Seventeen seminarians from Sacred Heart Major Seminary will represent six dioceses and one religious community as they are ordained transitional deacons this spring and fall.
The diaconate is an important step for the men, becoming ordained ministers of the Catholic Church. In an address to transitional deacons for the Diocese of Rome on February 24, Pope Francis said, “…one does not become a pastor without first being a deacon. The diaconate does not disappear with priesthood: on the contrary, it is the foundation on which it is based.”
Please join the Sacred Heart faculty, staff, and formators in congratulating these men and in praying for their continued formation on their path to the priesthood.
Mosaic asked ordinandi to reflect on the diaconate and their Sacred Heart experience.
Ben Schroder, Archdiocese of Detroit
What I'm looking forward to most about being a deacon is assisting at the Liturgy. For deacons, this includes proclaiming the Gospel during Mass. To paraphrase the ordination rite, deacons are told to "practice what you read" i.e., the Gospel. I love how this ties the Liturgy to everything else we do.
My time in seminary has prepared me well for this by the many opportunities not only to serve at Mass but also to go out into the local community and serve the people of God. I'm truly grateful for my time in seminary so far.
Daniel LaCroix, Diocese of Lansing
I’m looking forward to what I’ve heard called “the freedom of commitment.” It sounds contradictory, but it conveys the excitement of having a definitive purpose to serve the Church as a deacon after years of discerning God’s will.
Sacred Heart has prepared me for ordination by providing a wonderful spiritual director. Msgr. Daniel Trapp, who sadly passed away in January, guided me through the blessings and challenges of seminary as I discerned God’s will and have grown into the man God is calling me to be.
Zachary Mazurek, Diocese of Marquette
I look forward to being entrusted with proclaiming the Gospel at Mass. To speak the words of Christ and recount his parables, miracles, and prophetic gestures will be an honor and a sacred duty for which I am ordained.
I believe that the faculty of Sacred Scripture at Sacred Heart have prepared me well for this aspect of my ministry in providing insightful, engaging, and spiritually-enriching instruction on the Gospels and the Word of God as a whole.
Michael Horianopoulos, Companions of the Cross
When I think of becoming a deacon, I am most excited to be able to bless God’s people as an ordained minister, especially Benediction during adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, but also in other ways approved for deacons. I also really look forward to the first baptism at which I’ll be able to minister as a deacon. Finally, I look forward to being able to share the good news more regularly in preaching, for which I think Sacred Heart has done a great job in preparing me and giving me practice for in our Homiletic classes.
Ivan Alatorre, Diocese of Gary
I look forward to the ability to proclaim the Gospel and preach at Mass in the diaconate. Today's society is in dire need of the Word of God and a continual need for evangelization. I hope to bring the Gospel message into believers' hearts through the words I preach. Sacred Heart has truly prepared me for this step through the many opportunities in evangelization. These opportunities graced and challenged me to form my heart after Christ and brought me to the deeper fullness of my identity as a beloved son of the Father. Msgr. Daniel Trapp once said that when a man's heart is formed after Christ, he is able to accompany those in darkness to bring them to the light of Christ.
Archdiocese of Detroit – Patrick Bruen, Benjamin Schroder
- Date: April 13, 2024 at 10:00 a.m.
- Location: Sacred Heart Major Seminary in Detroit, MI
- Celebrant: Most Rev. Arturo Cepeda
Diocese of Kalamazoo – Paul Thuantho
- Date: April 18, 2024 at 10:00 a.m.
- Location: St. Augustine Cathedral in Kalamazoo, MI
- Celebrant: Most Rev. Edward M. Lohse
Diocese of Lansing – Jonathan Bokuniewicz, Brett Ivey, Randy Koenigsknecht, Daniel LaCroix, Joshua Luttig, Christian Salata
- Date: May 11, 2024 at 10:30 a.m.
- Location: St. Thomas Aquinas in East Lansing, MI
- Celebrant: Most Rev. Earl Boyea
Companions of the Cross – Timothy Silver
- Date: May 17, 2024 at 7:00 p.m.
- Location: St. Timothy in North York, Ontario, CA
- Celebrant: Most Rev. Scott McCaig, CC
Diocese of Marquette – Zachary Mazurek
- Date: May 31, 2024 at 3:30 p.m.
- Location: St. Peter Cathedral in Marquette, MI
- Celebrant: Most Rev. John F. Doerfler
Diocese of Gary – Ivan Alatorre, Alexander Kouris
- Date: June 8, 2024 at 10:00 a.m. CDT
- Location: Cathedral of the Holy Angels in Gary, IN
- Celebrant: Most Rev. Robert McClory
Companions of the Cross – Eran Amarasingha, Michael Horianopoulos, Sebastian Muggeridge
- Date: September TBD
- Location: Detroit, MI
Eparchy of St. Thomas – Joseph Nannoshi
- Date: July 6, 2024 at 11:00 a.m.
- Location: Mar Addai Chaldean Catholic Church in Oak Park, MI
- Celebrant: Most Rev. Francis Y. Kallabat