Bishop George Niederauer presenting me with the Evangeliary during ordination, 24 January 2004
Friday, January 23, 2026
Diaconate: My Adventure Continues
In addition to being the liturgical Memorial of Saint Francis de Sales, bishop and Doctor of the Church, tomorrow is also the twenty-second anniversary of my ordination as a deacon. On Saturday, 24 January 2004, the then-Bishop of Salt Lake City (later Archbishop of San Francisco), George H. Niederauer conferred upon me by his apostolic authority the sacrament of orders. Along with my marriage, the birth of my six children, it is certainly one of the the top ten days of my life.
While I've never attained the certainty about most things in life (an acute desire from my 20s thru my 40s), I'm very certain about Christ calling me to be a deacon. And, by virtue of His grace, I am a deacon. It is through the sacraments of matrimony and orders that Christ conforms me more and more to His image. While both are joyful vocations, neither is easy.
I spent the first eleven years of my diaconate serving at The Cathedral of the Madeleine. May will mark my eleventh year serving at Saint Olaf Parish in the town where I live. In terms of parish service, my diaconate has been pretty evenly divided between these two parishes. Even with the ups and downs of ministry, both have been wonderful places and communities to serve.
For the past nearly 6 years, in addition to my family, parish ministry, and a full-time job, I have served as the Director of the Office of the Diaconate for my diocese. In this role, I serve as something like "Vicar for Deacons" and I am also responsible for the formation of new deacons. Next month, for the first time, my diocese will have overlapping classes of men in diaconate formation.
Starting in mid-March, I will work for my diocese full-time. While still serving as Director of the Office of the Diaconate, I will also serve as the diocese's Government Liaison and as the bishop's Communication Director. Part of these responsibilities include things like being the diocese's Catholic Relief Services Coordinator and Chairing the Justice and Peace Commission. So, mystery resolved.
Needless to say, it's been an adventure thus far. I am excited to continue it. I am coming full-circle. Prior to embarking on the 29-year career from which I am retiring, I worked first for the diocese full-time and then for The Cathedral of the Madeleine under Msgr. M. Francis Mannion.
Anyway, that's all something for a Friday, even if it is a day early. Since I am teaching Deacon Candidates all day tomorrow and then serving at the Vigil Mass, there will be no chance on the anniversary to mark it here. I don't care that our traditio is a repeat. It is a 450 voice onine rendition of one of the most beautiful hymns: Salve Regina:
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Diaconate: My Adventure Continues
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