Bishop Dennis Walsh gives deacon candidate John Hanenburg of St. Ann Parish in Long Grove a bible. Eleven men from throughout the diocese were installed as permanent lectors July 13 at St. Ann Church.
By Anne Marie Amacher
The Catholic Messenger
LONG GROVE — Eleven men processed into St. Ann Church to the hymn “Gather Your People,” some nervous, some not so nervous. They entered the pews in which their families sat and anticipated the next step toward becoming permanent deacons.
On July 13, each of the 11 men answered “Present” when their names were called. Later in the Mass, Bishop Dennis Walsh installed them as permanent lectors. God willing, they will be ordained to the permanent diaconate in two years.
As he began his homily, Bishop Walsh extended his congratulations to the deacon candidates as they continue on their journey. “To your families, I say a word of thanks for the support of your husbands and fathers in their vocation as they study for the diaconate. The sacrifice that a diaconal vocation requires is enormous not only for the candidate, but also for the families. So I say thank you very much.”
The bishop recalled his time in seminary formation. “I don’t think the ministry of lector was really seen as a significant step on the way to priesthood, but rather a step that was required.” He didn’t think his family was invited and his installation took place during a community Mass. For this installation, “the solemnity in which we celebrate, conveys to these candidates the dignity of the office and ministry to which the Church calls them.”
“This ministry is not simply a perfunctory step on the way to becoming a deacon … it is deeply rooted in the formation process and the life of every deacon. It calls every candidate for the diaconate or priesthood, and priests and deacons themselves, to develop a lifelong relationship with God’s word,” Bishop Walsh said.
“It is more than just mastering the process of reading during the liturgy and more than the mastery of technique and allocution. It is a ministry that imposes a real obligation of study and prayer — a dialogue between God’s word and ourselves.”
Bishop Dennis Walsh stands with deacon candidates who were installed as permanent lectors July 13 at St. Ann Parish in Long Grove. Front, from left, are John Cooper, Trevor Pullinger, Vern Vondra, Bishop Walsh, Paul Algana, Jorge Lopez; back are Spencer Sierra, Tom Brooke, Dennis Uhl, John Hanenburg, John Ahlberg and Matthew Staab.
People in today’s culture hunger “not just for the Eucharist but for an authentic understanding of God’s word,” Bishop Walsh said. “At its core, God’s revelation is really a call into his friendship.”
He told the candidates, “As you begin this new ministry that the Church entrusts to you, your personal dialogue with God’s word forms you into an authentic witness — a light to the world. You are not just a ‘reader,’ but the word radiates from you by your proclamation and resonates within the hearer.”
“The ministry the Church entrusts to you forms the foundation for your lives as future deacons. It calls you to friendship with God and to real holiness. It prepares you every day to receive the Lord in the Eucharist. Yours is a ministry of hope,” Bishop Walsh said.
Following the homily, Bishop Walsh blessed the candidates, praying, “Grant that as they meditate constantly on your word they may grow in its wisdom and faithfully proclaim it to your people.”
Each then knelt before Bishop Walsh, who was seated and holding a Bible. “Be faithful to handing on the word of God, so that it may grow strong in the hearts of his people,” he told each candidate before presenting the Bible to them.
“The Mass was wonderful. We are still on a journey. We take one step at a time,” deacon candidate John Ahlberg of St. Joseph Parish-DeWitt said. “We look forward to the next step,” said deacon candidate Dennis Uhl of St. Mary Parish-Solon. Deacon candidate Spencer Sierra of Holy Family Parish-Davenport described the diaconate as a big responsibility. “We are bringing the word of God to others. We continue in the Spirit to grow and pray for each other.”
Deacon candidates installed
The deacon candidates installed in the Rite of Institution as Lector:
John Ahlberg of St. Joseph Parish-DeWitt
Paul Algana of Our Lady of Lourdes Parish-Bettendorf
Tom Brooke of St. Paul the Apostle Parish-Davenport
John Cooper of St. Anthony Parish-Davenport
John Hanenburg of St. Ann Parish-Long Grove
Jorge Lopez of St. Thomas More Parish-Coralville
Trevor Pullinger of St. Paul the Apostle Parish-Davenport
Spencer Sierra of Holy Family Parish-Davenport
Matthew Staab of St. Wenceslaus Parish-Iowa City
Dennis Uhl of St. Mary Parish-Solon
Vern Vondra of Our Lady of Victory Parish-Davenport
