Archbishop Allen H. Vigneron presided over the annual jubilee Mass, which was attended by the deacons and their wives in Sacred Heart Major Seminary’s chapel.
The archbishop spoke of the deacon’s unique role in being the minister of the chalice during the Liturgy of the Eucharist at Mass.
“This belongs to you,” he said. “What does that chalice contain? It is, if you see these pictures with angels flying around the crucifixion, catching the Precious Blood in a chalice. That’s what your ministry is about.”
“Because you offer the chalice of the Blood of Jesus to the faithful, they will rise from the dead; their sins are forgiven; they grow in ardor and love; they become saints,” Archbishop Vigneron said.
Following the liturgy, the deacons and their wives attended a special dinner gathering at the seminary.
“Time has gone by very fast, (but) this is the best job I’ve ever had,” said Deacon Donald Sandstrom, of St. Therese of Lisieux Parish, Shelby Township, who celebrates 20 years. “I worked for a lot of good pastors, but what is special are the people.”
Forty-year jubilarian Deacon Rafael Jimenez, of St. Francis D’Assisi-St. Hedwig Parish in Detroit, said he gives thanks to the Lord for having “called me a long time ago.”
He is thankful for the support of his wife, who he called, “my support, my strength.”
Deacon Vincent Small, of Our Lady of Good Counsel Parish, Plymouth, celebrated 10 years as a deacon. His wife, Judy Small, said they have been “so blessed” to be in ministry together, as she frequently assists Deacon Small with his tasks.
“We are holding hands with each other, and Jesus, and Our Lady,” she reflected. “Our Lady called him into his vocation.”
Deacon Small added that what he loves the most is “the opportunity to serve on the altar.”
| Deacon jubilarians The following deacons are celebrating milestone anniversaries of their ordination in 2014. The Michigan Catholic congratulates and prays with them in thanksgiving for their ordained service. 40 years Deacon Robert Goetz Deacon Robert Herta Deacon Rafael Jimenez Deacon Gary Krueger 35 years Deacon Brian Carroll Deacon Donald Cox Deacon Alfons Hogrebe Deacon Rudolph Piro 30 years Deacon Harry Friend Deacon Robert Modes 25 years Deacon John Henry Ball Deacon Alexander Jablonowski Deacon Eugene Tombler 20 years Deacon Gerald DeShaw Deacon Charles Fosmire Deacon Donald Leach Deacon Donald Sandstrom Deacon Richard Smith | 15 years Deacon Raul Feliciano Deacon Joseph Hulway Deacon Marion Jurewicz Deacon Gary Meerschaert Deacon Michael O’Keefe Deacon Donald Quigley Deacon Lee Smith Deacon John Szwarc 10 years Deacon Kevin Breen Deacon Frederick Burrell Deacon Stephen Bussa Deacon Henry Kibit Deacon Paul Lippard Deacon Lawrence Ruehlen Deacon Vincent Small Deacon Kenneth Weiss 5 years Deacon Stanley Avery Deacon Chris Booms Deacon Oscar Brown Deacon Gregory Formanczyk Deacon Ronald Grenda Deacon Alan Gwozdz Deacon Dennis Loffreda Deacon John Malloy Deacon William Schmitz Deacon Michael Stewart Deacon Joseph Urbiel |
