May 30 ordination will move seminarian closer to priesthood

A seminarian will move one step closer to the priesthood when he is ordained a transitional deacon May 30 at St. Cecilia Cathedral in Omaha.

Archbishop George J. Lucas will preside at the 7 p.m. ordination Mass for Jeremy Hans. A reception will be held in the Cathedral Cultural Center.

Those being ordained a transitional deacon make a permanent vow to live a life of obedience, celibacy and prayer for the church.

Another seminarian, Matthew Niggemeyer of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish in Omaha, will be ordained a transitional deacon Oct. 2 in Rome.

Father Joseph Taphorn, vicar for clergy, moderator of the curia and judicial vicar, said the transitional diaconate is important.

"Serving as a deacon for a year or so before priesthood allows him to preside at certain liturgies, gain experience in preaching, and adjust to his new role as an ordained minister in the church," Father Taphorn said.

More information about Hans:

» Background: Home parish, Holy Family of Cedar County in Bow Valley, St. Helena and Wynot. Parents, the late Gerald and Jean; brothers and sisters-in-law, the late Gerard; Mark and Cindy of St. Helena; Matt of Seward, Neb.; Dominic and Zita of Mission Hill, S.D.; Chris and Leide, Waldron, Mo.; George of Kansas City, Mo.; Tom and Fran of Cottage Grove, Ore.; sisters and brothers-in-law, Carolyn and Myron Heine of St. Helena; Marlys and Don Fischer of Neligh; Jeannie and Stan Lucke of Scottsbluff, Neb.

» Education: East Catholic School, Bow Valley; Cedar Catholic Junior/Senior High School, Hartington; University of St. Thomas, St. Paul, Minn.; University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wis.; Kenrick Glennon Seminary, St. Louis, Mo.

» Activities/Ministries: Youth group, taking Communion to homebound, teaching high school; parish festival, one summer in spirituality program at Institute for Priestly Formation at Creighton University in Omaha, one summer learning Spanish in Guatemala.

» Summer assignments: St. James Parish, Omaha; Sacred Heart Parish, Norfolk.

» Reflections on ordination: "I see in the priesthood that our Lord calls some men to give of themselves completely and configure themselves to him in a very special way. This call to give myself completely to Christ and his church as a priest, to serve the people of God in such a profound and life-giving way, is where I find great meaning and growing joy. I am approaching my ordination to the diaconate, a big step toward the priesthood, in this growing joy, and in humility and thanksgiving. I am so grateful for the grace of God that brought me here and the goodness of the people of the archdiocese."