Deacons Robert Voiland, John Dudek and Zaid Chabaan will join ranks of priesthood in two separate Masses with Archbishop Allen H. Vigneron
DETROIT — Starting this weekend, Archbishop Allen H. Vigneron will preside over the ordinations of three men to the priesthood for the Archdiocese of Detroit.
Deacons Robert Voiland, John Dudek and Zaid Chabaan were inspired to follow Jesus’ call at different points in life, but each shares a deep desire to serve the Lord’s people and build his kingdom.
Two of the three men, Deacons Voiland and Dudek, responded to God’s call later in life — at age 60 and 55, respectively — and will be ordained together on Saturday, May 15, at 10 a.m. at the Cathedral of the Most Blessed Sacrament. Both studied for the priesthood at St. John XXIII National Seminary in Massachusetts, which forms men called to the priesthood as older vocations.
On Saturday, May 22, Archbishop Vigneron will ordain Deacon Chabaan, 32, who completed his seminary studies at Sacred Heart Major Seminary in Detroit. Both ordination Masses will be livestreamed.
To get to know them, Detroit Catholic asked each of the ordinandi to respond to a brief questionnaire.
Deacon Robert Voiland
Age: 60
Parents: Jim and Jennie Voiland (both deceased)
Education: Mount Clemens High School, Mount Clemens; General Motors Institute, Flint; Macomb Community College, Warren: AAS-Electronics Eng. Technology; AAS-Maintenance Technology; AGS-General Studies; Sacred Heart Major Seminary, Detroit, B.A. in philosophy; Pope St. John XXIII National Seminary, Weston: M.Divinity (at end of current term)
Parish: St. Michael, Sterling Heights, and St. Peter, Mount Clemens
Ordination date: Saturday, May 15, at 10 a.m.
Masses of Thanksgiving: St. Michael, Sterling Heights (Sunday, May 16); St. Peter, Mount Clemens (Sunday, May 23)
First assignment: Our Lady of the Lakes Parish, Waterford
Hobbies: Enjoying the outdoors — walking, biking; listening to music; reading; fixing stuff
What were you doing before you entered the seminary?
Immediately preceding my formal acceptance to seminary, I was a commuter student at Sacred Heart Major Seminary working on my philosophy studies. During and before that time, I was a caregiver for several years, also doing some independent electrical work. That period was preceded by my career as an electrician.
When did you first start to think about the priesthood?
My first thought about priesthood came from the sisters who taught me at St. Mary School in Mount Clemens as an elementary student. The idea didn’t seem to take root until I was in my early 50s. Although never married, I had lived a “successful” life and had the opportunity to more or less coast quietly into the sunset. Then, I found available time to attend daily Mass, learned more deeply about my Catholic faith, fell in love with what I was learning, and then heard a homily that made me realize that I could retire from electrical work, but I could never retire from being a Catholic Christian. A suggestion from a sister at St. Michael’s that I might make a good deacon (which I dismissed quickly!) resurfaced as a real possibility. Further discussions with priest friends led to the idea that the Lord might really want me as a priest.
What pastoral learning experiences made the greatest impact on you?
The deep faith of so many fellow Catholics and their dependence upon Jesus and his Church, including me as someone they can trust to serve them. This is humbling and encouraging. Alternatively, I am also struck by the great need of many of the faithful to better see the great treasure that we have right before us in the Church.
What excites you the most about becoming a priest?
The opportunity to preach Jesus Christ, not just with words, but sacramentally and personally. The world is starving for a relationship with Jesus, and he desperately wants to be with us. For me to be able to work together with Christ’s other brothers and sisters to better know him is exciting.
What do you think is the greatest challenge facing the Church today? What do you see as the solution to that challenge?
We live in a world that increasingly accepts the idea that humans have all the answers. This is an age-old lie, yet human “progress” blinds many of us from seeing that we are not made for mere worldly happiness but for union with God. Jesus Christ is the only way to get there. The Church must be extraordinarily bold in proclaiming this truth and prepared for great sacrifice in doing so.
What saint has been your greatest inspiration and why?
