I was ordained as a permanent deacon on June 11, 2016 with 22 of my brothers, with whom I spent nearly 5 years in formation. The photo above shows me kneeling before Bishop Richard Stika during the ordination Mass at the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in Knoxville. I thank God for his call to the diaconate and I look forward, God willing, to years of service to the Church.
The most important characteristic of a deacon is that he understand that his ministry is not about him. Diaconal ministry is all about Christ and doing his will in service of his Church. I pray that I will do well to live up to the honor of this call to service and that the Holy Spirit will in some way use my blog to advance his kingdom on earth.
If you want to know more about the nature of diaconal ministry, especially if you believe you may be called to be a deacon in the Catholic Church, I heartily recommend The Heart of the Diaconate by Deacon James Keating. It is probably the best book for anyone who may be discerning the call to ordination.