PHUC ( TOMMY ) NGO Archdiocese of Detroit
I am looking forward to being in a deeper relationship with Christ and his Church . With God ’ s grace , I look forward to serving the Church as a minister with the ability to celebrate certain sacraments proper to the office of a deacon .
Sacred Heart has formed us to adapt quickly to new environments by having a daily schedule that is structured to help us to be more rooted in Christ . As long as we stay faithful and trust in Christ , I think we will do well in this upcoming year of ministry .
COLIN LANE Archdiocese of Hartford
Following my ordination , I ’ m most looking forward to having the opportunity and privilege to preach at Mass . I hope to be able to break open the Scriptures for and with God ’ s people and to help them encounter the Word of God as it truly is : a living Word that has contemporary relevance for us , through which God desires to daily encounter and speak to each one of us .
Sacred Heart has prepared me for this upcoming year of ministry by forming me to be a man — and soon , a deacon — after the Sacred Heart of Jesus . I ’ ve encountered and experienced the depths of God ’ s goodness , love , and mercy in new and profound ways , and it is these truths about God ’ s goodness and the overflowing love and mercy that he shows to each one of us through Jesus his Son that I hope to now share with his people in my ministry as a deacon .
ANDREW SCHMIDT Diocese of Kalamazoo
I ’ m looking forward to so many things as a deacon ! I will be blessed with the opportunity and great responsibility to preach in the Mass . Beyond this , I am planning to go to Guadalajara this summer for a Spanish immersion experience . I know the Lord has great things planned , and I can ’ t wait to see what he has in store !
Sacred Heart has offered to us seminarians a wide variety of experiences to show us needed areas of growth as well as places where we need greater trust in the Lord . Whether I was preparing to preach a homily to my homiletics class , practicing the rites of the funeral liturgy , or evangelizing on a college campus , I ’ ve become more convinced of my need to rely on God in unfamiliar situations , and I think it ’ s safe to say that one or two unfamiliar situations might arise in my ministry as a deacon !
RILEY O ’ SHEA Diocese of Lansing
I am really looking forward to preaching as a deacon . Once we are ordained , we will be equipped with the grace of holy orders to be God ’ s instruments to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ with a world desperately in need of his love and mercy .
Seminary has confirmed my call to the priesthood , which I was discerning before coming to Sacred Heart Major Seminary . I have come to a deeper realization that my vocation is a gift from God ; a gift that I , in turn , get to return to him with the gift of my life .
BROTHER JOSEPH SPEARS Society of Our Lady of the Most Holy Trinity
I am looking forward to serving God ’ s people through the ministry of the Church , especially within baptisms and serving at the altar . I ’ m excited to share in the joy of families as they bring their kids to be cleansed in the waters of baptism .
I feel like Sacred Heart has formed me well for this ministry through a lot of guidance and resources in preparation . I am certain that things will arise that I will feel unprepared for ; however , that seems to be part of the adventure and beauty of ministry as we move forward in our vocation .
ZACH GLICK Archdiocese for the Military Services , Diocese of Gary
I am looking forward to transitioning from preparing to enter into a permanent commitment to God to actually living out this perpetual , singular relationship with him . I am particularly looking forward to assisting at the Holy Mass as a deacon and to helping people grow as disciples of Christ .
Sacred Heart has formed me for this upcoming year of ministry by giving me a model for the priesthood and the diaconate , providing excellent intellectual formation , and emphasizing the importance of prayer and relationship with God . shms . edu 19