Bishop Edward Malesic officially welcomed five men into candidacy for the permanent diaconate in the Diocese of Cleveland during a liturgy on Aug. 21 in Sacred Heart Chapel at the Center for Pastoral Leadership.
“We are in this sacred place of worship to admit Zakary (Jester), Jerald (Joyce), William (Prebel), Jon (Woost) and Jason (Ziga) to candidacy for holy orders, specifically for the permanent diaconate. They are telling us they are serious about preparing to be permanent deacons for the Diocese of Cleveland. And we are saying that they have all the qualifications needed for this journey,” the bishop said.
“We are happy for you, gentlemen, and we are happy for ourselves. All of us share the hopes and joys of your wives, your children, your friends, your pastors and your other spiritual leaders and formators. We need deacons to help serve us in the Church – and we pray that God is calling you to this special ministry. We pray that you will continue to say ‘yes’ to whatever God is asking of you,” he added.
(See photo gallery above.)
The five men were presented to the bishop by Deacon George Malec, director of the permanent diaconate program. They finished a year as aspirants and now will continue discernment and formation for four more years as they prepare for ordination to the diaconate and service to the diocese.
Jester and his wife Sarah have two young sons and are members of St. Raphael Parish in Bay Village. He is director of youth ministry and confirmation at St. Raphael.
Joyce and his wife Melissa are members of St. Helen Parish in Newbury. They have three children – two sons and a daughter. He is vice president of client engagement – Merkury for Merkle, Inc.
Prebel and his wife Millie are members of SS. Cosmas and Damian Parish in Twinsburg. They are parents of six adult children and stepchildren. Prebel is a senior investment advisor for PNC.
Woost and his wife Carrie are members of Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish in Wadsworth. They are the parents of four children – three sons and a daughter. Woost is managing director of Knott Brake Co.
Ziga and his wife Maryann are members of St. Cyprian Parish in Perry and the parents of two children: a son and a daughter. He is vice president/general manager of Transfer Express, Inc.
In his homily, Bishop Malesic reminded the men to remember the Gospel and to “preach the Gospel of Jesus. Not one of your own making.”
Salvation theme of the day’s Gospel. It also is the mission of Christ, as he was sent by his heavenly Father to save the lost, the bishop said.
“The first step of finding salvation is knowing that we need it. Yes, we are only mortal men and women. None of us can climb to heaven on our own power. We need divine assistance – but we must accept God’s help when he gives it to us,” he said. “So, when Jesus throws us a rope, we must be ready to grab hold of it. Or when Jesus says he is at the gate, even if it is a narrow gate, we must be ready to walk through it.”
The disciples were questioning how many of those will be within and outside of salvation, querying Jesus if only a few will be saved. Although Jesus didn’t get into specific numbers, the bishop said he is sure that all people will accept the salvation he offers. In fact, he said Jesus tells us the offer will be universal but we must exercise our freedom to say “yes” or “no” and make the choice to go through the gate into his kingdom or to refuse to walk through it.
“And if we say ‘yes,’ it must be more than a casual ‘yes.’ It is a decision that must change us forever,” he added.
The bishop said Jesus must not be a casual acquaintance for us. He is someone we must walk with closely, not just someone we heard about in Bible stories and learned about in catechism. “We must go further. We must actually know him. We must know the person born for us, the one who teaches us, who died for us, who rose for us and who calls others to follow him. We must befriend him and do all that it means to be friends with God,” he added. That means spending time with him and coming to know what he wants from us. We also must defend against his detractors and invite others to meet the friend we have found.
“We must share him with others. Yes, we must come to love him,” Bishop Malesic said.
Then, once we have befriended Jesus, we will be able to understand that he is more than flesh and blood – that he has a divine nature. “We must eventually know Jesus as our Lord and God and bow before him, submitting ourselves to him, serving him and yes, adoring him. Because Jesus is also God as well as man, we can look to him for salvation. What is impossible for us to do is possible with God for whom all things are possible.”
Coming to know Jesus, the shepherd, the gate, the savior, is good advice for anyone who wants to enter heaven, the bishop said, but especially good advice for those who want to become deacon servants in the Church.
The bishop said if the diaconal candidates have befriended Jesus and he is calling them to this special ministry, they must accept. “That is why you are here – saying ‘yes’ to discerning his call within you. Over the next few years, we will continue to discern together whether Jesus is asking you to serve the Church in this special way.”
He said as they learn more about the history of the Church, they will see the hand of Jesus working in the Church. While learning about the liturgy, they will find the presence of Jesus in those rituals. In sacred Scripture, they will hear the voice of Jesus speaking as the author of those words. Also, as they learn about the moral teachings of the Church, they will know that Jesus wants us to do good and reject evil
“Yes, some of your formation will take place in the classroom and some will take occur in places of ministry throughout the diocese. But even more of the work is meant to be done in your heart. You must be pliable enough to be transformed into an image of Christ the servant,” the bishop said.
He invited the diaconal candidates to continue to learn about Jesus and to know him as the one who came to serve, not to be served. He also cautioned them that this will take time and patience and he encouraged the wives to support their husbands and to love them as they seek to do God’s will.
“On the part of us all, trusting in the Lord, we will assist you as candidates for ordination with our love and prayers on this journey that you have begun,” the bishop said.
For more information about the permanent diaconate, click here or contact Deacon George Malec at 44-943-7651.