By Anne Marie Amacher
The Catholic Messenger
DAVENPORT — Two men will be ordained for the Diocese of Davenport, one to the priesthood and one as a transitional deacon, at 10 a.m. June 30 at Sacred Heart Cathedral. Deacon John Lamansky will be ordained a priest and Terry Ball will be ordained a deacon as he continues his studies for the priesthood.
For as long as Deacon Lamansky can remember, he has wanted to be a priest. “It was when I went to college that I decided to discern it seriously.”
Deacon Lamansky, 27, was born in Fairfield and was homeschooled through high school. His home parishes are St. James in Washington and St. Wenceslaus in Iowa City.
He earned a bachelor’s degree in philosophy from Franciscan University in Steubenville, Ohio. He did advanced studies at the University of St. Mary of the Lake in Mundelein, Ill. He completed his theology studies at the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas in Rome.
He was ordained a transitional deacon at St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome on Sept. 28, 2017, by Bishop James Checchio of the Diocese of Metuchen, N.J.
During his priesthood studies, Deacon Lamansky served internships at St. Mary-Sigourney and Holy Trinity-Keota in 2014, Sacred Heart Cathedral-Davenport in 2016 and St. Wenceslaus-Iowa City in 2017.
Following his ordination to the priesthood, Masses of Thanksgiving will be celebrated at 10 a.m. July 1 at St. Wenceslaus-Iowa City, 9 a.m. July 22 at St. Mary-Fairfield and 9 a.m. Aug. 12 at St. James-Washington.
Ball, 60+, was born in New Hampton, Iowa, and grew up in the Fredericksburg, Iowa, area. He lived in the Iowa City area for more than 40 years. He earned a BA from the University of Northern Iowa in teaching general education and special education, and an MA at the University of Iowa in special education and general education administration. He taught in Marshalltown, Iowa, Community School system from 1971-75 and Iowa City Community schools from 1975-2012.
Ball went through the diocese’s Ministry Formation Program from 2004-2006, Liturgy Formation Program from 2007-2008 and Catechist/ Parish Life Administrator program from 2008-2009.
He was married to Mona for 39 years before she died of leukemia in 2012.
Ball began studies to become a permanent deacon with the diocese’s Class VII. During his studies he discerned a call to the priesthood. He began theology studies at Sacred Heart School of Theology in Hales Corner, Wis. His home parish is St. Joseph in Hills.
