Years of discernment, prayer, study and ministry among the people of God will culminate at the altar of St. Mary’s Cathedral in Peoria next Saturday as Bishop Daniel R. Jenky, CSC, ordains Deacon David Sabel and Deacon Adam Stimpson for priestly service.

The May 23 ordination Mass will begin at 10:30 a.m. Following the liturgy there will be a reception at the Spalding Pastoral Center, 419 N.E. Madison Ave.

Deacon Sabel, 56, recently received his master of divinity degree from Blessed John XXIII National Seminary in Weston, Mass. His vesting priest at the ordination Mass will be Father Patrick Fixsen, parochial vicar of St. Joseph’s Parish in Pekin and a former seminary classmate.

The son of Mary and the late Ervin Sabel, Deacon Sabel will celebrate his first Mass at 2 p.m. on Sunday, May 24, at Our Lady of Guadalupe Church in Silvis. The homilist will be Father Jerry Logan, a longtime family friend who is now pastor of Sacred Heart in Annawan, St. Patrick’s in Sheffield and St. Mary’s in Hooppole.

There will be a reception in the parish center after Mass.

Deacon Stimpson, 28, will graduate from the Pontifical College Josephinum this Saturday, May 16, with a bachelor of sacred theology degree, a master of divinity degree, and a master’s degree in Scripture. His vesting priest will be Father Brian Brownsey, director of the diocesan Office of Priestly Vocations.

The son of Patti and Dave Stimpson of Rock Island, Deacon Stimpson will celebrate his first Mass at 10:30 a.m. on Sunday, May 24, at St. Mary’s Church in Rock Island. A light reception hosted by the Altar and Rosary Society will follow in the parish center.

The homilist will be Father James Kruse, associate director of the diocesan vocations program and “a wonderful homilist, priest and confessor. He’s been a great example for me,” Deacon Stimpson said. “I wanted to have someone preach who is the kind of priest I wanted to be.”