Pair to be ordained to diaconate on May 21
Editor’s Note: At 6 p.m. on Thursday, May 21 at Wichita’s Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, two young men are set to be ordained as transitional deacons for the Diocese of Wichita: Dominic Jirak and Conrad Sissell.
To better acquiaint the diocese’s faithful with these young men, the Catholic Advance reached out to them with a handful of questions. Their responses, which have been lightly edited, follow immediately.
What are your favorite pastimes for fun or relaxation?
By nature, I highly value community; thus, you will often find me engaging in my favorite pastimes with others. One of my favorite past-times is sports. I love both playing pick-up games (or simply exercising), and watching sports (especially football). Beyond that, I love making use of the creative mind God gave me by writing, reading, carpentry, or cooking. At times, I also am driven to reinvest in my country roots by hunting, fishing, or hiking.
As you prepare to receive the sacrament of Holy Orders can you please offer some insight into how you have grown from the time when you first decided to enter seminary?
Seminary gave me the opportunity to grow into myself; it is probably the greatest gift seminary has given me. Seminary gave me the time to understand who I was, including the talents and gifts God naturally gave me. I came to recognize and appreciate the unique gifts God gave me for the world. Each has their own particular gifts and each truly are blessings.
Most importantly was my spiritual life’s growth. My spiritual life matured throughout my time in seminary and prayer became a deep desire rather than a duty. Further, I became observant of the Lord at work in my everyday life. This then allowed me to recognize opportunities given by the Lord to make use of the gifts he graciously gave me – gifts, when used, point back to him.
What has been the biggest surprise of your vocational journey to this point?
As I am called to lay down my life for others, I am continually surprised at the blessings showered on me by God and his people. At times, it seems far from sacrificial; at other times, I am intimately aware of the sacrifice. I have been blessed with many wonderful moments of encounter where I was a healing presence or a voice speaking into brokenness.
What are you most looking forward to about being ordained a deacon?
Baptism. My experience of joy in becoming a Godfather not once, but twice, makes me look with great anticipation to celebrating this sacrament. It is one of the only sacraments I can celebrate as a deacon. And this sacrament allows for this child to be a child of God. What a wondrous honor in which to share! I cannot help but feel humbled by God and any family who allows me this honor!
As you prepare to receive the sacrament of Holy Orders, can you please offer some insight into how you have grown from the time when you first decided to enter seminary?
My growth in seminary can be summed up in one word: Trust. My entire time in seminary has been filled with the Lord asking for my trust. “Will you trust me with this semester?” “Will you trust me with this year?” And now, as I prepare for ordination, “Will you trust me with your life?” The Lord has asked me, and will continue to ask me, to deepen my trust in him each and every day.
What has been the biggest surprise of your vocational journey to this point?
The biggest surprise for me has been God’s faithfulness: to see God’s faithfulness throughout Salvation History and to experience it personally through his sacraments. In spite of my own unfaithfulness and sins, God is always faithful, and I can always turn back to receive his mercy.
What are you most looking forward to about being ordained a deacon?
I am most looking forward to assisting at the altar as a deacon. Though I have served at Mass for much of my life, after ordination, I will do more than just serve. I will be able to proclaim the Gospel, preach, and most of all, prepare the altar for the priest to offer the sacrifice of the Mass. I will be conformed to Christ whose body and blood I will handle at the altar.