A step closer to the permanent diaconate
Fifteen faith-filled men completed a milestone in their journey toward ordination as permanent deacons for the Diocese of Birmingham in Alabama during a Mass, celebrated by Bishop Steven J. Raica. The Mass, with the Rite of Candidacy, was celebrated on Feb. 1 at St. Mark the Evangelist Catholic Church in Birmingham. The men were supported at the Mass by their wives and families, as well as members of the formation team.
Fifteen faith-filled men completed a milestone in their journey toward ordination as permanent deacons for the Diocese of Birmingham in Alabama during a Mass, celebrated by Bishop Steven J. Raica. The Mass, with the Rite of Candidacy, was celebrated on Feb. 1 at St. Mark the Evangelist Catholic Church in Birmingham. The men were supported at the Mass by their wives and families, as well as members of the formation team.
The Rite of Candidacy is the first official recognition of the positive signs of a man’s vocation to the permanent diaconate. During the rite, the men were called forward to stand before Bishop Raica. In response to the bishop’s questions, they publicly resolved to complete their preparation for holy orders and to prepare themselves in mind and spirit to give faithful service to Christ and His Body, the Church. The bishop accepted their resolve, saying, “May God, Who has begun the good work in you, bring it to fulfillment.”
Over the next three years, the men will continue to develop in the human, intellectual, pastoral, and spiritual dimensions of formation. They will proceed with their studies, service assignments, and discernment of their potential ordination as permanent deacons.
Speaking of the current class of men discerning the permanent diaconate, Director of Formation for the diocesan Permanent Diaconate Program Deacon Jeff Montgomery said: “It is amazing to witness the Holy Spirit working in the lives of these men and their families. They have grown personally and spiritually over the past three years. I ask for you to please pray for these men and their families as they begin this next step in their journey.”
The men admitted to candidacy were:
- Timothy Battocletti, St. Francis University Parish, Tuscaloosa
- Martin Beasley, Cathedral of St. Paul, Birmingham
- Maxwell Elebash, Holy Spirit, Tuscaloosa
- Colin Fach, St. Mark the Evangelist, Birmingham
- Cliff Farabee, St. James, Gadsden
- Gregory Halen, St. Michael’s, St. Florian
- Steven Leisure, St. Robert Bellarmine, Reform
- Joseph Mokulis, St. Joseph, Florence
- Abraham Niedzwiecki, St. Paul, Athens
- Vick Peltier, Good Shepherd, Huntsville
- Jose Santiago, Prince of Peace, Hoover
- Jason Shaw, Our Lady of the Valley, Birmingham
- John Summers, St. William, Guntersville
- David Williams, St. John the Baptist, Madison
- Austin Wimberly, Our Lady of Sorrows, Homewood
