SCHERERVILLE – “Take this vessel with bread for the celebration of the Eucharist. Make your life worthy as you serve at the table of the Lord and His Church.”
These are the words spoken by Bishop Robert J. McClory to the 15 diaconate candidates from the Diocese of Gary during the Mass for the Institution of Acolyte at St. Michael the Archangel Catholic Church on Sept. 13.
Instituted to the Ministry of Acolyte is the final step in preparation for those men to be ordained deacons, scheduled for June 2024. The candidates instituted as acolytes were Anthony Bondi, Albert Brugos, Frank Gasaway, William Grimes, Robert Gromala, Bradly Hendrickson, Douglas Noveroske, Ruben Ortiz II, Robert Petro, Gilbert Sanchez, Robert Sandilla, Robert Wellinski, Paul Wilk, Peter Wood and William Zientarski.
The “General Instruction of the Roman Missal” states: “The acolyte is instituted for service at the altar and to assist the priest and deacon. It is his place principally to prepare the altar and the sacred vessels and, if necessary, to distribute the Eucharist to the faithful as an extraordinary minister.”
During his homily, Bishop McClory shared how nervous he was as a young altar boy, but that nervousness was a sign of something deeper.
“I used to apologize for that, but now I see it as a reflection of how seriously I took serving. That it was important. Not to take it for granted,” he told the candidates.
The bishop later reassured the candidates with words from St. John Chrysostom, bishop and doctor of the Church, whose memorial was celebrated the same day.
“When you are before the altar where Christ reposes, you ought no longer to think that you are amongst men; but believe that there are troops of angels and archangels standing by you, and trembling with respect before the sovereign Master of Heaven and earth.”
As the Mass began, golden rays of the evening’s setting sun gleamed through the church’s west windows, symbolic of what was soon to come for the candidates.
“The evening sun was very symbolic of God’s light shining upon us and helping us to be able to further our ability to serve in the Church,” said Peter Wood. “That’s what the whole premise of who the acolyte is, to have that physical involvement and service during the Mass.”
Robert Petro said the radiant light was like “a new day dawning for us and our journey as we move towards the diaconate.”
William Grimes was moved as he and his classmates lined up to process in as a cohort, dressed in white albs describing it as an “awe-inspiring moment. The assembly, the music – it was absolute joy and love along with the feeling of responsibility as we move closer to being able to serve God and God’s people.”
He added, “The bishop in his homily emphasized our call for service and our call through the diaconate to serve God’s people. That really hit home. The fact that we’re to become deacons in less than a year.”
Frank Gasaway said being instituted as acolytes there’s “more of a sense of reality that this is real and for me this solidifies the calling to the diaconate. It definitely hit home that we’re rounding third (base) right now.”
The candidates shared that they are on a lifelong journey.
“Although we’re getting close to the end of our formal formation doesn’t mean we’re going to stop. These steps along the way as lector and acolyte just show that this is one part of what’s going to be asked of us in this vocation as deacons,” said Gilbert Sanchez. “Seeing the faces of people at the Mass and thinking about the people I might be ministering to inside the church, but to people outside the parish as well. I look at them more now like family.”
The Mass also honored those deacons who were celebrating their jubilee anniversaries. The sixteen men have served a cumulative total of roughly 400 years.
Deacons celebrating their 10-year jubilee are: Deacon Kim E. Eaton, Deacon Stephen K. Grandfield, Deacon Ralph J. Huber, Jr., Deacon Daniel L. Lowery and Deacon Frank J. Zolvinski. Twenty-year jubilarians are Deacon Thomas J. Grysbek, Deacon Brian C. Nosbusch, Deacon Joseph V. Stodola, Deacon Napoleon C. Tabion, and Deacon Steven D. Zubel. Forty-one-year jubilarians are Deacon Martin J. Denkhoff, Deacon Gregory G. Fabian, Deacon Robert E. Gill and Deacon William E. Jones. Fortytwo-year jubilarians are Deacon Robert J. Bucheit and Deacon Michael Richardson.
Bishop Robert J. McClory thanked the men for their dedication and service. He also credited the wives for supporting their husbands.
Deacon Martin Brown also thanked men and especially their wives. “People thank us all the time. They don’t thank the wives. Those are the women who stand behind us,” he said.
Many of the candidates expressed admiration for the deacons celebrating their milestones that evening. “We’re a continuation of those men who were celebrating their anniversaries tonight,” said Petro.
Of the men celebrating their diaconate jubilee this year, they have a total of over 800 years of marriage combined. “There’s a lot of marriage wisdom in the diaconate, which is one of the hidden treasures of the Church,” said Deacon Brown.
If there’s one thing Deacon Frank Zolvinski has learned over the past 10 years as a deacon, advice he would like to share with the diaconate candidates, is that they cannot plan for the unexpected. “You need the book learning, that’s important. Once you’re ordained you can’t prepare for every situation in life or ministry. Just be open to the Holy Spirit.”
He acknowledged the time has gone by pretty fast but has been very rewarding. “It’s been a very rewarding experience in terms of working with people. The baptisms, weddings, funerals, being with people in their lives during those God moments. There’s a real intimacy that you’re able to hone in on. It’s God’s work that we’re called to do.”
Caption: At the conclusion of the Institution to the Ministry of Acolyte and Deacon Jubilee Mass on Sept. 14, Bishop Robert J. McClory (top, center) stands with Father Leonardo Gajardo (top, left), director of diaconate formation (pre-ordination) and 15 diocesan diaconal candidates who were admitted to the next ministerial role on their Journey to becoming permanent deacons, at St. Michael the Archangel church in Schererville. Also at the liturgy, clergymen were honored for achieving landmark anniversaries of their ordination to the diaconate. (Anthony D. Alonzo photo)