I have been most moved at this point in my life by St. Augustine and St. Thomas Aquinas. They have helped me navigate my rational limitations. Faith does need understanding, and understanding does need faith. Yet, this is not an easy path to travel, as evidenced by the materialist humanism our culture labors under today. These saints bring light into the darkness.
How do you hope to answer the call of the new evangelization in your priestly ministry?
I pray God will use me to help my sisters and brothers recognize that Christ is working in their lives right now, and that it is through them that Christ wants to make himself known to the people they meet. I hope to provide nourishment to the faithful through the sacraments, the Word, prayer, and my own witness. I want to be an intentional disciple so they can be, too.
Deacon John Dudek
Age: 55
Parents: Joanne (Szczygielski) Dudek and Aloysius Dudek
Education: Bishop Gallagher High School, Harper Woods; Sacred Heart Seminary, Detroit; Wayne State University, Detroit (bachelor’s and master’s degrees in special education); Pope St. John XXIII National Seminary, Weston, Mass. (Master of Divinity)
Parish: Holy Name Parish, Birmingham
Ordination date: Saturday, May 15, at 10 a.m.
Masses of Thanksgiving: Guardian Angels Parish, Clawson (Sunday, May 16); St. Florian Parish, Hamtramck (Saturday, May 29)
First assignment: Church of the Divine Child, Dearborn, and the other parishes of the West Wayne Vicariate Family 1
Hobbies: Running, golf, horseback riding, downhill skiing
What were you doing before you entered the seminary?
I had a very rewarding 26-year career as a special education teacher. I taught three years for Detroit Public Schools, eight years for Clarkston Community Schools, and 15 years for the Novi Community School District. The first 17 years were at the middle school level, and my final nine years were at Novi High School.
When did you first start to think about the priesthood?
By no means do I have your typical vocation story, but God writes beautiful stories with curved lines.
I entered Sacred Heart Seminary at the age of 18. However, I was not equipped or worldly-wise enough to answer God’s call. Today, however, I am completing a journey I started 37 years ago. I want to use the knowledge and experiences I have gained not to impose the Church’s teachings on the faithful, but to meet the people of God at the multiple stages of their lives. Whether it be a joyous family occasion or a person suffering with their humanity, I want to stand alongside them and help them see and experience how the Church and God can be and should be a part of their lives.
I want to be a priest for the Archdiocese of Detroit and use my talents, experiences and knowledge to proclaim God’s Divine Love by helping individuals who are suffering to experience His Grace and Mercy the way I have.
What pastoral learning experiences made the greatest impact on you?
I was blessed to be assigned to several parishes during my diaconate year: Guardian Angels in Clawson, St. Elizabeth, and St. Mary of the Hills in Milton, Mass. These assignments were very rewarding experiences, and they helped me understand that parish ministry is about connecting and establishing relationships with the people of God.
What excites you the most about becoming a priest?
Pope Francis has said the Catholic Church should be a field hospital for the soul. I am truly excited about helping the people of God to establish and maintain a relationship with the Church. Also, Luke’s parable of the Prodigal Son is a beautiful example of the love and mercy that God has for each of us, and I pray that my ministry will help anyone who might not be engaged with the Church to know that they are always welcomed home!
What do you think is the greatest challenge facing the Church today? What do you see as the solution to that challenge?
A great question that unfortunately has many answers. I would say that the division within our Church is causing the most harm right now. In his Good Friday homily, the preacher of the papal household notes that fraternity among Catholics is wounded. Parish priests should be among the first to make a serious examination of conscience regarding building fraternity and unity in the Church.
What saint has been your greatest inspiration and why?
Dawn Edan’s book, My Peace I Give You: Healing sexual wounds with the help of the saints, is by far the most influential book in my life. Also, my devotion to Blessed Solanus Casey has helped me to realize that I am never alone, and that God will provide the power needed to address any task that will come my way.
How do you hope to answer the call of the new evangelization in your priestly ministry?
Every experience in my life has shaped and formed the person I am today, and there is no one else I would rather be. Acceptance, forgiveness and gratitude are the pillars that guide my life and strengthen my faith. God’s plan for me is entering a new act, and I look forward to using my talents and charisms along with the many life experiences from my journey thus far and put them to work as a priest for the Archdiocese of Detroit.
