Holy Orders is the sacrament through which the mission entrusted by Christ to his apostles continues to be exercised in the Church until the end of time: thus it is the sacrament of apostolic ministry. It includes three degrees: the episcopate (bishops), presbyterate (priests), and the deaconate.
iIf a man is interested in becoming a Catholic Priest, he should immediately talk to his pastor and visit with the Diocesan vocation office. To become a priest, a man must complete college with certain required classes and then complete 4 years of theology training at a seminary before being ordained. A man is ordained a deacon before becoming a priest as a temporary step to the priesthood.
Today men can become a Deacon without going on to become a priest. Married and single men may apply for this sacrament that normally requires about 5 years of study and formation. A man’s spouse and family must agree with his decision and often participate in some of the formation. A deacon is expected to be a person who serves. Often an applicant has already been involved in parish ministry before applying.
Those interested in becoming a priest or a permanent deacon are encouraged to contact the pastor at 
816-331-4713.
Deacon Lou served for 22 1/2 years in the Air Force in the Chaplains Career field and was the Sergeant in Charge of all personnel. Ever since 1965 Lou had wanted to be a Deacon. At this time the Diaconate program was restarted in Canada, but not in the United States. On return to the United States from Germany in 1970, Lou found out that the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph was going to have its first class of Deacons. Lou put in his retirement papers from the USAF and applied to the diocese for admittance to the first class of the permanent Diaconate. Lou and his wife, Pat, were both interviewed and went through all the tests given to the couples who had applied for the program and Lou was accepted into the Diaconate program. Lou was ordained on June 11, 1973. After ordination, Lou was interviewed by Msgr. Bud Fiedler for a job at the chancery office as a full time deacon. He began working at the chancery for Bishop Charles H. Helmsing in September of 1973. Lou had many responsibilities and his hours were very long, especially during Confirmation time. Bishop Helmsing retired and Bishop John J. Sullivan came on board as bishop of our diocese. Lou traveled with the bishop, drove him to all his appointments, was his Master of Ceremony at all functions and served as Deacon of Masses. In June of 1995 Lou was hired by Fr. Joseph Matt to serve as Pastoral Associate at St. Sabina. Lou served in this position until he retired in September of 1997. Lou loved being a deacon and did so very much for so many people during the 29 years he served as a Deacon. Lou passed away on October 9, 2002, and is greatly missed.
Deacon Dwayne was ordained a deacon in the church on October 26, 2002. St. Sabina was his first assignment as a deacon, before being reassigned to serve at St. Matthew the Apostle Parish in Kansas City. Dwayne currently is the Director of Diaconate Formation for the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph. Dwayne and his wife, Sandy, have 3 daughters, 3 grandsons and are members of the parish.
Mike entered into Candidacy for the Diaconate on January 26, 2008 at the Co-Cathedral in St. Joseph, Missouri. Mike is married to Denise and they have 5 children: Grant, Amy, Christopher, Catherine and Mary. Mike leads the Marian Prayer Group at St. Sabina. He has also been very active in Christmas in October as either a House Captain or Christmas in October Coordinator for St. Sabina Parish. Mike is currently continuing his Diaconate preparation and will be ordained a Deacon in June of 2011. Mike and Denise have been members of St. Sabina Parish since 1986.
Fr. Justin Hoye is the son of parishioners Bob and Linda Hoye. Justin was ordained to the Diaconate at St. Sabina on November 20, 2005. On June 3rd, 2006, Justin was ordained to the priesthood at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Kansas City. Fr. Justin celebrated his First Mass here at St. Sabina on June 4th, 2006. Fr. Justin’s first assignment was as Associate Pastor at St. Therese Parish in Kansas City. As of 2008 he is assigned at St. Gabriel Archangel and St. Raphael Parishes in Kansas City, MO.
Matt Link is the son of parishioner Teresa Link and the late Elwood Link. Matt and his family moved to St. Sabina Parish in 1974. In 1981 Matt attended college and upon graduation became a high school Chemistry and Biology teacher. In 1997 Matt became a seminarian, studying in Chicago at Catholic Theological Union until 2002. Fr. Matt was ordained in 2004 at St. Francis Xavier in St. Joseph, MO and celebrated his first Mass at St. Sabina Parish. Fr. Matt is a priest of the Society of the Precious Blood and is currently assigned at St. James Parish in Liberty, MO.
Evan Harkins is the son of Patrick and Allyson Harkins, who attended St. Sabina from 1992 to 2006. The Harkins family currently attends Our Lady of Good Counsel Parish. Evan received his First Holy Communion from Fr. Joe Matt and was happy to become an altar server, sacristan and part-time employee at St. Sabina. He joined the Cub and Boy Scouts in Troop 111, which was homed at St. Sabina, where he achieved the rank of Eagle Scout. He gained further appreciation of the Catholic faith while working for his Ad Altare Dei award. In his pre-teen days he played baseball every summer and also enjoys golf, camping, swing dancing and music from the 30s and 40s. He has recently taken a keen liking to cricket. Evan was home schooled until the 9th grade when he began attending St. Thomas Aquinas Seminary High School in Hannibal, MO. He then attended Conception Seminary College and graduated in 2006 with a BA in Philosophy. He currently is studying at Kennrick Seminary in St. Louis for an MA in Theology. Evan will be ordained a transitional deacon in May of 2009. He will then be ordained to the priesthood in June of 2010.
LINK TO DIOCESAN VOCATIONS