Deacon Kirby’s path to priesthood is a journey of faith and learning

Archbishop William E. Lori will ordain five men to the priesthood June 20 at 10 a.m. at the Cathedral of Mary Our Queen in Homeland. The following is a profile of one of those future priests. New profiles of the other new priests will be added to the Catholic Review site daily from June 14 to June 18. Click here to read them. 

Deacon Stephen Kirby was in fifth grade when he first thought it would be “cool” to be a priest. The fourth of seven children, Deacon Kirby and his family were active members at St. John the Evangelist in Severna Park where he was an altar boy and in the youth choir.

By his junior year at Mount St. Joseph High School in Irvington, he was “seriously looking” into the priestly vocation. When he was assured that entering seminary was “not signing the dotted line” should he change his mind, Deacon Kirby entered St. John Paul II College Seminary in Washington D.C.

“It has been a pretty gradual process,” Deacon Kirby said of his journey to priesthood. “God hasn’t told me to stop yet.”

In June, Deacon Kirby will complete that process along with four other deacons when they are ordained into the priesthood at Cathedral of Mary of Queen in Homeland.

“I’ve learned so much,” Deacon Kirby said. “I’m so blessed in so many ways.”

His family has been “a huge support, a debt I can never repay,” he said, “It is really helpful to know my family is in my corner.”

Deacon KIrby graduated with a degree in philosophy from The Catholic University of America in 2021. His priestly formation has been at Mount St. Mary’s Seminary in Emmitsburg. In 2022, he spent six weeks in Rome, studying at the Vatican and participating in pilgrimages.

“It was an amazing opportunity,” Deacon Kirby said. “Such a gift.”

For his pastoral year, he served at the pastorate of St. John in Frederic and St. Joseph-on-Carrolton Manor in Buckeystown with other summer assignments at St. Pius X in Rodgers Forge, St. Mary in Govans and St. Joseph in Fullerton. 

He currently serves as deacon at St. Bartholomew in Manchester, which is very different from his home parish, he said, as it is smaller and “more of a country setting.” Father Collin Poston, pastor, has “been very generous,” giving him many opportunities to preach. He’s also presided over a wedding and a baptism, he said.

“It is great to get my feet wet,” Deacon Kirby said. “People here are great and super supportive. It is a very active parish.”

While he is comfortable speaking in front of a full congregation, he admits he finds it challenging to speak one-on-one with someone.

“I need a lot of grace,” Deacon Kirby said. “I recognize I need to become a better listener.”

He realizes, too, that while he feels confident, learning never stops.

“You can’t learn everything before,” Deacon Kirby said. “I will keep learning what I need to serve.”

He said he is often surprised by how open many people are to conversations about faith. Although he grew up in a deeply Catholic environment, many of the people he encounters at weddings and funerals are not regular churchgoers. Still, he said, their willingness to listen, ask questions and seek understanding has inspired him and led to many meaningful conversations. 

“There is a lot of hope,” Deacon Kirby said. “In a time of rebuilding trust with the broader community, there is still a lot of hope.”

Email Katie V. Jones at kjones@CatholicReview.org

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