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Home  / News & Publications /  Michigan Catholic News / 2008 /  12 men ordained to the diaconate

by Joe Kohn of The Michigan Catholic
Published October 10, 2008

Gregg McIntosh | The Michigan Catholic Cardinal Adam Maida and Detroit Auxiliary Bishops Daniel Flores and John Quinn stand with the archdiocese's 12 new deacons following last Saturday's ordination Mass at the Cathedral of the Most Blessed Sacrament, Detroit.

Detroit — Last Saturday, as the Church recalled the service and humility of St. Francis of Assisi on his feast day, the Archdiocese of Detroit celebrated a new and solemn commitment from 12 men, who were ordained to be permanent deacons.

The men, who had prepared for the ministry at Sacred Heart Major Seminary, were presented by their wives and families to Cardinal Adam Maida at the Cathedral of the Most Blessed Sacrament.

Gregg McIntosh | The Michigan Catholic The 12 men to be ordained deacons lay prostate before the altar as the congregation in the Cathedral of the Most Blessed Sacrament sing the litany of the saints.

"You have trusted that the Lord who called you would indeed equip you for ministry and will give you the strength and energy to fulfill whatever will be asked of you by the Church," Cardinal Maida said to the men in his homily, prior to the ordination rites.

"You will be entering into a new bond with Christ and the Church through the sacrament of holy orders, promising to work closely with your brother deacons, our priests, and bishops who share in this same sacrament. Like them and with them, you are dedicating and consecrating to the Lord every aspect of your life and all your talents for the building up of the Church and the salvation of the world," the cardinal continued.

Gregg McIntosh | The Michigan Catholic The deacons' wives, sitting in the front pew at the Cathedral of the Most Blessed Sacrament, were given a special thanks by their husbands at the close of Mass.

The pews of the cathedral were filled for the ordination Mass. Dozens of priests and deacons from all corners of the archdiocese, and Detroit Auxiliary Bishops John Quinn and Daniel Flores, were on hand for the liturgy. As with priestly ordination, the ordination of a deacon leaves an indelible mark on the soul of the man ordained — designating him a specific kind of servant to the Church. Deacons take on special roles when it comes to proclaiming the Word of God, conducting sacraments and aiding ministries of charity.

Gregg McIntosh | The Michigan Catholic Deacon Kurt Godfryd of St. Joseph Parish in Lake Orion symbolically places his hands on the Gospel, vowing to believe and proclaim God's Word, during the ordination.

During the liturgy, the 12 men were called forth from the congregation in the cathedral. Brought before the altar, they voiced their acceptance of their vocation.

The men to be ordained then one-by-one placed their hands within those of Cardinal Maida and promised respect and obedience to him and his successors.

Also as with priestly ordinations, the men laid prostrate before the altar as the congregation knelt and sung the litany of the saints. Cardinal Maida then prayed the prayer of ordination over them and laid his hands upon their heads to ordain them.

After the deacons were presented with vestments by priests who had helped them through their formation, they knelt before the cardinal and promised to follow and preach the Gospel.

At the end of the Mass, the men were assigned by the cardinal to parishes for service.

Gregg McIntosh | The Michigan Catholic Cardinal Adam Maida lays his hands on Lawrence Toth of St. Valentine Parish in Redford Township, conferring the sacrament of holy orders.

"We priests embrace you as partners as we move forward in service of our people," Cardinal Maida told them after the Liturgy of the Eucharist.

Speaking on behalf of those ordained, Deacon Jack Gardner Jr., of St. Linus Parish in Dearborn Heights, thanked those present for the roles they had taken in bringing the new deacons forward and supporting them through formation.

He especially voiced gratitude to the deacons' wives, who were seated in the front pews of the Cathedral. "Thank you from the bottom of our hearts," Deacon Gardner said, after naming each of the women. "We never would have made it without you."

He added that each person has a role in furthering the Kingdom of God, and that the men ordained to the diaconate were honored to have their specific calling.

"It's a tremendous privilege to serve Jesus Christ as an ordained member of His Church, although that's not the only way to serve Jesus Christ," he said. "But it's a tremendous privilege and an honor." Following the liturgy, those on hand headed to the Cathedral Community Center Gymnasium to congratulate the newly ordained at a reception.

"I'm flying right now," said Deacon Thomas Carter, who'd come from St. Paul of Tarsus in Clinton Township, between the Mass and the reception. "The Holy Spirit has really blessed us and I'm really excited about today."

His wife, Mary Ann, said she was touched seeing her husband vested by Frs. Louis Grandpre and Ronald Essman — their former and current pastors, respectively.

"It's like bringing together the past and future and moving forward," Mary Ann said.

She added that she looks forward to helping her husband in the ministry of deacon.

"He'll be in ministry, and there are times I'll be able to help and work with him, and hopefully provide a model of a couple that represents Christ's work," she said.

Deacon Ronald Vader, who'd joined the diaconate from St. Priscilla Parish in Livonia, said the ordination day meant a new start.

"It's time to go do the work," he said.

Asked about Cardinal Maida's commissioning of the deacons to their ministry, he sounded eager.

"It's service. Reaching out to the people who need us to reach out to them. Reaching out to people who need Christ," Deacon Vader said. "That's what it's all about."

His wife, Mary, said she was "kind of relieved" following the ordination. But that's not all. "And blessed, too," she added. "It's the beginning of a journey for us. It's just a blessing to be able to be there with him, to be his partner and to serve him."

Deacon Scott Chadwick, whose home parish is St. Michael in Sterling Heights, said having Cardinal Maida lay his hands on his head brought to life the Gospel account of Christ doing the same to his disciples before sending them out to spread His Word.

"This is our grand commission to go into the vineyards and be his servants," Deacon Chadwick said. "So I'm very happy and grateful and humbled and privileged to be his servant."

He added that he and his wife, Virginia, have three children and he looked forward to marriage and youth ministry.

During his homily, Cardinal Maida had told the deacons that their new ministry would affect their current ministry of being husbands and fathers by bringing not just new trials, but new blessings too.

"Your choice to accept the call to the permanent diaconate will bring new challenges for your marriages and families," the cardinal said. "There will be new expectations and you will need to work together with patience and good humor. But as the veteran deacons will tell you, these experiences will also strengthen and deepen your awareness of the presence and love of God in your marriage and in your family.

"And whenever we lose ourselves for the sake of the Gospel, we discover ever-new and surprising gifts of God."

• News Release: Cdl Maida to Ordain 12 Permanent Deacons
• 12 new deacons to be ordained for archdiocese