bonk is from one of the parishes. I'm looking forward to getting there and setting to work."
Of his upcoming ordination and the work that follows, he says, "I'm most looking forward to offering the Holy Sacrifice. But I'm also looking forward to being among God's people and being a priest among them. As useful as a seminarian can be sometimes, there are certain things he can't do for the people. I'm looking forward to having, so to speak, the full arsenal at my disposal to help people get to Heaven."
The newly-ordained Father Stone will spend June getting to his classmates' ordinations and first Masses, and "visiting as many parishes as I can to offer Mass in places where I have had some connection over the years." He will offer his first Mass on Sunday, May 24 at 10:30 a.m. at St. Rose of Lima in Quincy.