JACKSON – Bishop Joseph Kopacz ordained seven men to the permanent diaconate for the Diocese of Jackson on July 18, 2026 at the Cathedral of St. Peter the Apostle in Jackson. In the following profiles, the new deacons share their vocation stories, the people and experiences that shaped their faith, and their hopes for serving the people of the diocese.
DEACON HUNTER YENTZEN
Assigned: Holy Savior, Clinton
Spouse: Mary Katherine Yentzen
Hometown: Clinton
Were you raised Catholic, or did you convert to the faith? I was raised Catholic in the small town of Iowa, Louisiana where my family attended St. Raphael Catholic Church (Diocese of Lake Charles, LA).
Can you share a moment or journey that deepened your faith or drew you closer to the Church? The earliest moment I can recall is attending Steubenville South as a rising 9th grader. It was my first experience of the young Church outside of our humble parish. The weekend conference allowed me to seek the Lord in a way that I could relate to as a teenager and I have joyfully brought groups to the same event for years. It was an amazing experience to hear the speakers address problems that we would encounter as young people while also having a liturgical experience with a few thousand peers while we spread our arms wide open toward Jesus. I have been committed to the young Church and hope to continue to work within the Jackson Diocese so my children can have similar experiences with the Lord.
Would you share your vocation story – how did you get called to the diaconate? The Catholic Church has seemingly always been a part of my life. From attending rosaries before funerals with my parents, to youth group in high school, then in college making my closest connections at the Catholic Student Center (Christ the King – Baton Rouge) before having my first date with my wife at the Catholic Student Center at Southern Miss (St. Thomas) – the Catholic Church has been a constant fabric through the tapestry that is my life. When we moved to Clinton, MS and before our children, my wife and I eagerly served in parish ministries before ultimately agreeing to be the youth ministry team at Holy Savior. Through many retreats and events, I was able to see how the Diaconate was developing in the Jackson Diocese and I started discerning what it would mean to be a Permanent Deacon. After many discussions with my family, Priests, parents of the youth and other close friends, my wife and I decided to apply with the 2026 cohort with cautious optimism while we asked the Lord to guide us at ever step of the process and we were open if He were to gently nudge us out of the formation process. As formation progressed through the years, the conviction to take another step toward ordination only grew with every class, retreat, spiritual direction session, and prayer. We joyfully look toward what the Lord has in store for our family as we continually seek His will in our lives.
Where do you feel most called to serve as a deacon? The short answer is wherever there is a need! I have continued to feel called to the young church but have recently been convicted about connecting families to one another, to parish life, and to the Lord. Throughout formation, I have felt specifically called to Holy Savior and the people of Clinton, MS, but as our children grow and move through the Catholic School System (St. Richard), I look forward to opportunities to serve the greater community of the Diocese.
How has your parish community supported you on this journey? The parish has continually prayed and offered words of encouragement week to week often checking in to see how far our cohort was from ordination. In a practical way, families would help my wife while I was away at a formation weekend either through play dates for the kids or with a helping hand during Mass. The parish has also given us room to grow and opportunities to share what we have learned through class or experienced through our spiritual formation.
What has been most challenging or surprising during this journey? Simply the logistics of life. I absolutely love spending time with this cohort as we worked through the formation weekends, but it has been tough to be tied up for a full weekend once a month 11 months out of the year. My wife has been graceful in managing the needs of the family while I was attending the sessions at St. Jude.
What would you say to someone who might be feeling called to the diaconate? Get as much information as you can from previous cohorts, your Pastor, and your family before prayerfully taking it one step at a time. There is some wisdom in the length of the formation, and you shouldn’t get overwhelmed with the breadth of the program. If the Lord is truly calling you toward ordination, He will help in making room for you to accomplish the course work and growth needed to make it to the next step.
Do you have a favorite Scripture passage and why? 1 John 4:7-12. Think we are all called to lead with love in everything we do and should love one another through our words and actions.
Who is your favorite saint and why? St. Joseph, his steadfast model of manhood is inspiring as a father. Although we do not have any quotes by him, it is his actions that speak volumes for how he cared for and protected the Holy Family.
Do you have a favorite religious image or devotion and why? There is a crucifix in the St. Thomas Aquinas chapel at St. Meinrad Archabbey that has Jesus standing on a skull signifying his defeat of death. I have not seen that crucifix any place else, but it has left a lasting impact on my spiritual life.
What is your favorite liturgy of the year and why? My favorite liturgical season is Advent as we have a hopeful longing for the nativity and the Christmas season. This anticipation leads to what I suppose is my favorite liturgy – The Nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Any children? Anna Kate (12 years old – at time of ordination), Margaret (9 years old), Zoe (5 years old) and Stephen (2 years old)
Deacon’s wives questions:
Name: Mary Katherine Yentzen
What did you think when your husband first began to consider ordination? I was surprised when he first told me of his discernment to the permanent diaconate because he was already so involved with the parish as the youth minister. I did not understand why he felt this tug but I knew, as his wife, I would support him as he continued to discern.
How has this journey shaped your marriage and your family life? I believe this journey towards ordination has created a stronger reliance on each other in our marriage. We have both been pulled in different directions over the past five years – him to his cohort and studies as well as his full-time job, and me to our family and meeting the needs of our children. This pull requires us to have confidence in each other that we will each manage what has been given to us. It’s also been beautiful to see the overlap of formation with our family life. Our children enjoy attending Mass at St. Jude with dad’s “deacon friends”. And those “deacon friends” have gotten to watch our children be born and grow up. We will truly have a bond with this cohort!
How has your parish supported your family during this time? Since Hunter and I are both employees of the parish, we have always felt loved and supported by so many parishioners. Specifically, during formation, we have appreciated the prayers and the check-ins.
Who is your favorite saint and why? I think my favorite Saint(s) are Louis and Zelie Martin, the parents of St. Therese of Lisieux. I love their example of being a simple, holy and devout family.
Do you have a favorite religious image or devotion and why? My favorite image is that of the Holy Family. I feel my calling from God is to be a wife and mother, and the Holy Family is a constant reminder of the goal of our vocation – to be happy with God in Heaven and raise saints that will one day be in Heaven, too.
What is your favorite liturgy of the year and why? I love the beauty and tradition in the Triduum, the most important week in the liturgical year.