PROVIDENCE — Deacon Jacek Ploch enjoys ministering in a busy parish where he can bring the word of God and the sacraments to people of all ages.
“Everyone should have access to a priest,” he said. “It will be a challenge to be accessible as the shortage of priests increases.”
He enjoyed a very positive experience ministering on weekends as a deacon during the past year at St. Mary of the Hills Church in Rochester, Michigan, not far from SS. Cyril and Methodius Seminary in Orchard Lake, where he studied for the priesthood after studying philosophy in his native Poland.
“It was great,” he recalled. “It was a new parish, just ten years old. Everyone was excited to work together. They had so many people volunteering.”
While there, he assisted with baptismal instruction and confirmation classes, preached at Masses, and brought Holy Communion to the sick and shut-ins.
“They were always very thankful,” he said. “Just going to minister to them was spiritually rewarding for me.”
He has also enjoyed working with young Catholics during his summer and diaconate assignments, and is ready to accept this very important responsibility once he is ordained.
“I enjoy working with youths. They have questions and they need answers and good examples. They have bad examples from the outside,” he continued, adding that priests can be positive role models to everyone by being faithful to the Gospel and the commandments.
Deacon Ploch said that one of the most spiritually rewarding experiences that he has enjoyed was attending a Steubenville East Summer Conference at the National Shrine of Our Lady of La Salette Shrine in Attleboro, MA in 2005.
“The young people there were very receptive to God’s message.”
The ordinand said he was also privileged to minister to patients while participating in the hospital chaplaincy program held during the summer at Rhode Island Hospital two years ago.
“It’s very important for a priest to be there for the person and for the family,” he acknowledged, adding that priests ministering in healthcare settings are often requested to hear confessions of those who have been estranged from the church for many years, and who seek absolution and reconciliation.
Deacon Ploch studied English for two years at the Michigan seminary before pursuing theological studies.
“Theology was very interesting,” he observed. “You always want to know more. It was fascinating.”
