Diocesan seminarian prepares for ordination as transitional deacon
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May 25, 2024By DAWN PROSSER
Director of Communications
Jake Rosenmeyer, diocesan seminarian from St. Benedict, has been preparing spiritually and academically for his June 1 ordination to the transitional diaconate. His anticipated ordination to the priesthood will be in June 2025.
The Algona Divine Mercy Parish member said as soon as the academic year began at Kenrick-Glennon Seminary, he and his classmates were focused on receiving holy orders June 2024.
“This whole year has been building up to this moment - my whole life building up to this moment. A lot of my prayers this year are looking back in gratitude what God has done for me,” the seminarian said.
Reflecting upon his years in seminary, Rosenmeyer acknowledged that the permanency of receiving holy orders to the diaconate and eventually the priesthood was somewhat unnerving as “you are laying down your life for the first time and it becomes very binding at that point.”
“Thinking about when I first entered seminary, yes, it was scary and there was a lot of unease,” he said. “But today, right now, no, it’s not scary. God has blessed me so much in my seminary experience. And there is this profound reality that God will get me through any situation he puts in front of me.”
The seminarian said despite “nervous energy” leading up to the ordination, any nervousness “is quelled by the fact that I’ve seen firsthand how God can affect my life and will continue to do so in the sacrament of holy orders.”
There are 12 men in Rosenmeyer’s class at the seminary that will be ordained transitional deacons this summer, including two of his closest friends who will also be ordained June 1 at their home dioceses.
“I’m sad I can’t be there. But the beautiful part of it is we are all getting ordained on the same day at the exact same time,” the seminarian said, noting the three men will be praying for one another during their separate ordination Masses.
Along with the support of his classmates, Rosenmeyer pointed out that the three seminarians from the Diocese of Sioux City – James Fitzsimmons, Garrett Hugeback and Matt Staley - provide another “gift of brotherhood” for him. Having diocesan director of seminarians Father Shane Deman, who also serves as seminary vice-rector, on the same campus has been helpful to his formation.
“We all see each other Wednesday nights when everyone eats with (men from) their diocese. We made the commitment at the beginning of the year to spend Wednesday evenings together growing in fraternity and in relationship. Some nights we play cards or share how things are going,” Rosenmeyer said, adding that the four men are hopeful they will all be serving together as priests for the diocese in the future.
Support has also come from the seminarian’s family, parish and school community. During Rosenmeyer’s recent visit home for Easter break, he said many parish members were promising prayers for him and inquiring about his seminary studies.
Fourth grade students in Nancy Berte’s Seton Elementary classroom in Algona send him mail every month – something Berte has orchestrated since Rosenmeyer left his teaching position at the Bishop Garrigan School System to enter the seminary.
“I have said it a lot over the years, but I’m super fortunate to have come from Kossuth County. I’m grateful for their support. Not a week goes by when I don’t get a phone call, text message or card in the mail from someone in the diocese,” he pointed out.
Rosenmeyer’s family have supported his vocation since he first advised his parents that he was discussing the seminary with Father Deman, vocations director at the time.
“My dad looked at me and said, ‘It’s about time. I always knew you were going to seminary at some point,’” the seminarian shared. “I can’t thank them enough and no words can ever describe that commitment. It’s a lot to have a son in the seminary.”
Rosenmeyer described the effect of his formation on his family as a “growing experience as a whole family and they’ve handled everything so well.” They have supported him through prayer and also financially at times. He noted that his sister and her family and his grandmothers have encouraged him as well.
A graduate of Briar Cliff University, the seminarian stressed that the university community and Dubuque-based religious women have supported and encouraged his vocation journey.
“The reality is that this community of support this whole time is overwhelming to consider. I’m so grateful to be from where I am from,” he said. “The guys in this diocese are very well supported, and that’s not the case for everybody.”
Rosenmeyer’s ordination Mass will be celebrated at the Sioux City Cathedral of the Epiphany at 10 a.m. with Bishop Walker Nickless presiding. The Mass is open to the public.
The newly-ordained deacon will spend his summer assisting at St. John Paul II Parish in Carroll with pastor Father Patrick Behm and parochial vicar Father Peter Pham. Hugeback will also be spending his summer at the Carroll parish.
