The Free Press, Mankato, MN

Local News

October 9, 2009

Future deacons become lectors

Process a first for Catholic Diocese of New Ulm

By Brian Ojanpa

NEW ULM — Eleven area men, including a Mankatoan, are working toward ordinations as permanent deacons for the Catholic Diocese of New Ulm.

The process, a first for the diocese, will include their installment as lectors in a 5:30 p.m. ceremony today at the Church of St. Mary in Sleepy Eye.

Deacons are lay people who perform many of the same duties as priests.

Sleepy Eye City Manager and permanent deacon Mark Kober said deacons don’t conduct mass or hear confessions, but they can baptize, anoint the sick and distribute communion.

The 11 candidates are in the third year of a five-year discernment and formation process. Their ordinations would be in 2012.

“We’re very proud of these people. It’s a lot of commitment and a lot of time that they’ll put in,” said Kober, director of the diocese’s diaconate program.

Among the candidates is Russ Blaschko of the Church of the Holy Rosary in North Mankato.

Blaschko, who has two sons contemplating the priesthood at a St. Paul seminary on the University of St. Thomas campus, said his decision to become a deacon was spurred by a growing strength in his faith.

“I’m just going down life’s path, and things happen to me,” said the Mankato banker.

Kober said the lack of a Catholic university in the New Ulm diocese has been a key reason why the diocese didn’t pursue diaconate programs in the past.

He said the 11 candidates will be trained by visiting staff from an Indiana seminary.

Other Mankato-area candidates include Rick Christensen, Steve Spilman and Jim Guldan, all of New Ulm; Roger Osborne of Winthrop; and Tim Dolan of Gaylord.

The Diocese of New Ulm serves 15 southwestern Minnesota counties.

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