A Promised Priest’s Mother Shares

~Interview with Susan Yakkel~

By Denise Hummel

Over the past two months, five Archdiocese for the Military Services (AMS) Co-Sponsored Seminarians have been ordained priests. During their ordinations, family and friends gathered to celebrate a vocation within a vocation at their home dioceses. Mrs. Susan Yakkel and retired Air Force Col. Ron Yakkel were among those present on May 25 as their middle child, Christopher, was ordained a priest. Recently, Mrs. Yakkel shared her personal experience with us.

May we all continue to pray for those who answer the call within a call – our military chaplains who serve both God and Country.

Susan Yakkel shares …

When it comes to vocations to the priesthood, I would suggest that moms be encouraging to their sons and other young men discerning this very important vocation.

I believe you can encourage and pray for your son’s discernment without pushing or pressuring him. At the same time, I would hope that moms would also be open and encouraging to the process. It’s not a decision that can be made by any of us; it’s a calling that young men are feeling or hearing and open to receiving. It shouldn’t be forced or suppressed. 

I also believe that the parent’s example to their children of attending Mass and receiving the Sacraments regularly is very helpful for those Catholic young men considering the priesthood. However, we do know of a few young priests whose parents are not Catholic and did not grow up Catholic, yet were still called to be Catholic priests. Ultimately, it’s their choice with God’s help.

Ron and I are very proud of Chris and happy for him. He is very excited to be a priest and begin his ministry. It’s been a wonderful time for our family to see Fr. Chris be ordained! We were able to witness Fr. Chris celebrate Mass, baptize our third grandchild and offer First Blessings even to one young man outside the subway on the streets of New York City. Wow! To witness the Catholic faith of a young man on the streets of New York City requesting a First Blessing and to see our granddaughter baptized by our son is awesome, but to watch him transubstantiate the host to Christ’s body is a special gift from God and we are truly grateful for Our Lord’s Goodness!