Bishop to ordain three to priesthood on May 24

In a couple of weeks, three young men are scheduled to join the ranks of priests in the Diocese of Wichita. Bishop Carl A. Kemme will ordain as priests Deacon Grant Huslig, Deacon Joseph Mick, and Deacon Nicholas Samsel at 10 a.m. on Saturday, May 24 at Wichita’s Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception.

To better acquaint the diocese’s faithful with the three men who soon will help to shepherd and serve them as priests, the Catholic Advance reached out to all of them with a handful of questions. 

Their responses, which have been lightly edited for reasons of space, follow immediately.

What stands out to you as you look back on your journey to this point?

One thing that stands out to me is all the experiences I’ve gotten to have already that I never would have had if I had not followed this calling: traveling to Guatemala, Turkey, Greece, and Rome, and more than that, getting to talk with people on a deep level about their faith, their hopes, and to bring Christ to them.

What has your experience been like as a transitional deacon?

My experience of the diaconate has been wonderful, especially my summer. I especially love the privilege of getting to baptize 15 babies, including my niece. One thing that surprised me was how meaningful it was to be a man of blessing, to bestow the Church’s blessing on people in different circumstances, whether for a new home, or for someone going through a difficult time in life.

What are you most looking forward to about being ordained a priest?

I am really looking forward to getting to restore souls to life in the sacrament of reconciliation. And I am looking forward to offering first blessings as I get to celebrate with everyone!

What would you like to say to the faithful of the Diocese of Wichita as you prepare to embark on your priestly ministry?

Thank you to all our faithful parishioners who have offered many prayers for their brothers and sisters in our adoration chapels at all hours of the day and night. Thank you in particular to those who have prayed for vocations. And I am most grateful for my Catholic education, which I never would have gotten in any other diocese. I am very excited to serve you, the people of this diocese, as your priest.

What stands out to you as you look back on your journey to this point?

The thing that stands out most to me as I have been reflecting on my journey to ordination is how generous the Lord has been with me. 

I think back to who I was growing up and who I was when I first entered seminary. I was a very different person, and if we are being honest, I had little desire or capacity to be a priest. Yet, God still called me to share in this incredible vocation. The growth, healing, joy, and peace that I have experienced in the past seven years have been nothing short of outstanding. 

It is a gift far too great for me to be able to express and one that I in no way deserved. The Lord, though, was incredibly generous with me. I remember back to when I first was applying to be a seminarian and Fr. Chad told me that God was never outdone in generosity. That has been my experience of the past years. God has responded abundantly to the small gifts I have given Him, and I am deeply grateful. 

What has your experience been like as a transitional deacon?

I have consistently been surprised by how incredible it has been to be a transitional deacon. The ministerial aspects of the past year have been the most life-giving things I have experienced in my life. I have fallen in love with this state of life that enables me to give so completely of myself to the people of God. 

It also amazes me to think that what I have experienced in the past year is only a portion of what it will be serving as a priest. I have also had the pleasure of being able to serve in some amazing parishes, both in the diocese in Lyons, Bushton, and Little River, as well as the parish to which I have been assigned in St. Louis. It was such a joy to be able to serve these people and share my life with them. All of these parishes have also helped to make me a better man and to grow closer to God. 

What are you most looking forward to about being ordained a priest?

More than anything, I am looking forward to being able to celebrate the sacraments. There is something indescribable about that privileged place that a priest gets to hold in conveying the grace and presence of God to people in all areas of their lives, whether that is in confession, the Eucharist, or in the anointing of the sick. I cannot wait to be able to assist in this mission of the Lord. 

Also, on a smaller scale, I am looking forward to having some of the stability of being a priest. These past few years of seminary have been very mobile, and I look forward to being able to settle for at least a couple of years in the same place. There is a real desire in my heart to be able to give myself completely to one place and to be fully committed to there as well.

What would you like to say to the faithful of the Diocese of Wichita as you prepare to embark on your priestly ministry?

More than anything else, I would like to say thank you to the people of the diocese. I reflect back on my life, and I realize that everything that I have received in my faith has come from this diocese, from its priests, from its schools, and from its people. Everything about who I am now comes from the diocese. You have all helped me to be who I am today, and I am deeply grateful. I only hope that in my priestly ministry I will be able to give back some of what you have all given me through your examples, sacrifices, and prayers.

What stands out to you as you look back on your journey to this point?

I guess what stands out is how quickly it went. 

But in addition to that, I think some of the most formative moments throughout my time in seminary actually came from some of the people of God the Lord placed in front of me in ministry. Seeing the depth of faith, fortitude, joy, and zeal of those I met often filled me with hope and encouragement to continue and grow in holiness myself. I am very grateful for how the Lord formed my heart through them.

What has your experience been like as a transitional deacon?

It has been somewhat of an interesting in-between time for me. I am already promised to the Lord and his Church; I have been given a mission to serve the people of God and assist his priests; and yet I have also known that how I live these things out concretely would change in a short amount of time. 

What I hope to take with me into priesthood is the way preaching has impacted my own engagement with scripture. The riches the Lord offers us in his word really come alive when you’re trying to unpack it for others. This was one of the great joys of the transitional diaconate for me.

What are you most looking forward to about being ordained a priest?

I am most looking forward to praying with people. In prayer, we meet our Lord – who created us, plans for us, and cares for us –  calling us to something far greater than we can imagine.

A priest gets to enter into this meeting between God and his people in a special way, particularly through the sacraments and liturgies of the Church. Others have helped me do this throughout my childhood and time in seminary. I hope to be able to share these gifts I have received with so many of the people that have supported me along the way.

What would you like to say to the faithful of the Diocese of Wichita as you prepare to embark on your priestly ministry?

I hope I can be as good to you as you have been to me. 

I have always found encouragement and promise of your prayers whenever you have heard that I was preparing to be a priest. Please keep them coming! Know of my gratitude and prayers for you.