I was inspired by the Holy Spirit

By Bob De Witt

One of the first things Joseph F. Kralik, Jr. will tell you about his faith journey is that he fought his calling to the permanent diaconate.

“I have several friends who are deacons and discussed the possibility with my wife, but I prayed about it and originally decided against applying,” he said. “Then the diocese added informational sessions and I felt a need to be there.
“After attending I knew I had to begin formation. I was inspired by the Holy Spirit.”

On June 13, 2020, Deacon Kralik was one of eight men ordained as permanent deacons for the Diocese of Pittsburgh. Effective July 1, he is assigned to the Ministry of Sacrament and the Ministry of Word at St. John Capistran and St. Thomas More parishes in Upper St. Clair/Bethel Park, and to the Ministry of Service and Charity at the Emmaus Community of Pittsburgh.

Deacons are ordained ministers with a special calling to perform works of charity and service, proclaim the word of God, and assist in the liturgical and sacramental life of the Church. They coordinate their part-time ministry with job and family responsibilities.

Kralik, 56, works for Essity HMS North America, Inc., a global hygiene and health company, as national key account director- government. He and his wife Barb are members of St. Gabriel of the Sorrowful Virgin Parish in the Bethel Park/South Park/Whitehall parish grouping.

Growing up with his two sisters in Smithton, Westmoreland County, Kralik was an altar server and reader at St. Timothy Parish. When he was a senior in high school, his mother died unexpectedly. Later he fell away from regular practice of the faith, then returned as an adult. He would take his father, a survivor of the attack on Pearl Harbor, to Mass. It became a bonding experience for them.

The four pillars of diaconate formation are human, spiritual, intellectual and pastoral. Kralik said the most meaningful aspect has been developing friendships with his classmates and their wives.

“Without the support and encouragement of each other, as well as the ability to discuss our faith, class assignments and pastoral experiences, formation would have been exponentially more difficult,” he said.

He is looking forward to serving on the altar, proclaiming and preaching the Gospel, and “putting into motion what God has prepared.”

Click here to meet the other new deacons.