Photo Caption: From left are Deacon Adam Cesarek, Deacon Jacob Valle, Deacon Alex Millar, Deacon Eric Bolek, Deacon Joseph Baker, and Deacon Matthew Deptula.

Six men will be ordained to the priesthood by Bishop Daniel R. Jenky, CSC, during a 10:30 a.m. Mass at St. Mary’s Cathedral in Peoria on Saturday, May 23.

A reception for the new priests — the largest ordination class for the Diocese of Peoria since 2008 — will follow at the Spalding Pastoral Center, 419 N.E. Madison Ave.

The public is invited to the ordination Mass. Because space is limited, a video of the Mass will be simulcast for overflow seating at the Spalding Pastoral Center.

The Catholic Post interviewed each of the transitional deacons in recent weeks as they prepared for priestly ordination. The individual stories can be found by clicking on their names.

The class includes:

Deacon Joseph Baker, 28, of St. John’s Catholic Newman Center, Champaign, the son of Daniel Baker and Patricia Baker. His vesting priest at the ordination liturgy will be Msgr. Gregory Ketcham. Father Baker’s first Mass will be at St. John’s Catholic Newman Center at 10:30 a.m. on Sunday, May 24, with Msgr. Ketcham as homilist.

Deacon Eric Bolek, 26, of Holy Trinity Parish, Bloomington, the son of Joseph Bolek and Mary Morales. His vesting priest will be Msgr. Doug Hennessy. Father Bolek’s first Mass will be at 11:30 a.m. on Sunday, May 24, at Holy Trinity Church in Bloomington, with Msgr. Brian Brownsey as homilist.

Deacon Adam Cesarek, 31, of St. Mary’s Cathedral, Peoria, the son of James and Sandra Cesarek. His vesting priest will be Msgr. Thomas Dzielak. Father Cesarek’s first Mass will be at 3:30 p.m. on Sunday, May 24, at St. Mary’s Cathedral, Peoria, with Father Luke Spannagel as homilist.

Deacon Matthew Deptula, 42, of St. Mary’s Cathedral, Peoria, the son of Stanley and Elizabeth Deptula. His vesting priest will be Msgr. Stanley Deptula, his older brother. Father Deptula’s first Mass will be at 4 p.m. on Saturday, May 23, at St. Mary’s Cathedral, with Msgr. Deptula as homilist.

Deacon Alex Millar, 27, of St. Patrick Parish, Urbana, the son of Dean and Dorothy Millar. His vesting priest will be Father Joseph Hogan. Father Millar’s first Mass will be at 3 p.m. on Sunday, May 24, at St. Patrick Church in Urbana, with Father Don Henderson as homilist.

Deacon Jacob Valle, 26, St. Mary’s Cathedral, Peoria, the son of Charles and Mary Beth Valle. His vesting priest will be Father Aidan Logan, OCSO. Father Valle’s first Mass will be at 10:30 a.m. on Sunday, May 24, at St. Mary’s Cathedral, Peoria, with Father Antonio Dittmer as homilist.