From the St. Louis Review:
Eighteen men who were ordained to the permanent diaconate for the Archdiocese of St. Louis were called upon to be witnesses of Christ, always pointing to Him in the ministries that they fulfill for the salvation of God’s people.
Archbishop Mitchell Rozanski presided at the June 4 ordination at the Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis.
Even though the needs of the world have changed over the centuries since the origins of the diaconate, “the ministry of deacon remains primarily of service, bringing the word and presence of God to a people who hunger for the care of Christ and His Church,” Archbishop Rozanski said in the homily. “It is into this service that our brothers are being ordained today, pledging their lives to follow in the example of Jesus who came to serve and not to be served, to seek the lost and to bring back the sheep into the fold.”
He called on the men to be creative and dynamic in responding to the needs of the world, likening their sacrificial ministry to a grain of wheat that falls to the ground to die.
“Our brothers are to take this imagery of the grain of wheat as they exercise diaconal ministry in the Church, dying to self in order to allow the Kingdom of God to grow here on earth,” he said.
Meanwhile, check out the slide show below.
Congratulations, brothers, and welcome! Ad multos annos!
