2014 Transitional Deacons

Transitional deacon? Permanent deacon? What is the difference? And how does an ordained deacon differ from an ordained priest?

It was the first Apostles who established the Order of Deacons. In Acts 6:1-6, the Twelve needed help distributing food to widows of the Jerusalem Christian community. They laid hands on seven responsible men to assist them. This transfer of authority through formal ordination freed the Apostles for spiritual service, to devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.

Supporting the ministry of priests and service to the Christian community remain the primary duties of the ordained deacon today. A deacon can baptize, witness a marriage, perform a funeral service, and preach at Mass. A deacon is called to catechetize, evangelize, and assist the needy. He cannot consecrate the Eucharist or hear confessions.

At Sacred Heart, a seminarian receives diaconal ordination in the spring before he begins his final year of formation. He is a transitional deacon since he intends to move on to priestly ordination. A permanent deacon is a single or married layman who has no intention of becoming a priest. He must go through years of educational and spiritual formation just like a seminarian. Both are Catholic clergy and equal members of the Order of Deacons.

On April 12, six fourth-year Sacred Heart theologians were ordained to the Order of Deacons during a morning liturgy in the main chapel of the seminary. They were ordained by Most Rev. Jeffrey Monforton, former rector of the seminary and now Bishop of Steubenville.

Those for the Archdiocese of Detroit are Rev. Mr. Mario Amore, Sean Bonner, Brian Meldrum, and Jacob VanAssche; and for the Society of the Most Holy Trinity, which sends its seminarians to Sacred Heart for formation, are Rev. Mr. Br. Jeremy Davis, SOLT, and Br. Beau Schweitzer, SOLT. Rev. Mr. Radoslaw Zablocki also received diaconal ordination at the ceremony. He is a seminarian at SS. Cyril & Methodius Seminary in nearby Orchard Lake. Rev. Mr. Zablocki is studying for the priesthood for the Archdiocese of Mobile.

Diocese of Lansing theologians Rev. Mr. Robert Bacik and David Fons joined their brother Sacred Heart seminarians as members of the Order of Deacons at St. Mary Cathedral in Lansing on May 17.

Seminarians Rev. Mr. Chahm Gahng and Tafadzwa Kushamba joined the Order of Deacons on May 23 for the Diocese of Madison at a ceremony at Bishop O'Connor Center in Madison. On June 1, St. Anne Parish in Janesville, Minnesota, was the site of the diaconal ordination of Rev. Mr. Johathan Fasnacht for the Diocese of Winona, while Rev. Mr. Brandon Oman and Bradley Sjoquist became transitional deacons for the Marquette diocese on June 6, at St. Peter Cathedral in Marquette.

Front from left: Rev. Mr. Mario Amore, Archdiocese of Detroit; Rev. Mr. Brandon Oman, Diocese of Marquette; Rev. Mr. Bradley Sjoquist, Diocese of Marquette; (Msgr. Todd Lajiness); Rev. Mr. Brian Meldrum, Archdiocese of Detroit; Rev. Mr. David Fons, Diocese of Lansing; Rev. Mr. Chahm Gahng, Diocese of Madison.

Back from left: Rev. Mr. Sean Bonner, Archdiocese of Detroit; Rev. Mr. Jacob VanAssche, Archdiocese of Detroit; Rev. Mr. Robert Bacik, Diocese of Lansing; Rev. Mr. Tafadzwa Kushamba, Diocese of Madison; Rev. Mr. Beau Schweitzer, Society of Our Lady of the Most Holy Trinity; Rev. Mr. Jeremy Davis, Society of Our Lady of the Most Holy Trinity.

Not Pictured: Rev. Mr. Jonathan Fasnacht, Diocese of Winona.