Detroit — As Deacon Paul Nickels stood before a cathedral full of family, friends and well-wishers Oct. 4 to reflect on four years of prayer, study and discernment, his voice caught.

He, along with four others, had just been ordained by Archbishop Allen H. Vigneron to the permanent diaconate for the Archdiocese of Detroit at the Cathedral of the Most Blessed Sacrament, and he knew the long journey wasn’t over — and wasn’t just his own.

“We want to thank our families,” a visibly moved Deacon Nickels said, motioning toward his classmates, Deacons Christian Remus, Chris Beltowski, Kevin Tietz and Thomas Sliney. “They have made sacrifices over the years, adjusted their schedules, picked up the slack at home, and selflessly understood when we had to miss certain moments or family events. We are all proud of you.”

On behalf of his classmates, Deacon Nickels also thanked God, the archbishop, friends, clergy, fellow deacons and parishes. He said preparing to serve the Church was very different from anything the new deacons — working in secular careers as printing executives, software engineers or in the auto industry — had done before.

“One thing we’ve experienced (at Sacred Heart Major Seminary) is that we’re all working for a common goal. Very different from the college we experienced before — here we get to serve Jesus Christ and his Church,” Deacon Nickels said.

The five men also received their parish assignments during the Mass:

• Deacon Remus, of Detroit, will serve Most Holy Trinity Parish in the city’s Corktown district.


• Deacon Beltowski, of Bloomfield Hills, will serve Our Lady Queen of Martyrs Parish in Beverly Hills.


• Deacon Nickels, of Clarkston, will serve St. Mary, Our Lady of the Snows Parish in Milford.


• Deacon Tietz, of Troy, will serve Our Lady of Grace (Vietnamese) Parish in Northville.


• Deacon Sliney, of Troy, will serve St. Andrew Parish in Rochester.

In his homily, Archbishop Vigneron reflected on the second reading from the Acts of the Apostles, in which the Twelve choose from among the faithful seven men to serve alongside them.

“It’s kind of a no-brainer for the diaconate ordination, isn’t it?” the archbishop said. “It gives us the very legitimacy for what is about to happen. We could put it this way: It reaffirms the apostolicity of the diaconate. This form, this structure, this reality in the Church comes from the very beginning, from the apostles themselves.”

Archbishop Vigneron told the soon-to-be ordained that theirs would be a ministry primarily of sanctification.

“You are also called to teach, as well as to lead, through your ordination. But this ministry of sanctifying the people of God after the image of the holiness of God himself — as Jesus said, we have to be holy as our heavenly Father is holy — this ministry of sanctification is not just one of three. It is the very heart of these three kinds of services,” he said.

After the Mass, the deacons gathered with their families outside the cathedral, where congratulations and well-wishes were given. Deacon Remus, with his wife, Ruth, called it an “overwhelming experience to be blessed like this in the name of the Lord,” adding it was “really a journey in faith for all of us.”

Ruth Remus said family support for her husband was “indispensable” during his formation. “It has to be done together, and that’s the way it should be: faith and family should go hand-in-hand,” she said.

In a bit of role reversal, Ross Nickels, the 18-year-old son of Deacon Nickels, said it was “very cool” watching his father grow as he discerned and prepared for the diaconate.

“To finally see that realized is a very cool experience, and the ceremony itself was very beautiful,” Ross Nickels said. “It’s empowering to see your dad going up to that altar. We’re so proud of him.”

Deacon Sliney, whose family was also in attendance, said his loved ones’ encouragement was paramount.

“Words can’t properly describe it,” Deacon Sliney said. “Prayer is a part of it. But part of it is those closest to you — family, friends — supporting you in your journey, and their blessing and their example in inspiring all of us to be holy, as archbishop said.”

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Diaconate info nights

Contact Deacon Kevin Breen at (313) 596-7142.

Oct. 29, 7 p.m. at St. Mary Parish, Monroe

Nov. 12, 6:30 p.m. at Sacred Heart Major Seminary, Detroit