The Belleville diocesan Vocations director keeps a busy schedule. Father Nicholas Junker is Sacramental Minister to the Newman Catholic Student Center at Southern Illinois University in Carbondale where he lives and maintains an office at the Diocesan Pastoral Center in Belleville as well.

Nine men from the Diocese of Belleville and three men from the Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau in Missouri are journeying to ordination in the Permanent Diaconate.

Here’s a scenario: You have plans to visit an historic site in the Middle East — pick one — since the cradle of Christianity began rocking there centuries ago. Now, picture yourself stranded …