Six transitional deacons who have completed their formation and studies at Saint Mary Seminary and Graduate School of Theology in Wickliffe are scheduled to be ordained to the priesthood during a liturgy at 10 a.m. May 20 in the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist in downtown Cleveland. The Mass will be livestreamed on the diocesan website and can be watched on demand after that.
Bishop Edward Malesic will celebrate the Mass and preside at the liturgy.
Those scheduled for priestly ordination, their home parishes and parents are:
- David Theodore Chojnacki of St. Mary Parish, Hudson, son of Peter and Jean Chojnacki of Hudson.
- Dominic Francis Gideon of Communion of Saints Parish, Cleveland Heights, son of Victor and Antoinette Gideon of Cleveland Heights.
- Ian William Kelly of St. Charles Borromeo Parish, Parma, son of Michelle and the late David of Parma.
- Jeffrey Stephen Liptak of St. Charles Borromeo Parish, Parma, son of John and Mary Liptak of Parma Heights.
- Christopher Daniel Stein of Immaculate Conception Parish, Madison, son of Daniel and Kimberly Stein of Ashtabula.
- Duckhyun (Fabian) Han of St. Andrew Kim Parish, Cleveland, son of Seungkook Han and Hyun Suk Kim of South Korea.
Five of the men were ordained as transitional deacons a year ago by Bishop Malesic. The sixth, Deacon Kelly, was ordained to the diaconate in 2022. They have been ministering in diocesan parishes since their diaconate ordinations.
All six also received master of arts in theology degrees from the seminary during last week’s commencement. All but Deacon Kelly also received their master of theology degrees. (He earned that degree in 2022.)
As priests, they will be configured to Christ through the sacrament of holy orders. Diocesan priests serve the diocese under the direction of the local bishop. Most serve in parishes of the diocese but they may also be assigned to other positions.
Two other men from the Diocese of Youngstown -- Deacon John Thomas Rovnak and Deacon Frederick Anthony Schleuter Jr. -- will be ordained as priests on June 17 by Youngstown Bishop David Bonnar in St. Columbra Cathedral, Youngstown.
The Cleveland Diocese has an agreement with the Youngstown Diocese to educate and form its seminarians. In addition, the Archdiocese of Daegu sends some of its seminarians to Cleveland form formation and education. Those men serve a term in a Cleveland diocesan parish after ordination and then return to South Korea to continue their ministry.
Each year, the Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate at Georgetown University conducts a survey of the priestly ordination classes across the country. Of the 458 men scheduled to be ordained this year, 334 completed the CARA survey for a 73% response. They represent 116 dioceses and eparchies and 24 distinct religious institutes in the United States. Click here to review this year's CARA report.