Bishop ordains two priests

By RENEE WEBB, Globe editor
July 10, 2008

The choir sang and trumpets sounded as Knights of Columbus raised their swords to form an honor guard for the clergy who processed into the Cathedral of the Epiphany in Sioux City on June 28.

Shane Deman and Jeremy Wind, dressed in white albs, bowed as they reverenced the altar before taking their place in the pews next to their parents as the ordination Mass commenced.

After offering words of welcome, the principal celebrant and ordaining prelate, Bishop R. Walker Nickless asked the congregation to pray for their brothers and sisters across Iowa who were still recovering from the devastation caused by flooding. Among the concelebrants for the liturgy was Bishop Dennis Schnurr of the Diocese of Duluth, a native of the Diocese of Sioux City.

Following the Liturgy of the Word, Deacon Richard Billings proclaimed, "Let those to be ordained priests come forward."

The candidates, Deman and Wind, stepped from their pews and bowed before Bishop Nickless. Father Brad Pelzel, diocesan director of vocations, testified as to their readiness for ordination.

"Relying on the help of the Lord God and our Savior Jesus Christ, we choose these, our brothers, for the order of the priesthood," said Bishop Nickless in his homily.

Applause exploded from the congregation.

The two who were chosen for ordination took their seat in chairs located in front of the first pew as Bishop Nickless began his homily.

The bishop opened his homily by pointing out that on that day, Pope Benedict XVI kicked off a yearlong celebration commemorating St. Paul, the apostle to the Gentiles.

"We as the church in the Diocese of Sioux City also gather today with great anticipation for the ordination of Shane Deman and Jeremy Wind, called as was St. Paul, to give their lives to service to Jesus Christ," said Bishop Nickless. "We pray, by the intercession of St. Paul, that they may be good and faithful priests."

Through ordination, the bishop said the men would share in the priesthood of Jesus. They would become configured to Christ, the head and leader of the church, and would become icons, signs of Christ to and for the people of God.

Soon, Bishop Nickless noted, they would be called "Father" and would "become spiritual fathers to us - leading, guiding, loving their sons and daughters in the body of Christ."

He asked the faithful to pray for Jeremy and Shane as they entered more fully into the mystery of Christ's love.

"In the sacraments they celebrate and administer, they can help us to become holy men and women and they need our prayers and support for the awesome task that is given to them by God," said the bishop.

He pointed out that the two men knew well that no one took this honor upon themselves, but only when called by God. All those gathered shared in the significance of that call.

"We stand in awe of what God can do to those who surrender themselves to his will," Bishop Nickless said.

The bishop referred to the first reading, Isaiah 61:1-3, as he described the various forms of priestly ministry in which the men will partake. He also mentioned the Gospel, Luke 12:35-44, which reminded the men and the faithful of the role of servants and stewards of God.

Hearing of the great responsibilities of priests, Bishop Nickless told the two men that they could become overwhelmed.

"You, like St. Paul, know all too well your own weaknesses and faults," he said. "Aware of your weakness, you will be made strong in the love that God has for you. It is in your relationship to Christ and in your intimacy and friendship with him that you will be made strong and effective priests."

The bishop asked them to be men of prayer, as urged by the Holy Father.

He thanked the two for saying "yes" to the Lord.

The Rite of Ordination continued following the homily. Kneeling before the bishop, they promised their respect and obedience. The men then prostrated themselves before the altar during the Litany of Supplication. Next, the bishop laid his hands in prayer on the two men as did all priests who were present.

With hands extended, the bishop offered the Prayer of Consecration.

Once the men were vested in stole and chasuble with the help of Father Brian Hughes, the former diocesan director of vocations, they knelt before the bishop who anointed their palms with sacred Chrism.

The offertory gifts were presented by the parents of the new priests - Greg and Francine Deman of Sioux City and Tom and Sue Wind of Jefferson. The bread and wine were presented to the newly ordained by the bishop and given instruction to model their lives on the mystery of the Lord's death and resurrection.

The newly ordained were welcomed into the Order of Priests and the ceremony continued with the Liturgy of the Eucharist.

As the celebration drew to a close, Bishop Nickless offered special thanks to the families of the two new priests as well as all those who helped prepare for the Mass. Prior to the recessional, the bishop received the first blessing from the new priests.

"It was the most wonderful, spiritually inspiring, blessed event I have ever attended in my life," said Sue Wind, the mother of Jeremy Wind. "I feel like I'm the most blessed person on the face of the earth."

One of the most moving parts of the ceremony came for her when she received the Eucharist from her son after he had been ordained a priest.

Chris Wind acknowledged that the thought of his brother becoming a priest took some getting used to but he said he'll make a good one "because he is a very caring person."

Francine Deman, the mother of Father Shane Deman, said that God has blessed his people with a ceremony that is peaceful, prayerful and joyful.

"The Mass of Holy Orders showcases the majesty and splendor of the liturgy of the Catholic Church with the rich tradition of the Litany of the Saints, Laying on of Hands, Anointing of Hands and welcoming Sign of Peace by concelebrating clergy," she said. "To God be the glory, honor and praise."

Father Deman's grandmother, Mary Ann Kukula, said she it was her greatest wish to have a grandchild become a priest.

"I'm in awe," she said. "It's like a dream come true for me."

Father Deman has been appointed parochial vicar (pro tem) of St. Joseph Parish in Milford and Father Wind has been appointed parochial vicar of St. Mary Church in Storm Lake.