Ordination update: 4 new deacons for Detroit

Last updated on: October 23, 2015 at 8:13 pm by Deacon Greg Kandra

Ordination update: 4 new deacons for Detroit 2015-10-23T20:13:20-04:00 Deacon Greg Kandra

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

They were ordained by Archbishop Allen H. Vigneron on October 3 at the Cathedral of the Most Blessed Sacrament.

You can find profiles of them here.

And this piece in Michigan Catholic points out that all are Knights of Columbus:

There are a select few who can partake in all seven sacraments in the Holy Catholic Church.

Most Catholics either participate in matrimony or accept holy orders, but five married men at the Cathedral of the Most Blessed Sacrament on Oct. 3 did both — as permanent deacons.

“Today, something marvelous happened, five men received the sacrament of Holy Orders to serve one another,” said Deacon Tom Leonard of Divine Child Parish in Dearborn. “We have a great number of deacons in our Church who’ve laid down their lives to the service of the Church. Today, we’re honored to be a part of that tradition.”

Deacons Leonard, David Drysdale, John Fitzmaurice and Phil McCown will serve various diaconal duties throughout the Archdiocese of Detroit, including assisting with the liturgy, ministry work at prisons, working in soup kitchens and visiting the sick. Deacon Daniel Hall of the Diocese of Lansing also was ordained by Archbishop Allen H. Vigneron.

“Ultimately, it’s God who charges these people for the diaconate office,” Archbishop Vigneron said. “The deacon ritual predates the time of Christ. It’s about listening to God’s work, and adhering to his ministry. The diaconate is an apostolic and loving service of the Word of God.”

Deacons study at the seminary for many years, mostly completing night classes while balancing full-time jobs and family life.

Deacon Drysdale, 64, of St. Mary, Our Lady of the Annunciation Parish in Rockwood, said his call to become a deacon came after going to reconciliation and wanting to do more to enhance his faith.

“I was away from the Church for almost 25 years, and I felt God wanted me to not just come back but come back in a special way,” said Deacon Drysdale, who is married to Joan and has four adult children and nine grandchildren. “I started to get closer the sacraments, closer to the service as an acolyte, and I felt that God wanted me to do more.”

Part of diaconal training includes practice giving homilies before a congregation, something Deacon Drysdale had little difficulty learning after being a Tae Kwon Do instructor for 38 years.

“As an instructor, you get to know and instruct people, you counsel people,” he said. “Besides learning the art of self-defense, you learn discipline and you build a sense of confidence when speaking before people. In the initial stages, a lot of deacons have fear going before a large audience, but Tae Kwon Do teaches you self-control and overcoming fear.”

Read it all.

Congratulations, brothers, and welcome! Ad multos annos!

Photo: Michigan Catholic

Deacons

Previous Post

October 23, 2015

Great moments in advertising

Next Post

October 24, 2015 Homily for October 25, 2015: 30th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category "Mad Men" 9/11 advent All Things New Amazing video amazing videos amazon america Anglicans Anti-Catholicism art ascension thursday ash wednesday Atheists baltimore Bible Bishops Blogging bonnie engstrom Books bridgeport Brooklyn Chaplains children christian art christmas Church Churches CNEWA Converts criticism Deacons Death Penalty easter eastern christian Eastern Christians Ecumenism education Education Eucharist Europe euthanasia Evangelization Exorcism Family Feasts Gay rights Good Friday Great links Great Moments in Journalism Hanging with the saints heather renshaw Hispanic Catholics Hispanics History homelies Homilies Humor Hymn of the Week Immigration indianapolis Inspiration Interfaith news ireland Jesus Jews Journalism Judaism lent Liturgy logos Marriage Mary Media Medical news Mental health Middle East Monks Movies Music Muslims My world and welcome to it New Evangelization new york News Nuns Parenting Parish life peoria Persecution Politics politics Pope pope francis pope john paul Prayer Preaching Priests Pro-life Quote of the day radio rebecca frech ripp Ripped from the headlines rippred from the headlines Sacraments saints Scripture sex abuse Sex abuse crisis SEX ABUSE CRISIS TAGGED WITH: SEX ABUSE CRISIS The people in the pews the visitation project theatre This & that Thomas Merton Trappists TV Uncategorized uncategorized VATICAN Vatican vocation Vocations Voices & Views Women Worth a thousand words Writing Year of Faith year of mercy young people

Select a Month December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

How many years did Solomon reign?

Select your answer to see how you score.

50 years 40 years 30 years 35 years

Books by This Author Books by Deacon Greg Kandra

See All Titles »