By DIANE SCHLINDWEIN Managing Editor On the Friday of Easter Week, April 9, Bishop Thomas John Pap- rocki will ordain two seminarians to the transitional diaconate for the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois. The ordination will take place at 6 p.m. Mass at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception. A few weeks before ordination Zach Samples and Paul Lesupati, both seminarians at St. Meinrad Seminary and School of Theology, took time to share some thoughts on their ordination. Paul L. Lesupati A Kenyan by nationality who now calls Blessed Sacrament, Springfield his home parish, Paul Lesupati was serving as a social worker with Jesuit Refugee Services, just before he came to America as a seminarian for the Springfield diocese. Although his vocation journey began when he was a school-aged altar server, it was ultimately when he met Blessed Sacrament pastor Father Jeff Grant that he entered the seminary. The meeting took place more than four years ago at a refugee camp where Lesupati was working and where Fa- ther Grant was serving as a chaplain on a service sabbatical. My heart had desired to become a priest, but I never knew where God was calling me to go and serve, he explains. Multiple priests strongly influenced me in my prayer life. The inal push came from Father Jeff Grant, whom I met at Kakuma Ref- uge. His life of prayer, compassion and his zeal for the pastoral care of the soul influenced me to be more prayerful and to discern joining the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois. He also counts diocesan priests Father Dean Probst and Father Brian Alford as mentors. As a social worker, Lesupati worked with refugees and those dis- placed from their countries because of war. I was responsible for doing supervision, assessing different cases, and working with different agencies, he said. I focused on refu- gees who needed someone to listen and understand their issues. The mission of Jesuit Refugee Services is to serve, to accompany, and to advocate.' I worked under the Counseling Department, which covers individu- al counseling, family therapy, group counseling, and a peer group for drug and substance abuse, he said. I offered different training for con- ditions such as PSTD, loss and grief, and drugs and substance abuse under the Counseling Department. Lesupati was born on June 21, 1978 and grew up at St. George Catholic Church in the Laisamis, Marsabit Diocese in Kenya. His parents are Jacob Karare Lesupati and Cecilia Ngees Lesupati. Paul was given the second name of Lkuc- hungan because that name means shepherd. I was born while my mother was herding/tending cows and goats, he said. We are pasto- ralists. Much can be learned about life while working alongside parents who take care of goats and sheep, he said, especially those who are sick, lame and also the stubborn ones. In describing his family, Lesu- pati says he and his many siblings were brought up well, learning the Catholic faith, attending school, and completing chores. God blessed my parents with nine children, but God called three of my brothers to himself, so we are remaining now six in total, four girls and two boys, he said. Among the six children I am the last born. My parents loved each other and showed great love by caring for us as we were growing up; they provided us with basic needs, shelter, clothes and food, good health, and edu- cation. I am also grateful for the growth of spiritual nourishment, as they were the first to introduce me to the Catholic faith. I learned many lessons from my parents, as they were caring and kind, he said, add- ing that they led by example, teach- ing their children t polite, responsible is also especially cl sister, Margaret, w him as he grew up him in prayer, alon Prayer is essenti seminarians, Lesu want to thank all p have been praying Let us continue to vocations to the pr religious life. Zachary D. Sam Mt. Zion native Z it was during adora an experience that him to his vocation calling me to the C hood. It was Holy I finally realized th had gone to adorat of repose on Holy T Walking in, I thoug all together. I was a with honors, had b graduate school at hired to work in th sions, had signed a a serious and wond Walking out of profound sense of and anxiety - like have it all togethe the next few mont the guidance of pr with his girlfriend, his family and frie vocation. Then, ov years, he complete before becoming a Samples is the s the late Lori Samp sister, Meghan Rob in-law Tyler Rober ing grandmother, Growing up he and parishioners at Ou in Decatur, where
DIOCESAN LIFE April 4, 2021 Catholic Times 12
Two men to b
Paul Lesupati (left) and Zach Samples (right) are shown with Father Denis Robinson, OSB, president-rector of St. Meinrad Seminary and School of Theology, in St. Thomas Aquinas Chapel. Father Robinson received their deacon promises ahead of their April 9 ordination.
Submitted photo
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