From St. Al's to Permanent Deacon

I was a student at Michigan Tech from 1984 through 1989. My first couple weekends there, I attended Mass at St. Al's. Coming from a pipe-organ-only parish, the guitars and drums were a bit of a put-off. So, I started organizing a carpool to St. Ignatius Loyola in town (Houghton).

In my third year, I was talking with a friend of mine who didn't practice their faith. They were quick to point out that I hadn't been going to Mass.  Somewhere along the line, digging the car out became burdensome and I stopped going to Mass. The very next weekend after that discussion, I showed up at St. Al's. The music caught with me this time. So did the spirit of the liturgy. Within weeks I was a reader at Mass, then soon after commissioned as an Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion. Mass became essential to me, even planning my work schedule at two different area employers around the 11 am Mass at St. Al's.

My first job out of college took me back to my hometown of Fowlerville, MI. That involvement in a parish followed me, where I was again a reader and extraordinary minister, this time at St. Agnes parish. I also started teaching religious education. Then I had this dream, and coming out of it, I had the clear message I was supposed to share more. After that I began leading a small faith group, and (ironically) I even became involved in a youth music group as the guitarist. I was busy, showing up at the parish about four times a week. After a few months of involvement I was becoming exhausted. I prayed, "God, what do you want from me?" God answered, "Everything!"

I didn't know what "everything" meant for a few years. But this word kept coming to mind, "deacon." I had no idea what a deacon was. I didn't know I had actually seen one (I would eventually learn the guy in the sanctuary with the slanted stole was not a priest). By then I was married and in graduate school, and one weekend saw a poster St. John's Student Center in East Lansing, MI. It said "Interested in learning more about the diaconate?" I tore off one of the tabs with the phone number, and carried it in my wallet for two years.

Finally, and I don't remember why, I called the number, and entered into discernment, then formation. Curiously, my parents and siblings didn't react much when I told them I was studying for Holy Orders, as though it were no surprise to them (mom did ask me about becoming a priest when I was in high school). After several years of education (yet another degree!) and formation, I was ordained a permanent deacon for the Diocese of Lansing in 2007. My wife and two kids were there to see me take that step.

Being a deacon has made me a better man, especially as a husband and a father. Every time I counsel someone or get up to preach I think to myself, "I really need to work on this, too!" I'm still in the thick of my secular career, and the charisms of deacon have also helped me be a better employee, coworker, and even boss. My call to service in the Church, which eventually led to the diaconate, began at St. Al's.

An important part of discernment is listening. Others in your life may hear your call to a vocation more clearly than you hear it yourself. God will answer questions, just perhaps not how or when you expect, just keep listening. What you hear in discernment may not be easy; growing closer to Jesus Christ is both joy-filled and challenging at the same time. But, keep in mind this quote attributed to St. Francis of Assisi (another deacon) "If God can work through me, he can work through anyone."

If you know someone who is discerning a vocation, or better yet, isn't and you think perhaps they should be in discernment of a particular vocation - encourage them!