A week after ordaining three men to the transitional diaconate on May 18, Bishop Louis Tylka will elevate four to the priesthood for the Diocese of Peoria on Saturday, May 25, at St. Mary’s Cathedral in Peoria. The Mass will begin at 10:30 a.m.
As the diocese desires to accommodate as many of the faithful as possible, and in order to ensure that each of the invited guests have seats, the ordination will be a ticketed event.
The ordinands are Deacon Nick Conner, Deacon Jacob Martini, Deacon Justin Ramza, and Deacon Jack Swoik.
DIFFERENT PATHS
Except for Deacon Ramza, all of the ordinands completed their studies at Mount St. Mary’s Seminary in Emmitsburg, Maryland. Deacon Ramza, who originally studied at Mount St. Mary’s in the 1980s before pausing his vocational journey, completed his coursework at Mundelein Seminary at the University of Saint Mary of the Lake in Mundelein.
They will offer their first blessings at a reception at the Spalding Pastoral Center after Mass.
Deacon Nicholas “Nick” Conner, 28, of Holy Family Parish in Peoria is the son of Paul Conner and mother Denise Conner and has an older brother and a younger sister. He has a degree in finance from Illinois State University.
“How shall I repay the Lord for His goodness to me? The cup of salvation I will raise .” (Psalm 116:12-13)
He looked forward to his upcoming ordination as “the culmination of many years of discerning the will of God for my life.” He referenced these words from Psalm 116:12-13 as having a particular relevance for him: “How shall I repay the Lord for His goodness to me? The cup of salvation I will raise; I will call on the name of the Lord.”
His vesting priest will be Father John Steffen, pastor of St. Patrick Parish in Washington, who will also be the homilist at his Mass of Thanksgiving on Sunday, May 26 at Holy Family in Peoria at 8:00 a.m.
As well as the public reception at Spalding Pastoral Center after the ordination Mass, he will have a private reception with his extended family on the evening of the ordination.
Deacon Jacob Martini, 27, of St. Patrick Parish in Ottawa is the son of Tom and Sherrie Martini and like Conner has an older brother and a younger sister.
I am in awe at this great gift that the Lord wishes to entrust to my classmates and me.” — Deacon Jacob Martini
Prior to seminary, Martini earned a degree in mechanical engineering from Bradley University.
He echoes Deacon Conner’s gratitude as expressed in Psalm 116:14: “My vows to the Lord I will fulfill before all his people.”
For him, ordination bestows the privilege of “announcing the divine word to all, most especially in the Eucharistic assembly.” Over and above everything else, “I am in awe at this great gift that the Lord wishes to entrust to my classmates and me.”
VESTED BY CHILDHOOD PASTOR
Deacon Martini will be assisted with the vesting of his stole and chasuble by Msgr. Philip Halfacre, Vicar General, the priest who gave him his first Communion and his pastor growing up.
He will celebrate his first Mass at his home parish of St. Patrick in Ottawa, at 11 a.m. Sunday, May 26. Msgr. Brian Brownsey, his chaplain at Bradley, will be the homilist.
There will be a gathering of family and friends on Saturday evening following the ordination, and a community reception on Sunday following his first Mass.
Deacon Justin Ramza, 57, of St. John the Baptist Parish in Rapids City, is the son of Marion and Dolores Ramza (both deceased) and has two older brothers.
As described in The Catholic Post (Dec. 10, 2023), he discerned he was not ready for Holy Orders in the 1980s, went on to study medicine, and practiced as an anesthesiologist for more than two decades.
Asked to share his thoughts and feelings in the days before ordination, he observed, “Our God is a good and loving God . . . he has provided for me in my own life’s journey. All of the opportunities, the friends and loved ones . . . walking with him in constant conversation.”
As the Church navigates through the challenges of our modern world, I feel fortunate to have Pope Francis and Bishop Tylka to guide and shepherd us.” — Deacon Justin Ramza
He added, “As the Church navigates through the challenges of our modern world, I feel fortunate to have Pope Francis and Bishop Tylka to guide and shepherd us.”
Father Glenn Harris, pastor of St. John the Baptist Parish, Rapids City, will be his vesting priest.
He will celebrate his first Mass at St. Michael the Archangel in Streator at 9 a.m. on Sunday May 26, with Msgr. Philip D. Halfacre as homilist.
He will also have Masses of Thanksgiving the following weekend at St. Anne in East Moline and St. John the Baptist in Rapids City.
There will be modest receptions after the 9 a.m. Mass in Streator, May 26, and after the 9 a.m. Mass at St John the Baptist in Rapids City on June 2.
Deacon Jonathan “Jack” Swoik, 26, of St. Joseph Parish in Pekin is the son of Terry and Susan Swoik, and has two older sisters. Before entering seminary, he attended Illinois Central College.
Of ordination, he says, “While school and initial formation is ending, really ordination is just the beginning of my new life in Christ that is to be spent by giving generous service to the people of God in our diocese.”
His vesting priest will be Monsignor Michael Heintz, a priest of the Diocese of Fort Wayne – South Bend who was the academic dean at Mount St. Mary’s Seminary where Deacon Swoik attended seminary for the past four years.
“Ordination is just the beginning of my new life in Christ that is to be spent by giving generous service to the people of God in our diocese.” — Deacon Jack Swoik
His first Mass will be the 11 a.m. Sunday Mass at St. Joseph Church in Pekin at 11:00 a.m. on May 26. The homilist will be Father Patrick Henehan, diocesan vocation director of formation.
There will be a public reception following his first Mass in Pekin.
AVAILABLE ON YOUTUBE
The Mass of Ordination will be available via livestream on the diocesan YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/@peoriadiocese5860/streams
