The Shiner Gazette
Shiner
Shiner Catholic Schools

Kapavik’s first mass takes place in Shiner Saturday

  • Ryan Kapavik on Saturday becomes the first Catholic priest ever from Shiner St. Paul.
    Ryan Kapavik on Saturday becomes the first Catholic priest ever from Shiner St. Paul.
  • Kapavik will preside over the 5 p.m. mass in Shiner Saturday as his first mass.
    Kapavik will preside over the 5 p.m. mass in Shiner Saturday as his first mass.
  • This chalice was bequeathed to Sts. Cyril and Methodius by Father John Hanacek, who left it to be given to the next priest from Shiner.
    This chalice was bequeathed to Sts. Cyril and Methodius by Father John Hanacek, who left it to be given to the next priest from Shiner.
  • Using wood from the old Shiner church steeple which he got during one of the church's renovations, Harvey Picha constructed a crucifix for Ryan Kapavik.-to-be
    Using wood from the old Shiner church steeple which he got during one of the church's renovations, Harvey Picha constructed a crucifix for Ryan Kapavik.-to-be
  • Mr. Picha presented the crucifix too the soon-to-be priest at his home parish here in Shiner, just a days ago during a photo shoot with Michelle Price, who incidentally took portraits of Ryan when he entered the seminary and, a decade later, just before he became a priest.
    Mr. Picha presented the crucifix too the soon-to-be priest at his home parish here in Shiner, just a days ago during a photo shoot with Michelle Price, who incidentally took portraits of Ryan when he entered the seminary and, a decade later, just before he became a priest.
  • Ryan Kapavik, just days before he accepts his role as priest. He'll be joining Holy Family Catholic Church in Victoria, where he'll serve as parochial vicar of that congregation and chaplaim of the Victoria Police Department.
    Ryan Kapavik, just days before he accepts his role as priest. He'll be joining Holy Family Catholic Church in Victoria, where he'll serve as parochial vicar of that congregation and chaplaim of the Victoria Police Department.
  • The breathtaking mural above the altar at Sts. Cyril and Methodius Catholic Church in Shiner.
    The breathtaking mural above the altar at Sts. Cyril and Methodius Catholic Church in Shiner.

Ryan Kapavik will do something that no Shiner St. Paul graduate has ever done before when he becomes the school’s first to accept the Catholic Rites of Ordination—the final step becoming a priest—in a special mass taking place at the Our Lady of Victory Cathedral in Victoria at 10 a.m. Saturday morning.

To those not of the Catholic faith, that’s a mighty big deal. In fact, it’s one of seven sacraments a Catholic will undertake take over the course of an entire lifetime, on par with the Rites of Matrimony, for indeed, Kapavik officially enjoins himself with the church on Saturday.

While Shiner has, in fact, produced many a priest through the years—12 priests so far—Kapavik will be the first to hold a diploma from St. Paul High School in Shiner, which officially opened in the early 1960s, separating itself from the St. Ludmilla Academy whose origins predate Shiner. It remains today as an institution dedicated to educating the parish’s youngest Catholics.  

What better way to ring in this special time than to celebrate his first mass as Father Ryan Kapavik, right here at his home parish in Shiner, where both his spiritual journey—indeed his life’s journey—began and flourished.

That mass takes place at 5 p.m. Saturday, May 13—the day before Mother’s Day—here at Sts. Cyril and Methodius Catholic in Shiner.

Fittingly, we chatted with Kapavik’s own mom and dad, Trish and David Kapavik of Shiner, in the days leading up to this momentous occasion. While both couldn’t be prouder of their son’s accomplishment, both are quick to say they are equally humbled by it.

Kapavik grew in his faith, they said, rooted largely by his attendance at the local Catholic schools. “As our children learned more about our faith in their religion classes, we soon found that our kids were teaching us, a lot more so than the other way around,” David said.

Even still, the notion that one of their children might seek the religious life seemed a bit remote.

In fact, as a much younger Ryan first expressed interest in attending the seminary as he neared graduation from Shiner St. Paul, Trish admitted to urging her son to make sure he investigated other options for himself as well.

“It took a lot of faith, on all our parts,” she said, something their local congregation, and Father Bryan Heyer in particular, helped them both with tremendously. In fact, both couldn’t say enough about how much the local priest’s friendship has meant to them and, most especially, their son, Ryan.

Still, it will no doubt require a few adjustments, both parents agreed. After all, it’s not every parent who one day goes to addressing their son as “Father.”

But on Saturday, it will all pay off.

After his first mass here in Shiner, the newly ordained Father Ryan will accept his new role as parochial vicar over at Holy Family Parish and as chaplain of the Victoria Police Department. Holy Family is a rather large and very active congregation in Victoria.

Holy Family, in turns out, was one of the last parishes where Father Dan Morales served, and Father Dan, it turns out, was the priest responsible for recruiting young Ryan into the priesthood more than a decade ago. The soon-to-be Father Ryan, in fact, was Father Dan’s final recruit before his own passing not long ago from complications with cancer.

Also, Father Ryan begins his priestly journey with a chalice that no matter where his priestly journey may take him, forever entwines him to the Shiner parish. This chalice was bequeathed to Sts. Cyril and Methodius by Father John Hanacek, who left it to be given to the next priest from Shiner.

And as David Kapavik shared last week, his parents also got him a portable altar, ensuring their son will be always equipped for mass, wherever his priestly journey leads.

“We can’t thank everyone in our parish enough for all the prayers and support they have shown in Ryan’s journey to becoming a priest,” Ryan’s mother Trish Kapavik said. “It has meant so much, both to Ryan and to us, his parents.”

Dad David agreed, especially as they look to the future, knowing full well that their son will soon take on his role as priest, becoming a shepherd of sorts—a protective and guiding “Father,” in many figurative senses of that word—to the many in his flock.

“Several have asked us about how we felt about losing a son to the priesthood,” he said. “The fact is, the priesthood is a such a brotherhood, in its truest sense, and Ryan has actually expanded our family exponentially with his many newfound brothers. So, we’re far from losing a son by any stretch. In fact, we gained so many more sons.”

For those unable to attend the 5 p.m. mass Saturday, the newly ordained Father Ryan has one more Shiner appearance in store, his mother said. He’ll concelebrate the last Shiner Catholic School mass on Tuesday, May 23.