by Moira Cullings
moira.cullings@theleaven.org
KANSAS CITY, Kan. — Deacon William Donald Sutherland was just 9 years old when Pope Benedict XVI visited the United States in 2008.
“We were watching some of the news of that [visit] in our living room,” he said. “Apparently, I turned to my mom and said, ‘I want to be a priest.’
“I was a little boy, and I don’t even remember that.
“God’s been calling me even when I didn’t know it.”
Deacon Sutherland, 27, was ordained a transitional deacon by Archbishop Emeritus Joseph F. Naumann on May 17, 2025, at the Cathedral of St. Peter the Apostle in Kansas City, Kansas.
He and two other men will be ordained to the priesthood by Archbishop Shawn McKnight on May 23 at Most Pure Heart of Mary Church in Topeka.
Planting the seed
Sutherland was born and raised in Topeka. His parents, Daniel and Mary Sutherland, are both pharmacists, and he’s the third of their six children — three boys and three girls.
All of Deacon Sutherland’s siblings live in Topeka, and he has 13 nieces and nephews.
Sutherland attended Christ the King School, but his family originally belonged to Most Pure Heart of Mary Parish, and they rejoined after his grade school years.
The seed for his interest in the priesthood was planted at a young age, but it was his time being homeschooled during high school that helped it grow.
“It seemed like a great option for making faith central to our school experience,” he said. “Because of home schooling, it became an option to go to daily Mass a lot more.”
It also allowed Sutherland to spend more time in eucharistic adoration.
“I think that’s why vocational discernment became pretty clear,” he said. “It became clear it would be amazing to be a priest and to bring the Eucharist to people.
“It was enough for that time in my life to see this is an invitation from the Lord, and I’m going to take him up on it and go to seminary and give it a shot.”
Formative years
After graduating from high school in 2017, Sutherland attended Cardinal Glennon College, the undergraduate seminary formation program of Kenrick-Glennon Seminary in St. Louis.
“I would say that my college seminary time was pretty great — [I made] a lot of amazing friendships,” he said. “It was also an amazing time to go deeper in prayer and faith.”
Sutherland had his share of doubts about diocesan priesthood, knowing he’d be giving up the possibility of religious life or marriage and family.
But his time at the college gave him clarity on his path forward.
“I was growing in freedom to say ‘yes’ to priesthood and say ‘no’ to my other options — but in a way that’s free,” he said.
“[God] made it clear through time, prayer, spiritual direction and friendships that this is an actual option,” added Sutherland. “In addition to being a sacrifice, [priesthood] is a real gift.”
Sutherland attended Kenrick-Glennon and is currently in a vocational synthesis year — the final stage of his seminary formation that serves as a transitional period between seminary and parish ministry.
He’s serving at the Cathedral of St. Peter the Apostle in Kansas City, Kansas.
“Learning how to practice in ministry is something that is totally different,” said Deacon Sutherland. “Moving back a semester early takes some of the pressure off of having too many changes at once.
“It’s also nice because it’s given me a lot more time to get to know people in our archdiocese better.”
Eager to serve
Deacon Sutherland is excited to be ordained at his home parish.
“I think since it’s at my own parish, so many more of my friends and family will be able to come,” he said, “which will be a real blessing.
“It’s also a place that I’ve been used to praying in for so long. It’s almost like being home for such an important moment has its own special quality.”
Deacon Sutherland sees his calling to the priesthood as a gift.
“One of the things that comes back to me sometimes is God doesn’t need my strengths or what I’m good at,” he said, “and he could call anybody.
“But there’s a way in which it’s a total gift from his generosity and love, the reason why God called me to be a priest.”
He looks forward to being in a parish community and celebrating the sacraments.
“It’s such a beautiful gift to share the wonderful gifts of the church with the people,” he said.
His advice for others considering a religious vocation is simple.
“What was helpful for me in discerning God’s vocation for my life was giving time to God where I was listening to him,” he said. “I don’t do that perfectly — most of us don’t do that perfectly.
“But it’s just a matter of making time to listen.”
Deacon Sutherland looks forward to what the future holds for his ministry in northeast Kansas.
“I’m grateful to God and excited for everything to come,” he said.
