Buddhist Catholic Contemplative Evangelical General Christian Hindu Jewish Latter-day Saint Muslim New Visions Progressive Christian

Beliefs

Topics

Columnists

Resource Library

Research Tools

Video

Podcasts

Thought Readers

Faith In Media Tracker

Newsletters

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Follow Patheos

Home
Catholic
Religion News
New Deacon Anticipates Becoming Air Force Chaplain

New Deacon Anticipates Becoming Air Force Chaplain

Last updated on: May 21, 2025 at 6:22 pm by William Hemsworth

0 Comments

New Deacon Anticipates Becoming Air Force Chaplain 2025-05-21T18:22:30-07:00 William Hemsworth

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.

MONONA, WI – The Reverend Mr. Mark Wagner, 2d Lt, USAF, a candidate for the Catholic

priesthood and United States Military chaplaincy, was ordained a transitional deacon on Friday,
May 16, in his home Diocese of Madison, WI. The new deacon hopes eventually to serve as a
Catholic chaplain in the U.S. Air Force providing pastoral care to Catholic airmen and their
families with endorsement and faculties from the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA
(AMS).

“When I became an altar server in third grade,” the Rev. Mr. Wagner reflected, “I immediately
had a thought that I could be a priest. This thought never left me, and over the years grew into
something that I couldn’t ignore. I am blessed to have had a priestly vocation placed on my heart from a very young age.” His diaconal ordination brings him to the final year of preparation for
priesthood.

In a solemn, spring evening Mass at Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church in Monona, WI,
the Rev. Mr. Wagner, 26, received the sacrament of Holy Orders from Bishop Donald J. Hying
through the laying of hands and invocation of the Holy Spirit. AMS Auxiliary Bishop F. Richard
Spencer concelebrated the 7:00 p.m. ordination Mass. Proudly watching from the congregation
were the new deacon’s parents, Chief Master Sergeant Jeffrey Wagner, (USAF), and Mrs. Karen
Wagner, herself an Air Force Veteran; his brother John Wagner and wife Tess, and sister Sarah and
husband Ross Ramsey.

The Rev. Mr. Wagner has pursued his formation at Immaculate Heart of Mary Seminary in
Winona, MN, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts (BA) Degree in Philosophy from Saint Mary’s
University, and St. Francis de Sales Seminary in St. Francis, WI, where he is pursuing a Master
of Divinity (MDiv) from Sacred Heart School of Theology in Franklin, WI.

Upon priestly ordination next year, the Rev. Mr. Wagner will, under his co-sponsorship
agreement with the AMS, spend the next three years honing his pastoral skills as a diocesan
priest in his home Diocese of Madison before acceding to active duty as an Air Force chaplain.

The eventual priestly military service of the Rev. Mr. Wagner and other Catholic chaplain
candidates is greatly anticipated by the Air Force, which, like all other branches of the U.S.
Military, continues to suffer a chronic shortage of Catholic chaplains. Currently, only 73 priests
are on active duty in the Air Force, serving nearly 80,000 Catholic airmen spread worldwide, not
counting their families, whom Air Force chaplains also serve.

General Christian

Religion News

Careers, Workplace and Religion

Uncategorized

archdiocese for military services

catholic

chaplain

Previous Post

May 17, 2025

Fr. Mark Mary-Ames Releases Eight Promises of God

Next Post

May 21, 2025 U.S. Navy Chaplain Candidate Ordained Transitional Deacon

Recent Comments

0 | Leave a Comment

"Excellent presentation. I have found that what matters most is the "posture" of the heart ..."

John

A Matter Of The Heart

"I agree with you 100%. The bishops have instructed everyone to receive on the hand ..."

aggiegirl2000

A Matter Of The Heart

"After seeing exactly how screwed up Christian Conservatives are, worshipping a man that is immorral. ..."

Prax

You Are With Jesus Or With ..."

"Jesus or Beelzebul? I'll take curtain three, thank you. I don't DO Fear religions."

Kyllein MacKellerann

You Are With Jesus Or With ..."

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Uncategorized

Select a Month October 2026 September 2026 August 2026 July 2026 June 2026 May 2026 April 2026 March 2026 February 2026 January 2026 December 2025 November 2025 October 2025 September 2025 August 2025 July 2025 June 2025 May 2025 April 2025 March 2025 February 2025 January 2025 December 2024 November 2024 October 2024 September 2024 August 2024 July 2024 June 2024 May 2024 April 2024 March 2024 February 2024 January 2024 December 2023 November 2023 October 2023 September 2023 August 2023 May 2023 April 2023 March 2023 February 2023 January 2023 December 2022 November 2022 October 2022 September 2022 August 2022 July 2022 June 2022 May 2022 April 2022 March 2022 February 2022 January 2022 December 2021 November 2021 October 2021 March 2021 February 2021 January 2021 December 2020 November 2020 October 2020 September 2020 August 2020 July 2020 June 2020 May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 February 2020 January 2020

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz