As he ordained three men to the permanent diaconate, Bishop Edward Malesic reminded them that they are now changed forever by their vocation.
“You are a bridge from this altar to the streets outside,” he said during his homily at the May 3 ordination Mass in the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist. The Mass was livestreamed and can be viewed on demand here.
(See photo gallery above.)
The newly ordained are:
- Deacon Richard Anthony Prayson, St. Dominic Parish, Shaker Heights. He is a physician with the Cleveland Clinic and is married to Elizabeth. They have two adult children.
- Deacon Dale Carter Shafer, Holy Family Parish, Parma. He is an HVAC supervisor with the Cuyahoga County Library and is married to Laura. They have three adult children.
- Deacon Jeffrey Edward Stutzman, St. Thomas More Parish, Brooklyn. He is senior manager of digital communications strategy for the Catholic Diocese of Cleveland and is married to Joyce. They have two daughters.
“I can only do so much, but with your help, we can reach out and do more,” the bishop told the new deacons. He said we all have a responsibility to evangelize, but as deacons, the newly ordained have a special role since they “have feet in both worlds.”
The bishop also had some advice for the new deacons, telling them, “You are not to be church flower pots, to stand on the altar and do nothing else. You must bring the Church into the world. You are to be visible, tangible, relatable signs of Christ in the world and to continue the humble service of Jesus.”
He said they are a sacrament because Jesus has touched his life to theirs. “You are changed forever. You will be good deacons or you will be bad deacons, but you can never be ‘undeaconed,’” the bishop said, stressing how ordination will change their lives.
“You are to be ordained as servants of the world … You have been found worthy to be ordained … Remember who started this. Jesus said, ‘I choose you,’ and when your name was called today, you said ‘Yes,’ signaling your willingness to answer God’s call.” Bishop Malesic said.
He reminded the men that when they would lay down around the altar, they would humble themselves before they would be clothed with a stole and dalmatic, the outward signs of a deacon. “The stole will be on your left side, leaving your other hand free for service,” he added. “You will be my assistants in ministry.”
The bishop also gave the new deacons further instruction, telling them they should be humble, kind and merciful, patient, gentle and steadfast in their vocation. “Never take it for granted. It’s God’s gift to you.”
He said the Christian way of life is one of love. “Today, Jesus calls you his friends and asks you to lay down your lives for your friends, as he did … There is much work to be done. Today is a life-changing day for you.”
As they begin their ordained ministry, Bishop Malesic invited the new deacons to make his motto – “Serve the Lord with Gladness” – as their own. He also thanked the deacons’ wives for their commitment to their husbands’ ministry, in which they serve as partners.
As deacons, the men can administer baptism, serve at the altar during Mass, distribute the Eucharist, bring viaticum to the dying, read sacred Scriptures to the faithful, preach on occasion, preside at public prayer, administer sacramentals, assist at and bless marriages and officiate at funeral and burial rites.
Deacon Prayson has been assigned to serve at Communion of Saints Parish in Cleveland Heights. Deacon Shafer will minister at Holy Family Parish in Parma and Deacon Stutzman will serve at St. Bernadette Parish in Westlake.
Their ordination follows five years of discernment and formation at Saint Mary Seminary and Graduate School of Theology.
For more information on the permanent diaconate program, contact the director, Deacon George Malec, at gmalec@dioceseofcleveland.org.