Spouse: Donna
Children: Daughters Jennifer and Stephanie and six grandchildren.
Parish: Our Lady of Lourdes, Bettendorf
Date and place of ordination: June 8, 2002, Sacred Heart Cathedral, Davenport.
Occupation: Operations Manager for GBA Systems Integrators. IT Network and Fiber Optics Technician.
Why did you become a deacon? I felt that there was more that I could do for the Church and for the people of the world as a deacon. Countless people suffer from injustice, loneliness, physical or mental illnesses, hunger, lack of basic necessities and medical care, etc. The faith of these suffering souls is tested and torn during the desert times in their lives. Others may never have had the opportunity to learn of the Father’s limitless and unconditional love for them. I wanted to reach out and make a difference in their lives and to be a testament to the Gospel in my own life. My mother and her great faith were an inspiration to me from my early childhood until her death when I was a teen. I was invited to attend a CEW (Christian Experience Weekend) by a good friend many, many years ago. The CEW experience reignited my personal spiritual life and, in time, I felt called to the diaconate.
What ministries are you involved in? My wife and I facilitate baptism preparation class for Our Lady of Lourdes. I assist at Masses on most weekends and preach one weekend a quarter. I am frequently honored with the opportunity to celebrate the sacrament of baptism. I participate in adult faith formation, including RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults), although my current business travel schedule limits my availability on week nights.
Outside of parish: I have been involved in hospice, Rick’s House of Hope and Boy Scouts.
What are your challenges? I find work/life balance to be my biggest challenge. I am like most other adults as I try to maintain balance between my family life and a busy work schedule with frequent business travel. I take very seriously my covenant with my wife through the sacrament of marriage and my covenant with God through Holy Orders as deacon. I am truly blessed.
Favorite Scripture passage: Matthew 25, verses 35-40. I have adopted this Scripture as my personal diaconate mission statement. “For I was hungry, and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me something to drink; I was a stranger, and you invited Me in; naked, and you clothed Me; I was sick, and you visited Me; I was in prison, and you came to Me.’ Then the righteous will answer Him, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry, and feed You, or thirsty, and give You something to drink? And when did we see You a stranger, and invite You in, or naked, and clothe You? When did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ The King will answer and say to them, ‘Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me.’”
Cross references:
Matthew 25:35 : Is 58:7; Ezek 18:7, 16; James 2:15, 16
Matthew 25:35 : Job 31:32; Heb 13:2
Matthew 25:36 : Is 58:7; Ezek 18:7, 16; James 2:15, 16
Matthew 25:36 : James 1:27
Matthew 25:36 : 2 Tim 1:16f
Matthew 25:40 : Matt 25:34; Luke 19:38; Rev 17:14; 19:16
Matthew 25:40 : Prov 19:17; Matt 10:42; Heb 6:10
