Monsignor Vincke appointed Bishop of Salina Diocese

Monsignor Gerald “Jerry” L. Vincke was introduced Wednesday afternoon as bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Salina.

The announcement was made official by Pope Francis at about noon in Rome, or 5 a.m. Central Time. Bishop-elect Vincke was introduced to members of the Salina diocese during a press conference at The Chancery.

Vincke, who joins the Salina diocese by way of the Diocese of Lansing, Michigan, was ordained to the priesthood in June 1999 in Lansing, Mich., by Bishop Carl F. Mengeling.

He will become the 12th bishop of the Salina diocese, replacing Bishop Edward Weisenburger, who left in September to take over as bishop of the Tucson, Ariz., diocese.

Vincke’s ordination and installation will be announced later.

Michigan native

Vincke, the ninth of 10 children born to a Michigan farm family, commended Salina for its “great hospitality,” calling the kindness of people here “unbelievable.”

“I love to pray and I love to work and I’m looking forward to getting started as soon as possible here,” he said.

Vincke joins the Catholic Diocese of Salina — composed of 31 counties in north-central Kansas spread across more than 26,000 square miles — after time as pastor of Holy Family Parish in Grand Blanc, Mich. The Lansing, Mich., Diocese spreads across just 6,218 square miles.

He said he is looking forward to the new challenge the area will present.

“It’s a big difference — a big, big difference — so it is going to be a challenge,” he said. “The western part (of the diocese), I’m looking forward to going out there and meeting all of the priests. To me it’s just about making the time to be present for them and that’s what I hope to do.”

Vincke said he has learned three lessons in his 19 years of priesthood — to pray, to listen to the people and the importance of evangelism.

“The church exists to be the missionary church, to make disciples of the people and to be disciples, and those are really things I have a heart for,” he said.

Vocational journey

Vincke, 53, brings with him experience in many areas of the priesthood, but that wasn’t always his passion.

“The first time someone even mentioned the priesthood to me, I was a senior in high school,” he said. “I was walking out of church with my girlfriend and the priest just stepped up to me and asked, ‘Have you ever thought about being a priest?’ I said ‘No.’ ”

He went on to attend Ferris State University, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in public relations and marketing.

“I actually ended up interviewing the parish priest at the college campus for some story,” he said. “I was interviewing him and I asked him a question and he looked at me and asked, ‘Have you ever thought about being a priest?’ ”

Varied assignments

Vincke said he actually thought he would be involved with sports his entire life.

While interning with the St. Louis Cardinals’ front office, Vincke said, “I felt like there was something more that God wanted me to do, even though I liked sports.”

Since joining the priesthood in 1999, Vincke’s service has included time as spiritual director at the Pontifical North American College in Rome from 2010 to 2015, being named a Monsignor by Pope Benedict XVI in 2012, and being a member on the Presbyterial Council, Priest Assignment Committee and College of Consulters of the Diocese of Lansing.

“The priesthood is a beautiful life. I love it. I’ve always loved it,” he said. “It’s really a joy and just to relay the joy that comes from the priesthood is something I enjoy.”

Making disciples

Vincke said he has a goal to make more disciples.

At his previous parish, after intersessions, a prayer would be said for the return of individuals who had lost their faith “and there were times where every week there was somebody coming back to the faith out of the blue,” he said.

“Prayer is really the No. 1 thing to really be intentional about making disciples. It’s so important and it’s why we (the church) exist,” he said. “When people come back to the faith, that really excites me and it’s what I’m passionate about.”