What does a vicar general do? A Q&A with Fr. John Jirak
Editor’s Note: This spring, when Bishop Carl A. Kemme announced 2025 priest assignments for the Catholic Diocese of Wichita, Fr. John Jirak was appointed vicar general and moderator of the curia. In that position, he replaced Fr. David Lies, who was appointed vicar for priests. Meanwhile, Fr. C. Jarrod Lies was appointed vicar for evangelization, stewardship, and discipleship. To help its readership better understand what they do, the Catholic Advance is sitting down for a series of conversations with each vicar. Fr. Jirak was first.
If somebody asks for a short explanation of what the vicar general does, what do you say?
In our diocese, a major part of the work of the vicar general is to lead the Curia. I am only six-seven weeks into this job and position, but most of my time is taken up with working with directors, working with leadership teams, with the goal and purpose of aligning around the bishop’s vision that “All God’s children will respond to Christ’s call so as to become fully alive as missionary disciples.”
So in regards to outside the chancery, I am involved with issues that might come up in parishes that are seeking assistance from the bishop. I would be kind of a go-between, a mediator, or respond to the particular needs, issues, or challenges that a parish is working out. That’s been my experience, basically, in my direction toward parishes. It’s more operational. Of course, I’m very green and new.
And then, when needs arise, I will respond to a priest’s question, situation or challenge, and work together with him in moving forward, along with keeping the bishop connected in regard to that. But right now, probably 75%-80% of work has been with the curia.
If someone doesn’t know all the Catholic “inside-baseball” of the term, what’s the best shorthand definition of the curia?
It’s all of those offices that assist the bishop in carrying out his pastoral ministry in the diocese, whether ministerial, administrative, or legislative. The passion of my youth was sports and so I now see myself as a sort of coach, especially our curia offices. I like the image as a coach because it expresses that we are on the same team, we are working and sweating it together and we are out to win. I want them to win!
Is it correct that most or all of your priestly experience entails parish work?
I spent five years as a parochial vicar, two at the Church of the Blessed Sacrament and three years in Spanish ministry at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception. I served early in my priesthood as moderator for Totus Tuus. I served four years as the chaplain at Wesley Medical Center while I was a parocial vicar at Blessed Sacrament and the cathedral. Then I went to study canon law for three years. Since then, I have basically spent 15 years as a pastor, seven and a half at Blessed Sacrament, seven and a half at Magdalen.
How has your experience prepared you for this position?
It’s prepared me incredibly well. I never anticipated or envisioned myself working in the chancery or in this position. My desire was pastoral ministry in a parish, and I loved that. I like being a leader on the ground, and being connected to hands-on evangelizing and building up the spiritual life of the faithful through teaching, sacraments, and leadership, especially in this what Bishop is calling an apostolic age. It takes a new way of thinking, a synodal way – as Pope Francis and Pope Leo would say – of coming together and working together as a team for the kingdom. Not Chiefs Kingdom.
I am so thankful that I was prepared for this position primarily by serving as a pastor, versus an earlier part of my priesthood when I knew little about parish life. Why? Because the curia exists to serve parishes. I like tell our people that a diocese on mission is parish-led, parish run.
Earlier you would have been out of your depth?
Yeah. That experience and knowledge from leading parishes provides me with experiential knowledge of what the curia is about, which is serving parishes. That’s the bishop’s vision. A curia on mission is parish-led/parish-run, so that the parishioners are carrying out the ministries. They’re responsible for that and the curia assists in building up a ministry or a work, empowering, equipping parishes and parishioners to take on the work, versus a ‘you come to us’ mentality. That worked at one time, but that’s not the reality now.
The vision of curia also needs to be updated for an apostolic time that is more relationship-based. Talking with a couple of priests in regard to a one of our offices, the way I see this is like, “I can’t come here to tell you what you need.” No. It’s “We are here to serve you. What are your particular challenges? What’s your vision? How can we assist?” And in my mind, they are the supervisors of our offices. If they say things are going well and they’re well-served then we are being effective.
Can you expand on the phrase “apostolic age” a bit?
Going back to the time of Christ and the apostles, when the Church was beginning and was new. It was a Church that went out instead of relying on the lazy monopoly mentality of an established institution that says “We have the credibility and trust. You come to us.” It is a bold going out, taking risks.
It requires a greater level of the virtue of fortitude. It requires a hotter fire in the soul, because you’re not relying as much on the institution and law. The modern apostle needs “ships” for effective mission: discipleship, friendship/relationship, and leadership.
It demands much more from the modern disciple, modern parish, or modern apostle. You can’t give what you don’t have, and so people who work in the Church have to have a red-hot spirituality.
What I’ve shared with the curial directors is how the modern apostle needs to be building up three things. One is spiritual friendship or relationship. Another is true leadership, using the best leadership methods and strategies of our times. And then there is discipleship, following the Lord with intensity and intentionality. Leadership, discipleship, relationship. So a person who is not into discipleship is not the right person to be carrying out ministry in our times.
To what extent do you still have opportunities to serve people in a parish setting?
