Ordained: 2020
Family: Wife Trish; Children Lance, Cody (and his bride Ashley), Jessica, Maria, Claire, and Sarah
Profession: Coordinator for Human Life and Dignity, Diocese of Raleigh; Retired from 24 years of Active Duty in the U.S. Army Special Forces
Home parish: St. Patrick Catholic Church, Fayetteville, NC
Assigned parish: St. Patrick Catholic Church, Fayetteville, NC
Hobbies: Spending time with the family, like travel, games, and hiking; physical fitness, especially weightlifting and running.
When did you first consider a vocation to the permanent diaconate?
The idea of being a deacon sounded interesting when I became a Catholic in 2002 (when I was 25) but didn’t give it serious thought until 2011 when I started getting more involved with parish activities. My spiritual director advised that I should consider entering into deacon formation to see if I had a vocation to the diaconate.
What is your favorite part of being a deacon?
I love the ministry of the deacon. There is a character of availability as we are entrusted with the holiest of duties at the altar and the privilege to serve Christ in the poor and most vulnerable. We proclaim the Gospel at the ambo and assist with the chalice at the altar, and then we move seamlessly to the ordinary Christian task of clearing the altar and carrying the message of God’s love and mercy to the margins.
What would you say to someone considering the permanent diaconate?
Increase your prayer life. Begin praying some part of the Liturgy of the Hours, attend daily Mass as much as possible, pray the Rosary. At the same time, increase your life of service both inside and outside of the visible structures of the Church. Then just start the formation process. The best way to find out if you are called is to be in the process.
What is your favorite scripture passage?
Romans 5:6-11 - While we were yet helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. Why, one will hardly die for a righteous man—though perhaps for a good man one will dare even to die. But God shows his love for us in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us. Since, therefore, we are now justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. Not only so, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received our reconciliation.