Bishop Fisher encourages Deacons Barba, Finkbeiner, Musgrave and Whalen to rely on the Lord in fulfilling their diaconal duties
DETROIT — Four seminarians were ordained to the diaconate for the Archdiocese of Detroit on April 12 at Sacred Heart Major Seminary, taking the next step on their path to the priesthood.
Deacons Lizandro Barba, Karl Finkbeiner, James Musgrave and Daniel Whalen were ordained deacons by Detroit Auxiliary Bishop Robert J. Fisher.
As transitional deacons, the seminarians will assist at parishes throughout the Archdiocese of Detroit while they continue their academic formation in their final year at Sacred Heart.
“As baptism is foundational, is fundamental to being a Christian, the diaconate is foundational and fundamental to being in holy orders,” Bishop Fisher said in his homily. “Service to your brothers and sisters in the imitation of Christ is the starting point for all of your ministry. Remember this one of those days (in the future) when you are really tired.”
In the Promise of the Elect, Bishop Fisher extolled each of the four men undertaking the office of deacon, which will include serving the people of God by assisting the priest or bishop in whatever capacity is needed, from serving at Mass to bringing the Eucharist to the infirmed.
Bishop Fisher said in his homily the men ordained deacons need to rely on the grace of the Lord to fulfill their obligations.
“Whatever the Lord commands you, you shall speak,” Bishop Fisher said. “Don’t be worried about being qualified by age, studies, or experience because you are not qualified. Neither am I. As important as your preparation over these last years has been, what qualifies us is the call from the Lord. So, trust in Him first and foremost in all things.”
Following the Litany of Supplication, Bishop Fisher laid his hands upon the elect, invoking the Holy Spirit to confer the order of deacon on the four men.
The newly ordained deacons were then invested with the stole and dalmatic as symbols of their position in the Church as servants of the Word of God.
Finally, the four deacons were entrusted with the Book of the Gospel, with Bishop Fisher telling each of them to “receive the Gospel of Christ, whose herald you have become. Believe what you read, teach what you believe, and practice what you teach.”
Bishop Fisher concluded his homily by encouraging the four men to be bold in proclaiming the Gospel by first living the Gospel, trusting the Lord will give them the words to preach to accompany their ministry.
“Lastly, be a good shepherd,” Bishop Fisher said. “Know your sheep and love them as Christ does. Walk alongside them, realizing that you are part of the flock yourself. As we enter Holy Week, realize that you are called to give your life for them, as Christ does.”
Deacon Musgrave gave an address on behalf of the ordination class, thanking all those who have helped the newly ordained along the way.
“I want to begin by just giving all glory, honor and praise to God for the great calling He’s placed on our lives, and for the opportunity to be configured even close to Jesus through the sacrament of holy orders,” Deacon Musgrave said.
“A thank you to Jesus would be incomplete without a thank you to Our Lady, so Mary, thank you for your gentleness, for always leading us to your Son, whether it be a soft nudge, or in my case, maybe picking me up off the floor, encouraging us never to quit,” Deacon Musgrave added. “Mary, please continue to pray for us and protect us.”
Deacon Musgrave also thanked the Sacred Heart faculty and staff who have formed them these most recent years into the men of ministry they are today.
“To Fr. (Stephen) Burr and Fr. (Charlie) Fox, and all the formation team here at Sacred Heart, thank you for shepherding us along this journey of priestly formation and discipleship and for keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus,” Deacon Musgrave said. “We’ve learned so much from you, and we look forward to continuing that journey under your leadership and guidance in the next year.”
Deacon Musgrave concluded his address by acknowledging how vocations begin at home, thanking the parents of the ordained for giving them the gift of faith and encouraging them to pursue their discernment.
“Thank you for being here, thank you for loving us, encouraging us, praying for us and disciplining us,” Deacon Musgrave said. “Those prayers are powerful, and they’re felt, trust me. Vocations are really born in the context of a community that is on mission and one that knows and loves and serves Jesus. Thank you for being that community, thank you for the gift of life, for calling us to greatness, and for revealing God’s love to us in all the ways you have and continue to do so. Thank you for bringing us to Jesus.”
