Four St. Louis men to be ordained transitional deacons

Submitted on March 06, 2008

Send to friendArchbishop Raymond L. Burke will ordain four Kenrick-Glennon seminarians to the transitional diaconate for the Archdiocese of St. Louis at 10 a.m. Saturday, March 15. The ordination Mass will be celebrated at the Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis, Lindell Boulevard and Newstead Avenue in the Central West End. The men to be ordained are Mark Chrismer, John Mayo, Eric Olsen and David Skillman. Transitional deacons are seminarians in their last year of preparation for ordination to the priesthood. A transitional deacon may baptize, distribute Communion, witness marriages and lead rites for Christian burial. All four are expected to complete their master of divinity degree by spring 2009 from Kenrick School of Theology at Kenrick-Glennon Seminary. Each is also working toward completion of a master of arts degree in theology. In addition to the four men being ordained for the St. Louis Archdiocese, a number of other Kenrick-Glennon seminarians are preparing for ordination this spring as transitional deacons for other dioceses. Those being ordained for the St. Louis Archdiocese are (editor’s note: the four are referred here as "Rev. Mr.," the title they will have after their March 15 ordination): Rev. Mr. Mark Chrismer Rev. Mr. Chrismer, 27, is the son of Rich and Mary Chrismer of St. Peters. His home parish is St. Robert Bellarmine in St. Charles. A graduate of Francis Howell North High School, he earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Truman State University. He served his supervised ministry at St. Dominic Savio Parish in Affton. Rev. Mr. Chrismer said he was influenced in discerning his vocation by his older sister, who entered the Dominican Sisters of St. Cecilia Congregation in Nashville, Tenn. "It was through the inspiration and encouragement of my older sister and the witness of the Dominicans that I felt not only a desire to devote my life more fully to God and his Church, but also a call to become a priest," he said. "Seminary life in preparation for the priesthood has been for me a time to grow in friendship with Christ in prayer and friendship with my future brothers in the presbyterate. It has also been a time to grow in self-knowledge. Personal and spiritual growth can be difficult, but it is a great opportunity to have so much help from formators who provide direction and encouragement." Rev. Mr. Chrismer added, "God who gives the call does not neglect to supply the means to follow his Son." Rev. Mr. John Mayo Rev. Mr. Mayo, 24, is the son of Deacon Robert Mayo II and Jean Mayo of Florissant. His home parish is St. Rose Philippine Duchesne in Florissant. A graduate of DeSmet Jesuit High School, he earned a bachelor’s degree in philosophy through the Cardinal Glennon College Seminary program at St. Louis University. He served his supervised ministry at St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Oakville, Epiphany of Our Lord Parish in South St. Louis, the Basilica of St. Louis King of France (the Old Cathedral) Downtown and St. John Vianney High School in Kirkwood. Reflecting on his journey to the priesthood, Rev. Mr. Mayo said, "My vocation began in the second grade as I was preparing to receive my First Holy Communion. I thought, ‘Wow! The priest sure has a cool job; maybe that will be me one day.’ "Once this seed was planted in my mind, it was something that kept growing and growing. As I began to think about college, there was only one choice for me: I had to go and discern the call I felt. Almost six years later, I am ready to be ordained, God willing. It has been a phenomenal experience, one that I would not trade for anything." Rev. Mr. Eric Olsen Rev. Mr. Olsen, 25, is the son of Robert and Mary Olsen of West St. Louis County. His home parish is St. Clement of Rome in Des Peres. A graduate of St. Louis University High School, he earned a bachelor’s degree in history and philosophy at St. Louis University. He served his supervised ministry at Epiphany of Our Lord Parish in South St. Louis, St. Clare Parish in St. Clair and St. Mark Parish in Affton. Rev. Mr. Olsen said, "In my final year at SLU, I got a job helping out in the sacristy of the Cathedral Basilica. Working in the parish, I saw the priests there present to the faithful at the key moments in their lives: births, deaths, weddings, tragedies and joys. "I was struck by the sacred rhythm and drama of the life of a priest; he might witness a wedding on a Friday, turn around and celebrate a funeral on Saturday, and then offer Mass on Sunday with baptisms in the afternoon. The priest is privileged to be Christ in those situations to people who need Him (Christ)," Rev. Mr. Olsen said. "Like any young person, I wanted happiness and meaning in life. That summer, I began to think in earnest that this was what I wanted, that is, to have the happiness and fulfillment which is specific to priestly ministry and life. In my seminary years, this sense has continued to deepen in me in light of my pastoral assignments," he said. Rev. Mr. David Skillman Rev. Mr. Skillman, 25, is the son of Daniel and Carolyn Skillman of South St. Louis. His home parish is Our Lady of Sorrows in South St. Louis. A graduate of St. John the Baptist College Preparatory High School, he earned a bachelor’s degree in philosophy and a licentiate in philosophy from Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. He served his supervised ministry at St. Margaret Mary Alacoque Parish in Oakville, the St. Louis Cathedral Basilica Parish in the Central West End and St. Peter Parish in Kirkwood. Discussing his vocation, Rev. Mr. Skillman said, "Although as a young person a religious sister and a priest both asked me to think about a vocation to the priesthood, I never considered it a possibility for my life until I became involved in a local youth group during my senior year of high school. "Through my regular participation in the youth group, I began to come to a deeper understanding of what the Catholic Church teaches and how the teachings and practices of the Church give joy and meaning to life. More than anything, I gained from that experience a devotion to the Holy Eucharist that continues to sustain me on the path to the holy priesthood." He continued, "My priestly formation has taken me to places I never imagined would be part of my future when I began my seminary studies, including three wonderful years of philosophical studies at The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. Today my heart is full of gratitude to God as I look forward to serving His Church as an ordained minister." Archbishop Burke will announce the parish appointments of the new transitional deacons in an upcoming issue of the Review.