Meet four who will be ordained priests for our diocese May 26
Photo Caption: Clockwise from upper left, are Deacons Daniel Gifford, Timothy Hepner, Johnathan Steffen, and Joel Phelps.
By: By Jennifer Willems
Filled with knowledge, the four young men who will be ordained priests for the Diocese of Peoria on Saturday, May 26, are also filled with a desire to boldly proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
“They’re excited about the new evangelization,” Msgr. Brian Brownsey, director of the diocesan Office of Priestly Vocations, said about Deacon Daniel Gifford, Deacon Timothy Hepner, Deacon Joel Phelps and Deacon Johnathan Steffen. “We started talking about that a long time ago, but we’re finally to the point that their formation has all been under the new evangelization. That’s exciting.”
Bishop Daniel R. Jenky, CSC, will ordain these heralds of the Gospel in a liturgy that starts at 10:30 a.m. at St. Mary’s Cathedral in Peoria. A reception will follow at the nearby Spalding Pastoral Center.
The public is invited to both the Mass and the reception, where they will have an opportunity to greet the new priests and receive their first blessings.
While their assignments haven’t been announced yet, Deacon Gifford, Deacon Hepner, Deacon Phelps and Deacon Steffen are “utility players” who will fit in well wherever they go, according to Msgr. Brownsey.
“Their ministry over the years has been well-rounded,” he told The Catholic Post. “They have all served in city and country parishes. They’ve all had assignments that are heavy duty in terms of pastoral ministry and they have all served in the offices of the church.”
Links to brief biographies and photographs of those who will be ordained follow here:
