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Deacon Leo Bistak
MARRIAGE PREPARATION COURSE LEADER
I was born and grew up in Cleveland, Ohio, as the eldest of 8 children. Leaving Cleveland for junior year at University of Detroit, I began a 49 year ping pong of moves between Ohio and Michigan, finally leaving the great Lakes Region in 2005 and moving to Quincy IL and then in 2010 to Lawrence Kansas. Two of the most important facets of my life occurred in the Detroit are, where I met, in 1966 and then married Nancy in 1968 and where I was ordained a deacon in 1983. We have two daughters, LeaMarie Herron and Laura Lee Bistak and one grandchild, Carter Thomas.
My college and degree work went back and forth, too, though mostly Detroit, University of Detroit for a BS in Chemistry, Xavier in Cincinnati for an MBA, Marygrove in Detroit for a Masters in Pastoral Ministry and finally a Doctor of Ministry at the Ecumenical Theological Seminary in Detroit in 2000. My siblings figured I would never stop going to school, since I was 58 when I finally received a doctorate. In between I also became certified as a Spiritual Director for both ongoing direction and for the Ignatian Retreat in Daily Life, more schooling. The schooling thing has also continued in the form of teaching, first at Quincy University for a couple of years and currently facilitating on-line theology courses for the University of Dayton. Nancy also facilitates for University of Dayton and is also a certified spiritual director.
Through all of that I worked as a plastics and rubber chemist/engineer with the largest number of years at Ford. That was followed by 11 years in administration for the Diocese of Toledo. From a year after ordination until just before moving here I was involved in admission of men to diaconate and in much of their formation and education.
As a deacon I have served in 4 Arch/dioceses and am still incardinated in the Diocese of Toledo, serving here with the approval of the Archdiocese of KCK. So, while retired from full time work I serve St. John doing pre-marriage and post marriage (annulment) work, providing Adult formation, leading a Pax Christi group, serving on Pastoral Council, the Social Concerns Committee, and whatever else may be asked. Recreation is Dog Days and some running, singing in the Civic Choir,gardening, cooking and goofing off. What is great is that Nancy and I both are involved in most of what I do for the parish.