On May 25, at 10 a.m., four transitional deacons of the Diocese of Wichita will be ordained to the priesthood. The ordination ceremony will take place in the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Wichita. Bishop Carl A. Kemme will ordain Rev. Messrs. Jesus Bañuelos, Matthew Cooke, Caleb Kuestersteffen, and Miles Swigart.

Additionally, on Thursday, May 23, at 6 p.m., Bishop Kemme will ordain seminarians Nicholas Samsel, Grant Huslig, and Joseph Mick as transitional deacons at the same Cathedral.

Rev. Mr. Jesus Bañuelos is the son of Juan and Carmen Bañuelos who are members of Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Wichita. Currently studying at Kenrick-Glennon Seminary in St. Louis, Missouri, Deacon Bañuelos expressed his anticipation for serving the people of God through living out the sacraments of the church.

Rev. Mr. Matthew Cooke is the son of Mike and Diane Cooke from St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Wichita and a student at Mundelein Seminary north of Chicago. He looks forward to hearing confessions and celebrating Mass after his ordination.

Rev. Mr. Caleb Kuestersteffen is Michael and Christine Kuestersteffen's son from St. John Parish in El Dorado. He anticipates administering sacraments most after his ordination.

Finally, Rev. Mr. Miles Swigart is John and Traci Swigart's son from St. Patrick Parish in Kingman and also a student at Mundelein Seminary like Cooke and Kuestersteffen.

All four men have expressed their excitement about their upcoming ordinations while acknowledging that they will miss their seminary communities and classes as they move into this new phase of their lives.