The Deacon's Bench
You may remember this happy news from last month. Now, an update.
The Toledo Diocese ordained a record number of permanent deacons during an ordination ceremony presided over by Bishop Daniel Thomas at Rosary Cathedral in Toledo.
When 20 men joined the clergy as deacons last month, they represented the highest number of deacons ever ordained at one time by the diocese, which covers 19 Ohio counties including Sandusky and Ottawa counties.
While Monsignor Marvin Borger, Vicar for Clergy for the diocese, said the reason for the high number is somewhat of a mystery, he believes it is partly due to the efforts of parish pastors.
“Some of our pastors have been actively encouraging men to become deacons, and we’re seeing the fruit of that in our churches now,” Borger said.
Borger said next year will mark the 50th anniversary of the restoration of the permanent diaconate, and those past decades have opened doors for more deacons to serve in churches.
“Our parishes and our pastors are comfortable with deacons,” Borger said. “The United States has the most deacons in the world in the Catholic Church, and some of the parishes in our diocese have many deacons. Some parishes have none.”
Of the 20 men who were ordained, 13, including Dan Brahier, were assigned to churches that previously had no deacons. Brahier was assigned to St. Thomas More University Parish, which serves the students and staff at Bowling Green State University.
The Rev. Jason Kahle, pastor at St. Thomas More, said he placed a request for a deacon with the diocese over three years ago and has been patiently waiting for the men to finish the four-year training program.
“Dan worked out perfectly, because he’s a professor at BGSU. For him to be assigned to the campus ministry parish makes a lot of sense,” Kahle said. “It’s a huge benefit to us to have him here.”
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