A total of 18 deacon candidates have been called by Archbishop Bernard Hebda to be instituted as lectors for the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis. This important step towards diaconate ordination was celebrated Sunday at All Saints in Lakeville.
Catholic deacons are first instituted as lectors and charged with immersing themselves in the Word of God, proclaiming the Scriptures liturgically and bringing that Word to others in evangelization and catechesis. They later serve as acolytes who can assist with other parts of the liturgy. After ordination, deacons are assigned to a parish where they serve their diocese in various ministerial, liturgical and pastoral duties.
This year’s deacon candidates and their current home parishes, are:
- Wayne Bellefeuille, All Saints, Lakeville
- Robert Burns, St. John the Baptist, Excelsior
- Kevin Conneely, Annunciation, Minneapolis
- John Fischer, St. Thomas More, St. Paul
- Patrick Kirsch, St. Joseph, Waconia
- Kou Ly, St. Patrick, St. Paul
- Michael McGinty, St. Vincent de Paul, Brooklyn Park
- David Mead, Jr., St. Ambrose, Woodbury
- Daniel Murphy, Divine Mercy, Faribault
- Francis Pavlick, St. Jude of the Lake, Mahtomedi
- Wilfred Pitts, Guardian Angels, Oakdale
- Bruce Richards, St. Joseph, Waconia
- Christopher Richards, St. Joseph, Waconia
- John Rogers, St. Joseph, West Saint Paul
- Gregory Schultz, St. Joseph, Waconia
- Patrick Spencer, St. Vincent de Paul, Brooklyn Park
- Thomas Utecht, Mary Queen of Peace, Rogers
- Christopher Vance, Oakdale