‘A Divine Moment’: four-year journey culminates in Rite of Ordination to Diaconate

Wives, family, clergy, and community support men in vows of lifelong service

Five new deacons were ordained on Friday, June 6, at St. John’s Cathedral in Boise. From left, Pamila and Jason Jaszkowiak, Lorna and Allen Darrow, Curtis and Jenny Chatterton, Keri and Tim Perrigot and Heather and Eric Meyer. (ICR photo/Vero Gutiérrez)

By Philip A. Janquart

ICR Editor

BOISE – Surrounded by family, friends, clergy and the faithful, five men were ordained to the permanent diaconate on Friday, June 6, at St. John the Evangelist Cathedral in Boise.

Bishop Peter F. Christensen presided at the Mass that included the Rite of Ordination of Eric Meyer (St. Augustine’s, Moscow), Allen Darrow (Our Lady of Good Counsel, Mountain Home), Curtis Chatterton (Holy Apostles, Meridian), Timothy Raus Perrigot (St. Nicholas, Rupert) and Jason Jaszkowiak (St. Mary’s, Boise).

The occasion marked the culmination of a four-year formation process, which included study, prayer and discernment. Each new deacon commented on the journey.

“My pastor said there should be a feeling of reaching another level (of holiness),” said Deacon Meyer, sharing his thoughts with the Idaho Catholic Register (ICR) immediately following the June 6 Mass. “The feeling was very profound. It was a very divine moment, for sure.”

Meyer, like the other four deacons, assisted at his first Mass on June 8, Pentecost Sunday. A baptism and wedding will follow later this month.

“I’m busy right out of the gate,” he said, smiling.

For Deacon Darrow, the experience was something he could not have imagined.

“It’s almost like it’s not even real,” he said, describing the beginning of his calling and the journey he took with four other men. “We spent four years of study, four years of prayer and four years of discernment together, and now . . . I just can’t believe that we are here, at this cathedral, and it is real.”

Bishop Peter F. Christensen, as part of the Rite of Ordination, lays his hands on the head of then-candidate Allen Darrow. (ICR photo/Vero Gutiérrez)

Following Mass, a multitude of well-wishers descended on the deacons, all five admitting that being addressed by their new title would take some getting used to hearing.

“People are coming out (of the Cathedral) and calling me ‘deacon,’ and I don’t even realize they are talking to me. It’s like, is this real? It’s just awesome,” Darrow said.

Deacon Chatterton described the experience as “surreal” and felt abundantly “blessed.”

“It’s amazing; it was one of the best days of my life,” Deacon Perrigot said. “I’m going to work hard and be a humble servant.”

When asked how it felt to finally complete the journey of preparation, Deacon Jaszowiak described it as the end of one stage of his life and the beginning of another.

“So, the way I describe it . . . you know how the Boston Marathon works? When you first get in, you have to run a couple miles before you get to the start line. Well, I just got to the start line,” he said, smiling. “All the formation was just getting to the race. So, now I’m at the start line and it’s time to get going.”

He added that his schedule, like his fellow newly ordained deacons, is filling up fast.

“Really, it’s been filling up for years,” he chuckled. “I’m doing all kinds of cool stuff. I’m helping out providing Communion services at a home for seniors, bringing Communion to them. I’m not assigned for any baptisms yet, but there’s one coming up in a couple weeks that I will be assigned to, and I’m already assigned to weekend Masses, so I’m really going with it.”

Bishop Peter F. Christensen presents then-candidate Erik Meyer with the Book of the Gospels. (ICR photo/Vero Gutiérrez)

Deacon Scott Pearhill (Sacred Heart Parish, Boise), editor of the ICR, commented on how he felt witnessing the five ordinations.

“Friday’s diaconal ordinations touched me deeply. From only two rows back, I was able to witness their vows and their interactions with their wives. I needed to dry my eyes several times,” he said. “I remember only moments from my ordination 14 years ago, so it was a joy to immerse myself again in the prayers and gestures of the liturgy, repeated five times over by this august cohort! I found myself renewing my own vows as they were making theirs, and I deeply appreciated being able to greet and hug each new deacon following their ordinations. I thanked each one for bravely saying ‘yes.'"

Rite of Ordination

The Rite of Ordination to the Diaconate includes the candidates prostrating before the altar, the Bishop laying his hands upon the head of each man, the prayer of Ordination, invoking the Holy Spirit, and vesting (dressing) the new deacons with the signs of their office: the stole and dalmatic (the dalmatic is the outer garment worn over the alb and stole.)

After the deacon is vested, each kneels before the bishop and is presented with the Book of the Gospels. The bishop exhorts each newly ordained deacon to “Believe what you read, teach what you believe, and practice what you teach.”

Following the Rite of Ordination, the Mass proceeds to the Liturgy of the Eucharist. One of the new deacons assisted at the altar (Jason Jaszkowiak). Father German Osorio, Rector of St. John’s Cathedral, concelebrated the Mass with 20 other priests from around the Diocese of Boise, including Vicar General Father Caleb Vogel.

Five deacon candidates lie prostrate during the June 6 Right of Ordination Mass. (ICR photo/Vero Gutiérrez)

Bishop Christensen’s homily

In his homily, Bishop Peter paralleled the readings with the service the deacons vowed to provide the faithful.

“In the first reading (Acts 6:1-7b), we open with the Acts of the Apostles,” he said. “The Church has been established and it’s growing in numbers, but they are going through a trial, and the trial is that they don’t have enough helpers, so the formation of the diaconate began almost instantly as the Church was first established.

He added, “There was a need for more practical care of the community, especially the widows and orphans, making sure that their physical needs were being met.”

He mentioned that they undoubtedly attended to their spiritual needs, as well, assisting the Apostles.

Bishop Peter held out a booklet produced by then-deacon candidate Eric Meyer, in which each of Meyer’s cohort provided short comments about their journies.

“Eric, you wrote: ‘Conversion is not a single moment, but a lifelong process. My journey continues as I seek to know, love and serve God with all my heart, answering His call in whatever ways He asks.’ That ties beautifully into the Acts of the Apostles, where the constantly changing needs of the early Christian community have to be met. Eric, what you are saying is ‘I’m going to step up to whatever the need is of the Church, I want to say yes, take good care of my brothers and sisters’ – beautiful.”

From left, Deacons Erik Meyer, Jason Jaszkowiak, Bishop Peter, Deacons Curtis Chatterton, Tim Perrigot and Allen Darrow.  (ICR photo/Vero Gutiérrez)

Bishop Christensen praised the deacons’ wives, noting that they played a critical role in their husbands’ formation.

“Wives have a wonderful role, though not an easy one,” he said. “I want to say thank you to each of you. Your husbands are here largely because of you, so thank you for your prayers, encouragement and support. They are first and foremost husbands and fathers to their children, but they will also be serving the Church. Thank you for sharing.”

In closing, the Bishop expressed joy in serving the Church in Idaho.

“I say to you deacons: It is an honor to be able to serve our Lord in the Diocese of Boise. So, thank you for your service to the people of God. Thank you for saying ‘yes’ to the call.”

Holding out the booklet Deacon Meyer had made, Bishop Peter quoted a line that he said he would make his own: “God loves you . . . let Him.”