A Wonderful and Challenging Thing Happened

Friday night we had a wonderful and challenging thing happen, we had three men ordained to be deacons for the diocese, with the expectation that they would be ordained priests next year! It was wonderful, because it has been a while since that happened and with God’s grace, we will have two more ordained in December so that next summer we will have FIVE men ordained priests! It will be a very special event. The challenging part of that, is that traditionally the majority of the priest and deacon community comes together to celebrate with those who were ordained and celebrate as a diocese this incredible event, but with the current situation, only a few priests and a small number of family members were able to be present to be with them. I personally participated with Alex, our seminarian, and Fr. James Downey our soon to be associate pastor.

We commented on the fact of how empty the cathedral looked for such a wondrous occasion. It was a reminder of how the Mass has been celebrated over the last couple of months, and how challenging it can be. But the pure fact is, that now, Reed Flood, Bradley Robey, and Jake Epstein are now ordained deacons of the Church, whether we or anyone else was there in person. Also, it will be an ordination that no one will ever forget!

Just like the Masses we have celebrated in these last couple of months. I was filled with joy on Thursday evening when over 70 people showed up for the first public Mass we celebrated here at St. Lukes and I am anxiously looking forward to the next couple of weeks in which we can celebrate the Sunday Masses together in person. Just as whether or not we were physically present in the ordination of these three men, they are now deacons of the Church, and just as whether or not others are present in the celebration of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, Jesus is still present among us, in body and spirit.

I hope that you all share in my excitement at our coming together again to receive Jesus, Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity. But… even in these challenging times, we can relish in the fact that Jesus came to be with us and continually invites us to be a part of his life, whether or not we can be in his presence physically. Just being a part of the celebration via video is a poor substitution for being there, we will be together again soon. Just as seeing a glimpse of the kingdom of heaven in the creation of God is a poor substitution for the true kingdom, we do know that there is something better and we long to be a part of it. Keep praying for these three men, the two who, with discernment and the grace of God will be ordained as well, all of our other seminarians, and also for those who need to answer the call to serve God in the priesthood. Congratulations Deacon Reed Flood, Deacon Bradley Robey, and Deacon Jake Epstein.

God bless,
Fr. Ken