Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, today we gather in the presence of the Lord here at St. Mark the Evangelist Parish to celebrate the next step in your formational process, the Rite of Admission for our candidates for the permanent diaconate. These men, through prayer and discernment, have heard the voice of the Lord calling them to serve the Church in a unique and sacrificial way. They echo the words of the Prophet Isaiah, “Here I am, send me,” and they stand before us as witnesses to faith, courage, and obedience.

Allow me at the beginning of this homily to thank Father Ward and St. Mark’s parish for hosting us today. It is always an honor to be here and see the vibrant dynamism of this growing parish as it seeks to inspire and accompany the many people who are on their own pilgrim faith journeys.  Thanks also to Deacon Chris Rosko, Deacon Jeff Montgomery, and the faculty and staff of the Josephinum Diaconate Institute for their work in the formational aspects of this journey. I also thank other deacons who are present today and lending moral and prayerful support to you. I also give a shout out to the wives of the deacons who, through this process, accompany you, share your joy, and, in some sense, learn about the beauty of our faith and the impact it makes in the lives of so many. Thank you for your prayers and encouragement of these candidates.

The readings we have just heard illuminate the path of discipleship and service. From the Letter to the Hebrews, we hear about the faith of Abraham, who trusted in God’s promises even when the way forward was uncertain. Abraham's journey was not merely a physical one but a spiritual pilgrimage of radical trust and surrender. "Faith is the realization of what is hoped for and evidence of things not seen." (Heb 11:1) There is a goal, a calling, and a mission. It was one of the passages that affected me deeply in my vocational journey as one affirmation of the call to religious life. As a collegian at Michigan State, I remember exactly where I was sitting at St. Mary Cathedral in Lansing, Michigan when I pulled out a pocket New Testament and read that passage. It impacted me with a conviction to keep moving forward in pursuing a priestly calling. However, it was rendered differently: “Faith is confident assurance about things hoped for and conviction about things unseen.” Yes, it was the goal, a calling, and mission that is an extension of reason. This faith is the foundation upon which your calling as future deacons is built. Like Abraham, you are called to step forward in faith, trusting that God will lead you and provide all that you need to fulfill your ministry.

In the Gospel of Mark, we hear the moving and evocative event of Jesus calming the storm on the Sea of Galilee. When fear threatened to overwhelm the disciples, Jesus’ response was simple yet profound: “Why are you afraid? Do you not yet have faith?” (Mk 4:40) As you prepare for the permanent diaconate, there will be moments when the winds of doubt, the unsettling of confusion, or the waves of challenge may rise around you when you will need help and assistance to calm down and get back on course. Yet, the Lord Who called you will also sustain you. He will be in the boat with you, guiding and strengthening you for the mission ahead – that is, His mission of proclaiming Christ as Lord and Savior.

The Gospel canticle from Luke, which we used as our response, illustrates God’s covenant faithfulness and His plan of salvation: “He has raised up for us a mighty Savior… to show mercy to our ancestors and to remember His holy covenant.” (Lk 1:69-72) Your vocation as deacons is a continuation of God’s work of salvation in the proper hierarchical role of service. You are called to be heralds of God’s mercy, instruments of His justice, and servants of His people.

Jesus' command in the Gospels remains urgent today: “Ask the Lord of the harvest to send laborers into His harvest.” (Mt 9:38) You are the answer to this prayer—men who have said yes to God’s invitation. Your willingness to serve embodies the Church’s mission to bring the Gospel to the world, to comfort the afflicted, to feed the hungry, and to proclaim the hope and joy of Jesus Christ.

As you take this significant step in your journey toward Holy Orders, I urge you to cultivate three essential virtues: humility, prayerfulness, and service.

Humility

As deacons, you will be servants of the Word, the altar, and charity. True greatness in the eyes of God is found not in power or prestige, by the clothes or vestments we wear or in the titles we have, but in humble service. Follow the example of Christ, Who came not to be served but to serve.

Prayerfulness

Your ministry must be rooted in a deep and abiding relationship with the Lord. Let your prayer life be the wellspring from which your service flows. In times of joy and challenge, return to the Lord in prayer, seeking His wisdom and strength. Without a serious prayer life, the life of service as a deacon will be empty and void – doing good things but Christ is not at the center. Pope Francis often cites this point when he distinguishes the services the Church provides as opposed to a non-governmental agency. Both do good, but only the former has Christ at the center - the foundation and the goal. 

All this leads to the third point.

Service

The very word deacon means servant. You are called to be the visible presence of Christ’s love in the world by your words, your life, and your relationships. Be attentive to the needs of the poor, the suffering, and the marginalized. Bring the light of Christ to those in darkness and accompany them. I am edified that there are a number of deacons or deacon martyrs in our liturgical calendar. 

Today, as we celebrate this Rite of Admission, we entrust you to the care of our Blessed Mother, Mary, who always points us to her Son. May her example of humble service, who carried our Lord in her womb, raised Him in Nazareth, worried about Him when He was lost, and cradled Him in her arms after His death on the cross, be a source of unwavering faith inspiring you as you journey toward ordination.

Brothers, thank you for your courage, your faith, and your generosity in responding to God’s call. May the Lord bless you and keep you, and may you always find joy in serving Him and His Church. May God bless you all.