Nick Becker to be ordained a priest Sept. 7
By RENEE WEBB
Globe associate editor
Posted August 29, 2002

WESLEY - Just 10 weeks and one day after he was ordained to the transitional diaconate Nickolas Becker will be ordained to the priesthood.

The ordination to the priesthood of Christ for service in the Diocese of Sioux City for this native of Wesley is set for 10:30 a.m., Sept. 7 at Cathedral of the Epiphany in Sioux City.

The son of Robert and Mary Becker, he was ordained to the transitional diaconate June 28 by Bishop Daniel N. DiNardo at St. Joseph Church in Wesley.

"Immediately after my ordination, Bishop DiNardo asked that I spend my relatively brief transitional diaconate ministering at Blessed Sacrament in Sioux City," he noted. "The people at Blessed Sacrament have bent over backwards to welcome me very graciously. I'm impressed that even in the midst of difficult times for the church they are still such a strong support for new vocations."

Becker has had the opportunity to preach and assist at Mass, make sick calls and assist with funerals.

"The deacon has a very defined role in the liturgy. Fulfilling that role has been rich and rewarding in itself as well as letting me more intimately experience what the priest presider is called to do to celebrate liturgy well," he explained. "While brief (service as a deacon), it has been very rich."

Upon ordination, he most likely will be named an associate pastor in one of the diocese's larger cities. For all practical purposes, this is designed to help him learn how to be a priest and the functions of a pastor. Celebrating the sacraments, preaching, visiting the sick, teaching/visiting the schools and parish religious education programs and learning the business practices are expected to be among his main duties.

He compared being an associate pastor to being a pastor in training.

Becker believes that the current struggles of the Catholic Church are on the mind of every new priest.

He recently read an article in which Archbishop John Quinn, retired archbishop of San Francisco, commented that this is the best time to be a priest. The transitional deacon agrees with him.

"It takes courage these days to put on a Roman collar and go out in public - perhaps not here in Sioux City, Iowa. I have friends in big cities who get looked at twice so it is an issue for them," said Becker. "I am disappointed, I am angry, I am hurt by the way that some priests and bishops have failed in their vocations but it also moves me to embrace the challenge, with God's help, to try to be a holy priest."

As a priest, he will strive to be a person of prayer, to be faithful to the church's teaching and to love the people that he is called to serve. Knowing that others have failed in such a grievous way, Becker said it gives him even greater enthusiasm to devote himself to God's work.

He said he viewed the priesthood "as complete self-gift to God and through God to other people."

Looking at his own gifts and personality, Becker said the priesthood should be a good fit.

"I see myself as someone interested in prayer and being a prayerful person. I feel a great deal of compassion for people, particularly those who are suffering. I love the church and believe in what it teaches," he said.

In addition, for most of his life Becker has felt called to be a priest. For years, he said he has had no doubt that this is what God wants him to do with his life. At 26, Becker is one of the few seminarians who are not on their second vocation.

The average age for priestly ordination in the 1950s was 26. Last year the average age was 34.

Several factors, he noted, nourished the vocation.

Having spent 21 of his years in Catholic schools, he referred to Catholic education as an "enormous grace" in his life. He attended Seton Grade School and Bishop Garrigan High School in Algona, the University of Notre Dame and St. Meinrad Seminary.

His parents and siblings are supportive of his decision.

"I come from a family where priesthood and religious life is a respected and honored vocation," said Becker. "That was an enormous influence, both the attitude and seeing the great life of faith on the part of my parents and particularly my Grandmother Becker who is now deceased. She was a model of faith."

The family has produced several priests and women religious. The chalice that he is to receive for ordination is a gift of Father Charles Bormann, his uncle. The chalice had been a gift to Father Bormann from his uncle, the late Father Peter Bormann, who was Becker's great uncle.

Becker is the middle child of five children. His siblings are Sherri Becker, New York City; Thomas and wife, Linda, Becker, Minneapolis; Dennis Becker, Twin Cities and Beth Becker, who is a senior at Bishop Garrigan High School.

He will celebrate a Solemn Mass of Thanksgiving at 11:30 a.m., Sept. 8, at St. Joseph Church in Wesley.