‘For the sake of the Gospel’
CHARLOTTE — Permanent deacons from across the Diocese of Charlotte stood before their bishop, renewing their ordination promises during a special Mass at St. Patrick Cathedral.
The Mass for the Affirmation of Ordination of Promises by Deacons is an opportunity each year for the diocese’s 122 deacons and their wives to come together for Mass with the bishop. This year, the Mass also included the formal acceptance of 17 men into the diocese’s Permanent Deacon Program – one of the largest incoming classes in recent years.
“It’s my favorite Mass of the year,” said Deacon David Faunce, the diocese’s assistant director of diaconate formation. “It brings all of us deacons together and reminds us why we’re here. It reconnects us with the whole Church we serve.”
During his homily, Bishop Jugis reflected on that mission, reminding them, “From this day forward, you must cultivate your vocation, making use of all that is available to you.”
He emphasized the second reading from St. Paul and how one of the promises the deacons renewed is to proclaim the faith in word and deed according to the Gospel.
“We are one family, one body united in the Lord,” he said. “As we just heard the prophet Isaiah say, ‘Here I am, send me,’ this is something you deacons say each day. And again, as St. Paul tells us, ‘All this I do for the sake of the Gospel,’ you too say this each day. This is a deacon’s vocation. So let us always, as the diaconate community within our diocese, through Jesus Christ, align our lives to Him.”
Bishop Jugis also noted the charitable and humble service that is required.
“Your service is freely given, and with the support of your wives and brother deacons and priests, you are called to share the Gospel of our Lord, but to do it with humble charity.”
The 17 new men – now called candidates – have already completed two years of inquiry, called “aspirancy,” and now begin three years of formation before being considered for possible ordination as deacons.
The candidates are: Francis Ahn, John Baughman, Eduardo Gaspar, Emilio Gomez, Eric Kennedy, Timothy Knorr, Huy Le, Omar Lomeli, Bruce Mlakar, Christopher Neubauer, Tracy Van Neumann, Emmett Ostendorf, Jose Oviedo, William Parker, William Tolone, Oswaldo Vargas and Eric Yarrington.
Welcoming the new candidates was especially moving, Deacon Faunce said. It “is really a testament to the growth of the Gospel within the community – but also to the men who are willing to go out, along with their wives, to give themselves over to spread the Gospel.
Wives are critical to a deacon’s ministry, he added. “A life of service can be lonely, so to have our wives there is a true blessing.”
Deacon Bill Schreiber, diocesan director of diaconate formation, agreed, expanding on the unique role wives have in this vocation.
“The wives are absolutely essential,” he said. “Not one deacon I know could do the things we do with out the full support and prayers from our wives. What they actively do within the Church and then through their support of us in ministries they cannot perform themselves, they are an integral part of our vocation.”
— Spencer K.M. Brown. Photos by Troy Hull.
Did you know?
Permanent deacons are involved in a broad range of ministries but usually are assigned to a parish where they proclaim the Gospel and assist the priest at Mass, oversee or support parish ministries and charitable activities, administer baptisms, officiate at weddings and distribute Holy Communion to the sick and homebound.
They also work in vital diocesan ministries including the airport chaplaincy program, prison ministry, faith formation and ministry to children and college students, as well as provide instruction for aspiring Catholics in the RCIA program.
More information on the Permanent Deacon Program can be found online at www.charlottediocese.org/vocations/diaconate.
