June 3, 2009

New deacons credit family support with fulfilling vocational call

By John Gleason

If one hears the call to be a deacon, does the call stop with that one person?  Not according to the nine men who were ordained into the diaconate on May 30.

The ordination class of 2009 includes men from a wide variety of backgrounds.  Among those ordained is a former air traffic controller, a former fire chief, a certified public accountant and a retired U.S. Navy chief petty officer.  Each of them said they couldn’t have fulfilled their call without the help of family.

A standing-room only crowd of family, friends and brother deacons came to be part of the Mass celebrated at the Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception in Denver. Archbishop Charles J. Chaput, O.F.M. Cap., was the ordaining prelate.

Mass concelebrants included Auxiliary Bishop James D. Conley; cathedral pastor Msgr. Thomas Fryar, Vicar for Clergy Father Bernard Schmitz, Vicar for Hispanic Affairs Father Jorge De Los Santos, and St. John Vianney Theological Seminary rector Father Michael Glenn.

As the Rite of Ordination began, the deacon candidates were called to the altar:  Edward Armijo, Ross Casados Jr., Jay Garland, Michael Magee, William Martinez, Richard Miller Jr., Robert Rinne, John Volk and Richard Wilson all stepped forward and were declared to be worthy of ordination.

Before beginning his homily, Archbishop Chaput took the opportunity to congratulate Bishop Conley who was celebrating the first anniversary of his ordination as auxiliary bishop of the Denver Archdiocese.  Then, looking to the history of the Church, the archbishop spoke about the creation of the diaconate and how the order existed from the earliest days of the Church.

“Holy orders is a mission enacted by Christ which is to be exercised in the Church to the end of time,” the prelate said. 

“Deacons have always responded to the needs of the Church. As the apostles began to give out shares of their ministry, the first seven men to inherit that ministry were the diaconate,” he continued.  “To enter the order of deacons means you have a special responsibility for the development of the community.”

Turning to the Scripture readings for the Mass, Archbishop Chaput called the First Letter of St. Paul to Timothy “the deacon statute.” 

“Deacons must be dignified, not deceitful, not addicted to drink, not greedy for sordid gain,” he said. “You must know your dignity so you can treat everyone with dignity in everything you do.”

“Moreover, they should be tested first,” he read from the Scriptures. “Then, if nothing against them let them serve as deacons.”

The archbishop drew smiles when he declared the “test” was four years of formation.

“You have been tested during this time,” he said, “and we are grateful to all the families who have shown support during this time.”

After the homily, the candidates promised to discharge the office of deacon with humility.  Deacon-elect Rinne, the only member of the group who is not married, came forward to promise of celibacy. Then he and each of the others, in turn, knelt before the archbishop to swear obedience and respect.

Next came the laying on of hands and Prayer of Ordination. The nine were then vested in stole and dalmatic and received the Book of Gospels.

“Receive the Gospel of Christ, whose herald you have become,” said Archbishop Chaput. “Believe what you read, teach what you believe and practice what you teach.”
Following the kiss of peace and welcome from their fellow deacons, the new deacons then turned and were met with thunderous applause from the congregation.

At the conclusion of Mass, Archbishop Chaput returned to the subject of family and how without their support, there would be far fewer deacons.

“Can you imagine what our Church looked like 30 years ago without our deacons,” he asked.  “We acknowledge their spouses, who also walk in this ministry, as well as the children who have supported this vocation.”

After Mass as the newly ordained deacons gathered with family in the Mary Garden adjacent to the cathedral, two of the newly ordained expounded on what Archbishop Chaput said about the importance of the support of family.

Deacon Michael Magee, who is assigned to Our Lady of Loreto Parish in Foxfield, said he could sum up the support he got from his family in two words: “Wonderful and unconditional.

“They’ve been great throughout the whole process,” he said.  “In fact a big part of my vocation came by way of example of my children and my wife—it’s very much a part of what being formed means.  All I can say is that I am very grateful and blessed to have them by my side.”

Deacon Ross Casados Jr., assigned to Spirit of Christ Parish in Arvada, said that from the moment he mentioned his call, his wife supported him 100 percent.
“She’s the greatest, supporting me from the very beginning,” he said.  “In fact, in the four years of formation, she’s been to every class except two; she got just as much education as I did.”

Deacon Casados said that no candidate for the diaconate can undergo formation and fulfill their ministry without the support of their family.

“The best way to do this is if you’re like me,” he said. “Someone right there who will never stop pushing you forward.”