By Deacon Gregory M. Kirk
St. Joseph Catholic Church, Galion
On Saturday September 14, 2013, The Most Reverend Leonard P. Blair, Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Toledo ordained seventeen men to the Diaconate.
It was my great pleasure and honor to assist as the Gospel Deacon at the ordination in Rosary Cathedral in Toledo. The church was filled to capacity for the service.
For the past two years, I helped with the formation of these new Deacons, in the area of homiletics (sermons). I have come to know them, and their dedication.
Our new Deacons come from all over the diocese. Two of the new Deacons are local men: Deacon Dennis Striker from Saint Peter Parish in Mansfield, and Deacon Frederick Stockmaster from Resurrection Parish in Lexington.
Since many people, especially non-Catholics do not know who a Catholic Deacon is or what he does, I thought some background on the ministry might be interesting
Roman Catholic Deacons are ordained ministers of the Church. There are three groups, or “orders,” of ordained ministers in the Church: Bishops, Priests, and Deacons. Deacons are ordained as a sacramental sign to the Church, and to the world, of Christ, Who came “to serve and not be served.”
Deacons serve the Church as ministers of Word, Sacrament, and Charity. We celebrate baptisms, weddings, conduct wake and funeral services, and preach and teach in the name of Christ.
There are presently more than 13,000 Deacons in the United States. Deacons are ordained after approximately six to seven years of intense spiritual formation that includes studying Sacred Scripture, pastoral ministry and theology. Deacons must train and serve as a hospital or prison chaplain prior to ordination.
Celibacy affects every Catholic Deacon in one or another. If a man is single at the time of his ordination, he must promise celibacy. A married Catholic Deacon can only be called to ordination with the full support and agreement of his spouse, and he must promise celibacy in the event his wife predeceases him.
Standing in the pulpit of Rosary Cathedral last Saturday, I opened the Scriptures to the Gospel and proclaimed, “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him might not perish but might have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through Him” (John 3: 16-17). It was a humbling moment – the realization fell upon me that my entire life is premised on the truth of John’s words, on “God’s love for the world.”
For over 17 years, I have striven to live the life and ministry of a Catholic Deacon (17 seems to be an important number!). Like the Apostle Paul, I do not feel worthy of the call, and when I succeed in my ministry, it is because I was able to “get myself out of the way” and let God’s Spirit use me. It is reassuring to me that despite my brokenness and sinfulness, God looks at my desire to serve and doesn’t let my humanity prevent Him from moving through me.
I hope our new Deacons find the same support and love that I have found in my ministry, from other Deacons and Priests, lay people, and Protestant clergy and brothers and sisters. I grew up with a Roman Catholic Great Grandmother who hailed from Ireland, a Baptist Grandmother, and a Methodist Grandmother who is still with us at the age of 102! Imagine my surprise when I learned, as I grew and matured, that not everyone grew up with my appreciation for the rosary, Billy Graham, and altar calls! One of the greatest gifts God has blessed me with is the awareness that He is not confined by church or denominational lines. He is alive and present in His people everywhere.
“For God so loved the world.”
He still loves the world.
He especially loves you.