Proclaiming God’s word, bringing the cares of the community to the Eucharist and the Eucharist to those in need, and serving in corporal and spiritual works of mercy.
These are critical aspects of a calling to the permanent diaconate, and 10 men to be ordained Dec. 7 have heard and answered that call, said Deacon Joseph Michalak, director of the Institute for Diaconate Formation at The St. Paul Seminary in St. Paul. All of the faithful are invited to the 10 a.m. Mass at the Cathedral of St. Paul to celebrate the ordination, Deacon Michalak said.
“This is an ecclesial moment,” he said. “This is not a private event. This is the Church calling men to be conformed to Christ, the servant. It has the same weight as a marriage or being ordained a priest. It is a vocation for the sake of the Church.”
When ordained by Archbishop Bernard Hebda, the men will join 115 active and 50 retired but often still serving permanent deacons in the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis.
Most deacons have a dual assignment at a parish and in a non-parish ministry, such as serving the imprisoned, elderly and hospitalized, or engaging in evangelization efforts such as men’s ministry or education, Deacon Michalak said.
Many deacons are married, others are not; many have jobs, others are retired. Through their ministries and role in the Church, deacons can bring Christ into people’s lives in ways priests cannot, such as in their marriages, workplaces and other relationships, Deacon Michalak said.
Formation for the permanent diaconate is five years, some of it alongside seminarians studying for the priesthood, and it is ongoing after ordination. To be considered candidates for the diaconate, men must be between 29 and 60 years old, in mature marriages or celibate, with a track record of service in the Church and a strong spiritual life.
Related: The permanent diaconate at 50: Memories and modern challenges
This class of 10 brings a wide variety of experience, including business owners, technology experts, musicians and engineers. Ages range from late 30s to 60s and all are married.
Their wives, too, have been involved in their formation and bring their own perspective and ministries to bear on the experience, Deacon Michalak said.
“This is a confident group of women with their own ‘giftings,’” he said. “They have contributed a lot, and I can see that in the future they will help their husbands and grow in their own ministries in the Church.”
Each member of the class is committed to the Church and willing to serve and evangelize at a challenging time that includes grappling with clergy sexual abuse scandals, a cultural attack on the family and an erosion of freedom of religion, he said.
“They love all that the Church is. They clearly are willing to suffer with the Church in these days of difficulty and trial,” he said.
Deacon Michalak said their stance might be summed up along these lines: “Jesus said it would be tough, we know that, and we’re ready and available.”
Read about the diaconate candidates in their own words:
- As a deacon, Allgaier aims to serve the ‘”Lazaruses’ who live among us’
- Almost-Deacon Bauch says diaconate isn’t ‘another job,’ but being person God made him to be
- To-be Deacon Cooley: ‘My greatest gift I can offer the Church is my “yes”‘
- Daly describes diaconate calling as Jesus ‘pulling at my shirt-sleeve’
- Before he was deacon, Damiani felt drawn to serve at the altar
- Evander encouraged by friends, mentors to pursue diaconate
- Ahead of diaconate ordination, Neisen says everything he has to give is Christ’s
- Almost a deacon, Schroeder’s goal is ‘to be known as a follower of Jesus’
- Showing up at the right place at the wrong time prompted Utecht to take diaconate call seriously
- Serving young families tops Walker’s hopes for his diaconate