New priest ordained

Ordination to the Priesthood of Luke Thielen from Salina Diocese

Salina — The chimes of Sacred Heart Cathedral pealed out “For the Beauty of the Earth” as the newly ordained Father Luke Thielen gave blessings and greeted friends and family following his June 4 ordination. 

Bishop Edward Weisenburger encouraged Father Thielen to look for “mustard seeds” of faith throughout the priesthood.

“Moments when you see the glimmer of a mustard seed in one who is struggling, and where God in that grace filled moment chooses to reconcile through you, to heal through you to bring joy and comfort and new life through you,” Bishop Weisenburger said during his homily. “It is through the humble efforts of quite ordinary men like you and me that God sacramentally reveals his great love for his people.” The bishop highlighted his point with a story of Pope Francis, who as a young priest, asked an unrepentant penitent “Are you sorry you’re not sorry?” to which the man replied “yes.”

“And Father Bergoglio said ‘That’s enough’ and gave him absolution,” Bishop Weisenburger said. “What I admire about this story is the creativity, the initiative of a good priest who was looking for a crack in the wall of a man’s heart and hurt. Looking for a way, searching for a creative, spirit-filled way to reconcile a sinner. You might say he found the mustard seed and it was enough.”

The bishop said every priest treasures those moments of success.

“When oftentimes in spite of ourselves, we find a way to announce a year of good favor — to heal, to embody grace, to reconcile to God,” Bishop Weisenburger said. “We remember those events the way a coach remembers the most extraordinary victory of his or her career. The way a teacher remembers getting through to a student that every other teacher gave up on. The way a parent remembers those moments of grace when they see incredible character in their child that exceeds their own. We remember those moments and we hold onto them.”

He said humility is an essential part of the priesthood.
“Humility is not so much a human virtue but rather a grace from God to see ourselves as we really are,” Bishop Weisenburger said. “Recognizing the highly imperfect person that God has chosen to be his ambassador. The more we step aside in humility, the more the grace of orders flows through us.”

















In attendance were priests of the diocese, as well as Father Jason Wallace, vice rector of St. John Vianney Theological Seminary in Denver and Father Albert Bruecken, O.S.B. from Conception Seminary College. Friends from the seminary and seminarians for the Diocese of Salina were also present.

Upon completing the rite of ordination, Father Thielen was vested by Carmelite Father James Thomas, pastor at Sacred Heart, his home parish. 

The dates of his ordination were special — Father Thielen was ordained to the priesthood on the feast of the Immaculate Heart of Mary. His diaconate ordination was on the eve of Divine Mercy Sunday.

“It doesn’t happen too often that you’re ordained a deacon the eve of the solemnity of Jesus and priest on an important Marian feast day,” he said.





For Father Thielen, his first full day as a priest on Sunday, June 5 was a celebration of new beginnings and 60 years of service. He celebrated his first Mass at Sacred Heart Parish in Park, where he grew up.

“Saying Mass was surreal,” Father Thielen said. “I had to catch myself because I was listening to the concelebrant behind me. I was anticipating following their lead, then I had to remind myself that I’m the one setting the pace.

“It was super surreal but humbling and to be able to say the words of institution and know that Jesus became present in the Eucharist was crazy and awesome and frightening all at the same time.”





Following first Mass celebrations, Father Thielen headed to Collyer to celebrate the 60th anniversary of priesthood for Father Basil Torrez at St. Michael Parish in Collyer.

“It’s still sinking in that I’m a priest,” Father Thielen said. “I’ve always looked up to the presbyterate in our diocese. To spend the day with (fellow priests) and celebrate with Father Torrez was really special. Especially after my ordination and first Mass.”

Even though Father Thielen’s formal assignment begins June 30, he said he is booked every weekend until then. Travels will include filling in around the diocese for other priests, visiting family in Minnesota, traveling to Oklahoma City for a classmate’s ordination and hearing confessions at Prayer and Action.
“There’s no rest for the weary,” he quipped.

Father Thielen is assigned parochial vicar of St. Mary Queen of the Universe Parish in Salina and St. Patrick Parish in Gypsum. He will reside with Father Kevin Weber, also a priest whose home parish is in Park.

“There’s a deep connection,” Father Thielen said of Father Weber. “He’s a great priest and has been running large parishes for a long time. I can’t wait to learn how to be a priest from him.”

Deacon Thielen to be ordained a priest June 4

Park —When it came time for Deacon Luke Thielen to find a chalice to use upon his ordination to the priesthood, he didn’t have to look far. In fact, the chalice he will use was nestled in a cupboard of his home parish for many years.

When he celebrates his First Mass  June 5, Deacon Thielen will use a chalice from his home parish, Sacred Heart, in Park.

He and his mother, Esther, found the chalice by happenstance one day before Mass in the sacristy at Sacred Heart Church in Park.

“Someone opened a cupboard and there was a very tarnished chalice,” Deacon Thielen said. “I told my mom I wanted that chalice when I was ordained a priest.”

The parish archivist, Janet Kaiser, searched for the origins of the chalice.

“Janet did some digging and found nothing. We don’t know where it came from or who it belonged to because it wasn’t engraved,” Deacon Thielen said. “The archivist has pictures and documents going back to the ’30s and the chalice was nowhere to be found.”

The family went through the parish council at Sacred Heart, receiving permission for Deacon Thielen to be given the chalice for personal use.

Upon being given permission to have the chalice, the Thielen family sent it to Gerkens Religious Supplies in Denver to be refurbished. 

“They polished it and re-plated the inside of the cup with gold,” Deacon Thielen said, explaining that the interior of the chalice must be a precious metal because it touches the precious blood.

The connection to home via the chalice will be a special one.

“To have something from the church where I spent my whole life, an item that I will use on almost a daily basis is special,” Deacon Thielen said. “After I die, I plan to give it back to Sacred Heart Church and they can decide who it goes to next.”