The Deacon's Bench
I received the following email this afternoon from my friend Deacon James Keating:
Greg…we ordained 21 deacons this past weekend…too big for one photo!
Archbishop of Omaha, George J. Lucas presiding…
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I hope to post more details as they are reported. The archdiocesan newspaper recently had this background:
Twenty-one men – the largest class being formed as permanent deacons since the ministry began in the archdiocese in 1973 – are preparing to be ordained in two ceremonies a week apart at St. Cecilia Cathedral in Omaha.
Ten men from rural and urban areas of the archdiocese will be ordained by Archbishop George J. Lucas at 10 a.m. April 29, and 11 men will be ordained at 10 a.m. May 6.
Some of the larger classes in the archdiocese have included 19 ordained in 2005, 15 in 2011 and 13 in 2012. More than 200 permanent deacons now serve in the archdiocese.
This large class coincides with efforts to hold diaconate ordinations every other year. It also reflects the number of quality men who received the call and the archbishop’s desire to have them all in formation, said Deacon James Keating, director of the archdiocese’s permanent diaconate program.
They will assist priests and help parishioners, he said.
“One never knows where the Spirit will lead a deacon; we always like to encourage men in formation to look to where the Gospel has yet to reach the archdiocese, be creative, imaginative, and begin to minister to those yet unmet needs,” Deacon Keating said.
Meantime: congratulations, brothers, and welcome!
Ad multos annos!
Photos: James Keating
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