Deacon Zaid Chabaan
Age: 31 (turning 32 on May 15)
Parents: Duried and Zuhal Chabaan
Education: Adlai E. Stevenson High School, Sterling Heights, 2007; Oakland University, B.A. History/Minor in Political Science, 2011; Sacred Heart Major Seminary, B.Phil, M.Div, STB, 2020
Parish: National Shrine of the Little Flower Basilica, Royal Oak
Ordination date: Saturday, May 22, at 10 a.m.
First assignment: Our Lady of Good Counsel Parish, Plymouth
Masses of Thanksgiving: St. John the Baptist Parish, Monroe (11:30 a.m. Sunday, May 23); St. Mary Parish, Monroe (2 p.m. Sunday, May 23); National Shrine of the Little Flower Basilica, Royal Oak (12:30 p.m. Sunday, May 30); Church of the Divine Child, Dearborn (4:30 p.m. Saturday, June 5); St. Frances Cabrini Parish, Allen Park (12 p.m. Sunday, June 6)
Hobbies: Reading, biking, coffee shops, traveling, trying new restaurants, spending time with family and friends
What were you doing before you entered the seminary?
Before I entered seminary, I worked for eight years in customer service jobs, including as a manager at McDonalds for six years, in nutritional services Troy Beaumont Hospital for two years, and as a refugee case worker for Samaritas (formerly known as Lutheran Social Services of Michigan).
When did you first start to think about the priesthood?
I first began thinking about the priesthood when I became an altar boy at Shrine in Royal Oak around the age of 10. I did not know much about the Catholic faith before then; my mother is Catholic and my father is not. My maternal grandfather was a huge inspiration in teaching me about Jesus, the Bible, and he would take me to Mass with him on Sunday. During my teenage years serving at Shrine, I became active and involved in my parish attending youth group, serving as an usher, and serving as an extraordinary minister of Holy Communion. I attended two World Youth Days, the high school Steubenville Youth Conference in 2007, and I attended two discernment weekends at Sacred Heart Seminary. I was surrounded with many wonderful priests who helped me in my discernment.
What pastoral learning experiences made the greatest impact on you?
My path to the priesthood has taken a little bit longer than most, but I was blessed to have spent a pastoral year at St. Frances Cabrini in Allen Park after my first year in theology studies. I also served as a seminarian intern for two summers at Divine Child in Dearborn. Since June 1, 2020, I have served as a transitional deacon at two parishes in Monroe: St. Mary and St. John the Baptist. All of these parish experiences have taught me many valuable lessons that have shaped me and helped me. Most recently with the pandemic, serving as a deacon has opened many doors for me in terms of thinking of new ways to minister to God’s people.
What excites you the most about becoming a priest?
I am excited to share the love of God in our hurting and broken world. I am very much looking forward to celebrating Holy Mass and hearing confessions.
What do you think is the greatest challenge facing the Church today? What do you see as the solution to that challenge?
The greatest challenge I believe facing the Church today is the need for joyful witnesses of the Gospel! Today, so many people are overburdened by the pandemic and all the societal issues facing our country. The Gospel is “Good News;” it is this Good News that needs to be reported and shared.
What saint has been your greatest inspiration and why?
The saint who has had a special impact on me is Blessed Stanley Rother. Blessed Stanley was a diocesan priest from Oklahoma City who served the later part of his priesthood serving the people in Santiago Atitlan in Guatemala. He faced challenges in seminary, but became a wonderful servant as a parish priest. Going to Guatemala meant learning a new language and way of life, but he did everything and gave up everything for the people he served. Eventually, for Stanley, this led to his martyrdom. He was named a blessed shortly before Blessed Solanus Casey. He is a powerful witness of priesthood and an inspiration to me.
How do you hope to answer the call of the new evangelization in your priestly ministry?
I hope to answer the call of the new evangelization by not only serving those whom God has entrusted to my care, but reaching out to the periphery to the many people who don’t feel welcome and part of the Church. The Church is our Mother and the best place to be! I hope to be able to bring others to the beauty of the Catholic faith, the faith that has sustained me in my life through all of its blessings and challenges!
