Fall Formation Weekend marks another step in journey to becoming a deacon

Members of the permanent diaconate program for the Diocese attended the fall formation weekend with Father Tim Segert, parochial vicar, who was one of the speakers. (ICR photo/Vero Gutiérrez)

By Philip A. Janquart

ICR Editor

BOISE – On Friday, Oct. 11, the Office of the Diaconate offered its Fall Formation Weekend, with Bishop Peter F. Christensen presiding over a Mass where he installed six Lectors and four Acolytes as they continue their journey through the formation process for the permanent diaconate.

Bishop Peter also recognized seven men, who, during this weekend, had officially begun their formation.

Father Joe Mcdonald, who presided over Saturday Morning Prayer, admitted into Candidacy eight men who completed their first year of formation.

Deacon Salvador Caranza, director of the Office of the Permanent Diaconate, thanked the staff at Our Lady of the Rosary Parish in Boise, where the Mass was held on Friday and morning prayer and acceptance into Candidacy on Saturday.

During his homily at Friday’s installation Mass, Bishop Peter referenced our walk on earth, noting that the Lord always asks more of us and that the work we accomplish is never finished until we are in Heaven, in His presence.

“I’ll begin by saying something we all know: and that is, in our life, in our Christian life, and in our walk with the Lord, we don’t ever arrive; the journey doesn’t end. It ends, or becomes complete, when we are forever with Our Lord in His Heavenly Kingdom.

“How many times have we said, ‘Just when you think you’ve seen it all?’ In our walk with our Lord, it’s important to realize the fact that we don’t come to a place of arriving – there’s always more to be done.”

Aside from full-time jobs and helping to raise families, the Lectors and Candidates were called by the Lord to serve Him in another way, to continue His work in their lives and the lives of others. Installed as Lectors were Nicholas Pettinger, Juan Guillermo Macias, Price Lockard, Leonardo Guillermo (Memo) Gutiérrez, Jerry Craft and David Behrend.

Installed as Acolytes were Rodney Geilenfeldt II, Colin Meyer, Keith Meyer, Keith Pettyjohn and Jeremy Westmark.

Keith Pettyjohn, a St. Mary’s parishioner in Boise, is president of the board of Salt & Light Radio and also serves as its executive director.

He said he had always felt drawn to the diaconate but wanted to wait until the time was right to answer that call and fully commit to the formation

process.

“With a full-time job, a wife and four kids, I just didn’t have the bandwidth and wasn’t sure if I should pursue it,” he said. “But then I decided, ‘OK, let’s at least discern, go through the discernment process. You know, deacons are the pack mules of the parish … and you learn, through the process, that it isn’t about you; you are there to serve. It’s been humbling and another way of surrendering yourself to whatever God wants you

to do.”

During his homily, Bishop Peter addressed the Lectors and Acolytes directly.

“Those to be installed as Lectors, understand that you are entering into an even deeper call to share in the grace of God’s gift of Sacred Scripture, receiving and proclaiming a

transformative Word for yourselves and for those with whom you share this gift of the Living Word of God,” he said. “Those to be installed as Acolytes, understand that you are entering into a deep, lived-faith as you are at the service of the Lord. You will be in close proximity with Him as you partake in the Sacrament of the Eucharist, the meal of Christ, His very presence as He desires to offer himself to those who hunger for Him as the Sacrificial Lamb of God, providing life and nourishment forthe World.”

In closing, he said, “Walk with our Lord who offers us His yoke, which is easy and a burden that is light for those who join Him, proclaiming His Word and Offering service in

His name. And think about the term ‘yoke.’ What is that? I see the yoke as Jesus putting his arm over our shoulders.”