On the weekend I don’t have an assignment, so basically, I travel around the diocese and cover Masses and parishes for priests who go on vacation or retreat, and I love that. I love getting out on the road in my truck for some windshield time to think. I love getting back out there to evangelize and to spread the faith and offer the sacraments and engage the people. Is it a parish experience? No, but I am enjoying it greatly.
What are some ways in which it feels very different than what you’re used to?
The transition has been challenging. I am energized about what I am doing, but it’s so different from what I am used to in my surroundings–even just how I live. I have a 22-minute drive into work now.
Where is your residence?
Sacred Heart, Colwich, with Fr. Pat York. He’s been a great host.
In my pastoral leadership at the parish level, I kind of switched my approach when I was at Magdalen. It evolved over the years. A good leader, a good shepherd asks what is most effective for the people and salvation of souls and taking people’s spiritual lives to the next level. So I need to invest in leaders. Without really thinking about it, I feel like I have been prepared.
In regard to working with direct reports with directors, I take a very athletic approach to spiritual life. That’s the way I have been from the beginning. The excellence, effort, intensity, and spirit of an athlete, just like the early Church spiritual writers – and even our virtue-based ethics – comes from athletic language. I love that. And what if we apply ourselves to the spiritual life like we apply ourselves to the life of sports? That’s what drives me, and why I see myself as – and I know this sounds funny – a coach to directors. I want them to succeed.
I am a player-coach who is very comfortable asking “How do we score? What results are we after? Where are we struggling? Let’s talk about how we’re going to draw up a play.” We are deliberate about that. So that’s my that’s kind of my style.
During the last three years at Magdalen I started spending a lot of time each week working with direct reports, and so I was pretty accustomed to one meeting after another, to some extent. So I think God was kind of preparing me. Plus, I have been blessed to participate in a number of programs from the Kansas Leadership Center. I am pretty well versed in its methods and strategy and bringing that into this work. And then, I have been working with Amazing Parish and parish leadership teams for over 10 years. I feel like I am really prepared for this and have been able to come in and just run.
Along with training and experience, are there any personal traits and characteristics with the way you’re built that will serve you well in this position?
Where the curia and chancery are right now, I think the coach spirit is about working at building leadership teams and those last three years of ministry at Magdalen have been really playing into skills in which I am now using constantly. It’s not like I have to learn that. Yeah, there are things I am still learning, but I am surprised at how quickly I have been able to use what I have. That’s why I just don’t think I would have been a good candidate for any kind of Chancery work beginning in my priesthood. I didn’t have that skillset.
But you’re a “people person” with a good sense of humor. You’re more of an Andy Reid-style “players’ coach,” versus the fearsome type like Bill Belichick.
I feel like more of a players’ coach. Yeah, I like to laugh. And I want to win.
Are there aspects of the job that are stretching you, or that you expect to stretch you?
Oh yeah, absolutely. I am having to learn the large infrastructure of the curia and diocese. I am a proactive driver and initiator, it’s just my temperament and skill, but choosing to be patient is a very important virtue. Individuals from different groups have to be engaged and the infrastructure is complex. Things take longer than in a parish.
There is other stuff I have to learn too, even dumb stuff like how I have been in the Google world for 20 years, and everything here is Outlook. It can be surprising to realize just how challenging it is to learn a new calendar and email system. It’s not second nature anymore. I have to think about stuff.
It’s probably nice to have former Vicar General and current Vicar for Priests Fr. David Lies just down the hall.
Yeah, he’s been really, helpful. When I have a question, he’s always ready to respond and give some direction and encouragement. I anticipate engaging him even more as we continue. You know, he’s a great, thoughtful dialogue partner around challenges or issues. We have very different personalities, but at the same time, we seem to complement each other well.
Speaking of down the hall, does this remind you of growing up being in a room next to your brother James? (James Jirak is the chancery’s director of operations and chief operating officer.)
Neither of us had anything to do with it. We don’t know how this happened, but God’s providence is hilarious. It was a shock back when he started working here. Then it was a shock when I showed up. And then we’re in adjacent offices. We get along really well.
Jason and Travis Kelce ask their podcast guests about a “Welcome to the NFL moment,” a rude awakening experience that tells a person what to expect. Does any “Welcome to the NFL moment” come to mind for you, whether for this position or even just the priesthood?
I remember first becoming a pastor at Blessed Sacrament after studying canon law. It’s a very large, very talented parish and I was following a pastor who is now Archbishop McKnight. I sat down with the pastoral council and Clem Ast, the council chair, asked “Father, what’s your vision for the parish?” This was, like, day two. I froze like a deer in the headlights. Vision for the parish? I had no real leadership training other than just my athletic mentality and familiarity with the The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People. Organizational clarity and vision? I had no experience in that and I felt like a fraud.
Did you have an answer?
I don’t even know if I had an answer. I probably said, “Well, what do you guys think?”
That seems pretty smart.
Anything else?
My passions are the life of prayer and life of study. I love working out. I love spending time with my 27 nieces and nephews, my siblings, my parents. I have a lot of really good family time. With this position, I think God is showing me a new level of connection and association with my brother priests, because I’m having lots of conversations. While I was Magdalen I was working here some as vicar for evangelization, discipleship, and stewardship, but I was focused on the parish. Now my life is really priest- and curia-focused.
