Paul Kala, seminarian of the Springfield diocese, was ordained with the expectation that he will be ordained to the priesthood sometime in the next year. The other 11 men were ordained to what is commonly referred to as the “permanent diaconate.”
The members of the Deacon Class of 2009 are: Dennis W. Baker of Decatur, a member of Our Lady of the Holy Spirit Parish in Mount Zion, assigned there and at St. Isidore Parish, Bethany; Thomas G. Burns, who is assigned to his home parish of Blessed Sacrament, Springfield; Jerry L. Cato of Edwardsville, a member of St. Cecilia Parish in Glen Carbon, where he is assigned; Lawrence H. Day, a member of St. Agnes Parish in Springfield who is assigned to St. Joseph Parish, Springfield; Michael B. Hagen, who will serve at his home parish of St. Francis of Assisi in Hardin as well as Blessed Trinity Parish in Brussels; Thomas S. Lucia, a member of Church of the Ascension in Mount Olive who is assigned to Ss. Mary and Joseph Parish in Carlinville; Frank Maynerich Jr., a member of Sacred Heart Parish in Virden who is assigned to St. Joseph Parish in Chatham; Patrick J. O’Toole, who will serve at his home parish of St. Maurice in Morrisonville as well as St. Mary Parish, Farmersville and St. Raymond Parish, Raymond; Michael “Kim” Scott, who will serve at his home parish of St. Mark in Winchester as well as St. Mary Parish, Pittsfield; Irvin Lawrence “Larry” Smith, a member of St. Joseph Parish in Springfield who is assigned to Cathedral Parish in Springfield; and Wayne R. Zimmerman, a member of St. Francis Solanus Parish in Quincy, where he is assigned.
The ordination took place at St. Agnes Church in Springfield because the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception is closed for restoration. The church was filled with families and friends of the new deacons, as well as priests, deacons and religious who were there to participate in the liturgy and offer their support. In fact, the pews were so crowded that chairs had to be brought in to accommodate all the worshippers.
During the ordination ceremony, the men were called forth and given the assent of the assembly, made their promises, remained prostrate on the church floor during the Litany of Supplication, were ordained as the archbishop laid hands on them, and were vested with their stole and dalmatic. Finally, they were ceremoniously handed the Book of the Gospels, received the fraternal kiss from the archbishop and were formally welcomed by the other deacons and the priests.
Deacon Kala is now in his final year at Mundelein Seminary before he is ordained a priest for the diocese. The 11 members of the 2009 diaconate class were the second class to be ordained for the Springfield diocese. They have completed five years of studies through the diocesan Office for the Diaconate, in cooperation with Quincy University, Quincy. They are now being sent out to assist priests in the parishes.
“Eleven of these men are ordained to what we popularly call the ‘permanent diaconate,’” said Archbishop Lucas in his homily. “They will live and serve as deacons for the rest of their lives in an order that has its origin in apostolic times and that has been restored to its full place in the church at the time of the Second Vatican Council.
“As I near the end of my time in this diocese, I have to examine my service and give an account to God and others,” he said. “There are a number of poor choices for which I need to repent. I can tell you without hesitation that the restoration of the permanent diaconate does not fall into that category. All credit goes to the Holy Spirit, to the generous members of the deacon formation team, and to the candidates themselves, their wives and families, as well as to the priests and people of the diocese who have supported and welcomed the opening of this new stream of sacramental life.”
In speaking of the seminarian, Archbishop Lucas said, “It is my privilege today to ordain as a deacon one man who, God willing, will be ordained to the priesthood during the coming year. This is the year of the priest, designated by Pope Benedict XVI and inaugurated just yesterday on the Feast of the Sacred Heart.
“We need priests, God wants people to have the Eucharist and God is providing the suitable candidates we need in this diocese,” he said. “Join me in praying for our seminarians and those being called to the priesthood.”
Of the 11 newly-ordained permanent deacons, 10 are married and one is single and now committed to celibacy. Deacon Kala also took his promise of celibacy that day. As Archbishop Lucas continued his homily, he spoke to both the married men and those who will remain celibate.
“For those who will exercise your ministry committed to celibacy, know that celibacy is both a sign of pastoral charity and an inspiration to it, as well as a source of spiritual fruitfulness in the community,” he said. “Loving others with the sincere love of Christ himself, and living this charism with total dedication, you will cling to Christ and serve others with an undivided heart.”
To the married men he said, “Those of you who are already committed to Christ in the vocation of marriage must remain firmly grounded in faith and determined with your wives to be chaste — beyond reproach before God and people — as is proper for ministers of Christ and stewards of God’s mysteries.”
Now that the men are deacons they will assist at liturgies, where they will proclaim the Gospel and are able to preach at Mass. They will be able to baptize, witness marriages and preside at wake services and graveside services. In addition, much of the deacon’s ministry is servant leadership in works of charity and justice.
Following the ordination Mass, a reception was held in the St. Agnes Parish hall. The deacons began their official assignments on July 1.