Seminarian ordained transitional deacon in Rome

Sixteen seminarians from the Pontifical North American College (PNAC) were ordained to the transitional diaconate Oct. 2 during a celebration of the Eucharist in Rome. Thomas Kollasch, diocesan seminarian from Bancroft, was one of the men ordained at the Mass. 
 
Bishop John E. Keehner was present for the Mass as well as Father Travis Crotty, vocations director, and Father Zach Jones of Divine Mercy, Deacon Kollasch’s home parish. Many friends and family of Deacon Kollasch were also at the ordination Mass.
 
Bishop Joseph G. Hanefeldt of Grand Island, Nebraska, was the ordaining prelate for the Mass of Ordination, which was celebrated at the Altar of the Chair of St. Peter, in the Papal Basilica of St. Peter, Vatican City. 

Photo gallery​​​

Bishop Hanefeldt addressed his homily to the men who were to be ordained deacons, quoting from the Gospel, Matthew 9:35-38, “The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few; so, ask the master of the harvest to send out laborers for his harvest.” 
 
Bishop Hanefeldt reminded the deacon candidates that they have been elected by the Lord to become laborers of his harvest. The bishop noted as laborers of the Lord’s harvest, they are to put the needs of others before themselves by caring for the poor, impoverished, the marginalized, the forgotten and those in need of healing. He told the future deacons to proclaim and preach the Gospel everywhere and to serve at the altar assisting feeding those who hunger for Christ.      

Photos courtesy of the PNAC photo service. During the ordination, the new deacons promised to live a life of prayer, celibacy and obedience to their diocesan bishops. The new deacons will have an additional year of theological studies and spiritual formation before being ordained to the priesthood in their home dioceses. They now join the seven members of their class who have already been ordained transitional deacons in the preceding months.
 
Deacon Kollasch previously studied at Immaculate Heart of Mary Seminary in Winona, Minnesota before beginning studies at the PNAC. Seminarian Anthony Vera of All Saints Parish in Le Mars is also at student at the PNAC. The new deacon is set to be ordained a priest of the diocese in late June 2026 by Bishop Keehner.
 Deacon Kollasch with his family after the ordination. / Courtesy of Jenny Degen Eichenberger 
Men ordained to the order of deacon on Oct. 2:
 
 
Charles Joseph DeReuil II – Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis
Patrick Jacob Ernst – Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend
Michael Thomas Figura – Archdiocese of Omaha
Lucas Sebastián Folan – Diocese of Paterson
Stephen Francis Howard – Archdiocese of Sydney
Noah Douglas Huddleston – Diocese of Grand Island
Thomas Cooper Johnson – Diocese of Great Falls-Billings
Thomas Steven Kollasch – Diocese of Sioux City
Kyle Edward Lang – Diocese of La Crosse
Steven Thomas Lang – Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis
Kaleb Patric Mitchell – Diocese of Helena
Brendan Basil Parlett – Archdiocese of Washington
Mateusz Christopher Puzanowski – Diocese of Providence
Reed Francis Donnelly Robinson – Diocese of Nashville
Nicholas Edward Waldron – Diocese of Rockville Centre
Charles Henry Warner – Diocese of Saginaw
 
The Pontifical North American College serves as the American seminary in Rome.  Founded in 1859 by Blessed Pope Pius IX, the college has formed over 5,000 priests near the heart of the church for service in dioceses around the United States, Canada and Australia. The college strengthens the bonds between Rome and local churches worldwide, and it allows its students to study the church’s rich religious and cultural heritage at close range.

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