WCR This Week

WCR PHOTO | RAMON GONZALEZ Five new deacons pose with Archbishop Richard Smith following the Mass of Ordination July 9 at St. Joseph's Basilica. From Left to right they are Deacons Paul Tam and Joseph Leuwer, Archbishop Smith and Deacons Roger-Karol Niedzielski (transitional deacon), Michael Hall and Michael Pucylo.

In a moving celebration at St. Joseph Basilica July 9, Edmonton Archbishop Richard Smith ordained four men to the permanent diaconate.

He also ordained seminarian Roger Niedzielski to the transitional diaconate, the final phase of his preparation for the priesthood. After serving as a deacon for a year, Niedzielski will likely be ordained a priest.

The four new permanent deacons are professional men with extensive ministry experience in their parishes. They just completed a four-year formation program and were ordained for the service of the Word, altar and charity.

Apart from their service in their parishes, the deacons will bring the mercy of Christ to people in prison, to the sick in hospitals, to the elderly in seniors' homes, to refugees escaping war, to women and children fleeing domestic violence, and to the homeless on the streets.

"Yes, you are granted by ordination a special ministry in the sanctuary, but you must not remain there," Smith said in his homily. "In fact, what happens in the sanctuary impels you out of it and into society with the love and mercy of Christ that you help celebrate in the Eucharist.

"Clearly, much is asked of you, but be not afraid. The ordained minister does by the power of Christ what he could never do by his own strength.

"So, trust in the Lord's presence, listen to him speaking to you in the cry of the poor, and allow him to lead you to their service in charity and in mercy."

WCR PHOTO | RAMON GONZALEZ The five diaconal candidates lie prostrate before the altar prior to their ordinations July 9 at St. Joseph's Basilica in Edmonton.

Three of the deacons – Michael Hall, Joseph Leuwer and Paul Tam – are married men and so the archbishop gave a special word of recognition and thanks to their wives: Cheryl, Mary and Clara.

FAITHFUL COMPANIONS

"From the beginning of your husbands' journey of discernment, you have been their faithful companions and most fervent supporters," he said. "We are grateful for the support you will continue to give your husbands as they fulfill their diaconal role in this local Church."

Deacon Michael Pucylo, a lawyer, is single, so in accord with Church tradition, he made a promise of perpetual celibacy.

The congregation welcomed the new deacons with a standing ovation.

"It's such a blessing; it was a beautiful service," Joseph Leuwer said of the ordination ceremony. "I have been looking forward to this for years and I feel blessed to have the opportunity now."

Leuwer was excited as the next day he was to deliver his first three homilies at Edmonton's St. Charles Parish.

"I'm so touched; it's beyond words," said his wife Mary. "I'm kind of shivering and I'm very happy."

Mary said she has been part of her husband's plan all along, and she will be there to bless him every day. She plans to help him in some of his social justice projects and other works of mercy.

"I feel wonderful; the Holy Spirit is certainly here today," commented Pucylo. "I was really moved by the whole experience. It's humbling for me to have this opportunity to serve God. I really think he was calling today."

Pucylo was preparing to assist at all Masses at Edmonton's St. Agnes and St. Anthony's parishes, where he will serve.

ABSOLUTELY FANTASTIC

Hall, a retired lawyer from Lloydminster, said he was overjoyed by the experience.

"This is absolutely fantastic," he said, a big smile on his face. "What is next for me is to serve our Lord; to go out and do exactly what the archbishop asked us to do with a smile on my face."

His wife Cheryl was equally excited. "It was a fantastic celebration and a great opportunity to grow closer in the Lord," she said during the reception that followed.

Cheryl came to almost all the formation classes with her husband over the last four years. She and her husband plan to exercise the diaconal ministry as a couple as much as possible. "We are going to work side by side; that's the plan."

IMPORTANT COMPONENT

Deacons have slowly become an important component of spiritual support and service within the Edmonton Archdiocese. There are now 33 deacons in the archdiocese, including close to 30 who have been ordained in Edmonton since the diaconate program started in 2004. The first group was ordained in 2008.

"This is a good day for the Church; we are all very excited," Deacon Lynn Pion, director of the diaconate program, said after the ordination ceremony.

"There will never be a shortage of ministry for the deacon because the deacon is ordained to reach out to the people on the fringes, to do charity work mainly," Pion said. "That's the primary purpose of the deacon – to be a servant."