“Take this book of holy Scripture and be faithful in handing on the word of God, so that it may grow strong in the hearts of his people.”
With those words, Bishop Edward Malesic handed a Bible to each of the five men who were formally installed in the ministry of lector during a Mass on March 5 at St. Thomas More Parish in Brooklyn. As second-year candidates in the permanent diaconate formation program in the Diocese of Cleveland, these men are now called to bring good news to people who need to hear good news, the bishop said. “We need to hear good news these days,” he added.
Watch the entire Mass below this story.
“It is an opportunity to assist the faithful in an encounter with Christ,” said Chris Loxterman from St. Mary Parish in Chardon. He along with Ed Linksy from St. Edward Parish in Parkman; Darrell Sherman from St. Peter Parish in North Ridgeville; Mark Tomecko from St. Francis Xavier in Medina; and John Zarbo from St. Anthony of Padua in Fairport Harbor, gathered with family, friends and members of the diocesan diaconate community.
The Mass, for the First Sunday of Lent, marked the second time in two weeks that Bishop Malesic celebrated Mass at St. Thomas More Parish. “I should have a parking spot,” he said smiling, while being thanked by Father Michael Feldtz, who the bishop installed as pastor on Feb. 22.
In reflecting on the Gospel account of Jesus’ temptation, the bishop warned that “the devil wants you to throw in the towel on developing your spiritual life – he wants us to give up on our relationship with Jesus and he wants us to stop listening to him in prayer, or in the Scriptures.”
Deacons, as ministers of the word, worship and charity, are called to resist Satan’s temptation and to encourage the laity to a greater involvement in ministry.
Men who believe they have a calling to the permanent diaconate should contact Deacon David Kushner, formation director.