May 27, 2017

Seminarian, ordained a transitional deacon, credits the rosary for his vocation

REGIONAL
Story and photos by Carolee McGrath

LUDLOW – The Fourth Degree Archbishop Williams Assembly of the Knights of Columbus honor guard led the procession into Christ the King Church in Ludlow for a special 11 a.m. Mass., Saturday, May 27. Surrounded by family and friends in his home parish, seminarian Michael Daniel Kokoszka was ordained a transitional deacon by Springfield Bishop Mitchell T. Rozanski.

“Today we give thanks to God that the call he gave to Michael, was a call that was answered,” said Bishop Rozanski in his homily.

Deacons preparing to become priests are called transitional deacons. Transitional deacons can preach and read the Gospel, assist at Mass, baptize, witness marriages and conduct funeral rites outside of Mass.

“We celebrate Deacon Michael Kokoszka’s ordination and I thank God for his willingness to commit to the ministry and serve God’s people. What a wonderful inspiration particularly, as I said in my homily, in a world filled with noise and distraction, that God’s voice still pierces through,” said Bishop Rozanski.

Deacon Kokoszka completed his second year of theology at St. John Seminary in Brighton, Mass. The oldest of three children, he grew up in Three Rivers and graduated from Palmer High School in 2000.

The 35-year-old attended Springfield Technical Community College and the University of Massachusetts in Amherst. He graduated from Westfield State University in 2009 with a bachelor of arts degree in math.

“I feel great. It’s a feeling of fulfillment,” said Deacon Kokoszka.

He said he felt God calling him to the priesthood in his 20s. As a truck driver, he said he used to pray the rosary on the road. He said his parents, Denise and Joseph Kokoszka, who were sitting in the front pew during the Mass, also pray the rosary.

“I would go to eucharistic adoration. I remember in my early twenties, when I was on the road, the only thought that came to my mind at that point was to become a priest. So it’s time to fulfill it,” Deacon Kokoszka continued.

During the Rite of Ordination, the bishop called Kokoszka forward and asked about his worthiness as a candidate. After finding him worthy, the bishop elected him to be ordained to the Order of the Diaconate. Following the homily, Kokoszka stated his intent to be consecrated to the church’s ministry and to follow the example of Christ.

Next Kokoszka lie prostrate before the altar as a gesture of humility and total submission to God, as the congregation sang the Litany of Saints. This was followed by the Laying on of Hands. Finally, Kokoszka was vested in his liturgical garb, which consists of a dalmatic and stole and handed the Book of Gospels.

“After five years in the seminary, I can finally preach and minister to the people,” said Deacon Kokoszka.

Christ the King Parish has a Perpetual Adoration Chapel designated as a place of prayer for vocations.

“In 2005, Bishop (Emeritus) McDonnell designated that chapel specifically for vocations. That’s been the success of our vocation ministry. During the time of 2005 until now, we’ve ordained 26 men to the priesthood,” said Father Gary M. Dailey, the director of vocations for the Diocese of Springfield. There are currently 17 men in priestly formation for the diocese.

“We need to continue to pray more and we encourage people of the diocese to pray earnestly for vocations and to come here specifically to pray before the Blessed Sacrament,” Father Dailey said.

Deacon Kokoszka has been assigned to St. Anne Parish in Chicopee. In the fall, he will continue his studies at St. John’s Seminary in Brighton, and will travel home on the weekends to assist Father John Connors, the pastor of St. Anne Parish. Deacon Kokoszka’s ordination to the priesthood is scheduled for June of 2018.

He encourages all families to pray the rosary and to be open to God’s call.

“It may sound odd that when I was a truck driver, I didn’t put the radio on. I’d pray the rosary. That’s when God was talking the most,” he said.

For a video version of this story, tune in to an upcoming edition of “Real to Reel,” the Diocese of Springfield’s weekly television newsmagazine that airs Saturday evenings at 7 on WWLP-22NEWS.