The Diocese of Saginaw celebrated the ordination of a new deacon on Friday, June 19, the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Bishop Robert Gruss ordained Davison native Kevin Wojciechowski to the transitional diaconate at the Cathedral of Mary of the Assumption in Saginaw.
During the ordination Mass, Father Bill Rutkowski, Vicar General for the Diocese of Saginaw, presented Kevin as a candidate for ordination.
“It is very important for you to remember it is Jesus Christ who has called you,” Bishop Gruss told Kevin in his homily. “Now you are responding in a very clear way today with your whole heart.”
“Your entrance into the clerical state today through the imposition of hands, conferring a sacramental grace, reveals the Lord’s confidence in you as he entrusts to you his sacred threefold ministry of diaconia, or service: the service of the Word, the service of the Eucharist and the service of the poor, or charity, given to the Church since apostolic times,” he said.
Bishop Gruss urged Kevin to follow the saintly example of early deacons, such as St. Stephen and St. Lawrence.
“Today, Kevin, you are being radically conformed to Christ’s service, and as such are called to be the sacramental sign that offers to others the grace of Christ’s presence of his love. At the very heart of the diaconate is being a servant of the mysteries of Christ, and at one and the same time being a servant to your brothers and sisters,” he said.
Following the homily, Kevin promised "to discharge the office of deacon with humility and love, to hold fast to the mystery of faith, to proclaim this faith in word and deed, to embrace the celibate state, and to pray for the Church and the whole world," as well as a promise of obedience. He then lay prostrate before the altar as the congregation prayed the Litany of Supplication, asking for the intercession of the saints.
Finally, through the laying on of hands and Prayer of Ordination, Kevin was ordained a deacon. He then received his liturgical vestments— a stole and dalmatic. Deacon Kevin was vested by Father Robert Schikora.
Bishop Gruss then handed on the Book of the Gospels, reminding Deacon Kevin that he must believe what he reads, teach what he believes and practice what he teaches.
“These past 24 hours have abounded with more graces and blessings than I could have possibly imagined! The love and support I’ve received from family and friends from near and far have been overwhelming,” Deacon Kevin said the day after his ordination. “I’m truly blessed to serve this local Church, particularly All Saints Parish in Bay City for the next few weeks and my upcoming assignment of Holy Spirit Parish in Shields.”
Deacon Kevin will continue his preparation, completing his final year at Sacred Heart Major Seminary in Detroit, with hopes of being ordained a priest next year.