What happens in Vegas: one new deacon for Las Vegas

Only one?

The newly ordained, Deacon Dan Powers, sent me this explanation:

 I began as a diaconal student under the umbrella of the Archdiocese for the Military Services (AMS) because I was working as a contractor for the military in Germany after retiring there from the Army. So I would commute to the Maryvale Institute of Religious Sciences in Birmingham, England for formation. Since I only had permission from Archbishop Broglio to “study” (i.e., I was not a candidate), I became a candidate of the Diocese of Portsmouth, England, and received the minor orders of lector and acolyte there. It became a bit more complicated as the government sequestering hit, and I and my entire staff received pink slips, followed by the early closure of the military community in Heidelberg, Germany. As I did not live in the UK, it became apparent to all that incardination was not possible in Portsmouth. So…there I was…no job, no community, no diocese. OK God…what’s happening here?

My formation director in Portsmouth (Father Peter Hart) made inquiries in Las Vegas, where we planned to move simply because our grandson is four hours from here. So the VG at the Diocese contacted Father William Kenny, the Formation Director for Las Vegas, and after a great deal of communication made it possible for me to be accepted by Bishop Joseph Pepe, and be assigned to Holy Spirit Parish in Las Vegas. After 25 years moving around in the Army, I should have known that God sometimes takes the long way home. While I was spinning around in circles trying to figure all this out, my friend and mentor through all the angst, Bishop F. Richard Spencer, of the AMS, constantly assured me…”All will be well”. And of course…it is…in all manners of wellness.

The picture includes (left to right) Deacon John Breeden (also of Holy Spirit Parish), Bishop Neal Buckon, Auxiliary Bishop for the AMS, Deacon Dan Powers, Bishop Joseph Pepe (Las Vegas), Father William Kenny from Las Vegas, and Father Peter Hart from Portsmouth Diocese, England.

God truly does write straight with crooked lines.

Congratulations, Deacon Dan!  Ad multos annos!