Six join brotherhood of priests in Diocese of Wichita

One day before he ordained six new priests for the diocese of which he serves as bishop, the Most Rev. Carl A. Kemme made a holy hour at Wichita’s Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception. At one point, the bishop recounted during his ordination Mass homily, he laid the ordination holy cards for all six of the soon-to-be priests on the tomb of Venerable Emil Kapaun and asked his intercession for God to fill the diocese’s newest priests with that same pastoral charity and zeal.

For the ordination Mass on Saturday, May 23, Bishop Kemme placed on his finger a ring that had been worn by the diocese’s first shepherd, Bishop John Joseph Hennessy. Bishop Kemme then placed around his neck a pectoral cross worn by another predecessor – Bishop Mark Carroll – and draped over his shoulders an amice that had belonged to Fr. Kapaun. That day’s Liturgy of the Eucharist made use of Bishop Hennessy’s chalice and ciboria.  

Those shepherds, and others to whom Bishop Kemme’s homily pointed – including St. Claude Colombiere, St. John Vianney, and St. Francis de Sales – took to heart an admonition from that day’s first reading from the Book of Acts, in which St. Paul told an assembly of presbyters to keep watch over both themselves and the entire flock for which they were responsible. 

“This is the essence of the priesthood: not a career, not a status, not a job; but a life of vigilance, sacrifice and love for the flock entrusted to us,” the bishop said. “Today, the Church invites you not simply to do the priestly things, which we are confident you can do well, but to be shepherds after the heart of the Good Shepherd, who knows his sheep and lays down his life for his sheep.”

Minutes later, Bishop Kemme ordained Fr. Peter Bergkamp, Fr. Kyle Demel, Fr. Isaac Hilger, Fr. Jacob McGuire, Fr. Luke Meyerhoff, and Fr. Koby Nguyen as priests.

Broader context

With a Catholic population somewhere in the neighborhood of 120,000, the number of Catholics in the Diocese of Wichita falls outside of the country’s 100 most populous, but adding six new priests this year compares well with many of country’s largest dioceses. This spring the:

• Archdiocese of Los Angeles – home to 3.82 million Catholics – ordained three men to the priesthood;

• Archdiocese of Boston (1.79 million Catholics) ordained five new priests;

• Galveston-Houston (1.70 million) ordained four new priests, and

• Archdiocese of New York (1.57 million Catholics) ordained two new priests.

Rounding out the country’s other most populous dioceses (according to figures in The Official Catholic Directory), the Archdiocese of Phoenix (2.01 million) is scheduled to ordain three new priests this weekend, and the Archdiocese of Chicago (1.95 million) is scheduled to ordain three new priests on June 20. 

Shortly after the May 23 ordination Mass, the Diocese of Wichita’s Director of Seminarians and St. Joseph House of Formation, Fr. Chad Arnold suggested no single factor – besides divine providence – deserved credit for drawing an exceptionally high proprotion of the diocese’s young men to give their lives in the ministerial priesthood to serve Christ and his Church.

“The richness of it all makes me feel very fortunate,” he said. “Over the years, many people have asked what causes that. There are just so many factors, from our schools to the leadership of our bishops, to happy young priests, to adoration chapels, to the availability of the sacraments, to our stewardship model. I don’t know that it’s any one of those things so much as it’s all of those things.”

Fr. Arnold also acknowledged that an abundance of new priests can be its own draw. “When we see young men becoming priests there’s a bit of a snowball effect that makes it easier for other young men to do the same,” he said. “I just get to watch and reap the rewards.”

Office of Vocations Administrative Assistant Linda Schmidt concurred. “Guys thinking about seminary can see that it’s a really great fraternity,” she said. “These guys are good friends who support each other, and they’re not alone.”

Priestly pilgrimage

During the ordination Mass homily, Bishop Kemme reminded the men about to become priests of a pilgrimage they made in April to the shrines of Lourdes, Ars, Annecy and Paray-le-Monial in France. As they visited many sites, the bishop recounted, he came to better appreciate his own vocation, and the broader priesthood. All priests were in the midst of their life’s priestly pilgrimage, he considered, which was one of faith, service, and devotion. 

“You are not on this pilgrimage alone,” Bishop Kemme said. “Here are your fellow pilgrims, your brother priests, an altogether unique and diverse band of brothers, with whom you will now make this lifelong journey.

“You already know the first stop of this pilgrimage in your first assignment,” the bishop continued. “The rest of the many stops are yet to be determined but there is one final destination, after which our pilgrimage will be complete: the Kingdom of Heaven, where you and I will join in the heavenly liturgy, standing with Christ the High Priest for all eternity.”

Called to be in – but not of – the world, Bishop Kemme said a priest’s standards, identity, and manner of living must point to the world to come, with the Lord as the standard-bearer. He cited St. Peter’s words in that day’s second reading from 1 Peter 5:1-4, and said that priests must always strive to tend God’s flock in their midst. “This flock is in every parish you will serve; in every ministry you undertake,” he said. “The flock is hungry, sometimes lost and lonely, hurting and wounded. Many of the flock will follow you and your directions; some will not. You must tend to them all.”

Moreover, the bishop continued, a priest must undertake that work with pure motives and pastoral charity. “Our tending the flock must resemble that of Christ, the Good Shepherd, who never failed to go in search of the lost sheep and who had a special love for those who were poor, suffering, lost, and afraid,” Bishop Kemme said. “Fr. Kapaun, St. John Vianney, and so many other holy priests truly imitated this example. Now the question for you and for me: will we do the same?

“Dear brothers, today Christ places his own priesthood into your hands, asking that you be faithful, loving and devoted shepherds of his flock,” he added. “Remember this always: the priesthood belongs to Christ; we share in it by his choice, but it is always his.”

Grace at work

As Fr. Arnold considered this class of newly ordained priests, he affirmed the beauty of God’s activity. “I think about the power of grace; the Lord is working their lives,” Fr. Arnold said. “I remember when they were very young and  had just started. No one knew what the future was going to be, how they were going to grow and develop, or if they were going to see it to the end. To see them here now, and to see what fine priests they have become, demonstrates the amazing reality and ongoing power of the Lord’s grace in their lives.”

Schmidt, whose work with seminarians also provides her with perspective on their maturation, expressed appreciation for the process. “Their faith changes; their outlook on life changes; everything changes,” she said. “They just become really good, humble men.”

Schmidt went on to express particular gratitude for the opportunity to get to know seminarians’ families and deepen those ties as men progress toward priesthood. “It is a real blessing to work with the families and get to know and grow with them,” she concluded. “These amazing families are part of me now, just like the (newly ordained) men are.”