Photo left to right: Deacon Jason Rasmussen, Deacon Hugh LeFevre, Deacon Matt Begres, Bishop Robert D. Gruss, Deacon John Copes, Deacon Bob Zondlak, Deacon Lenn Stankiewicz, Deacon Bob Sasiela
SAGINAW — On Friday, June 27, seven men were ordained by Bishop Robert D. Gruss to the permanent diaconate at the Cathedral of Mary of the Assumption – the second largest group of deacons ordained in the history of the Diocese of Saginaw. The ordination took place on the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and, in his homily, Bishop Gruss made a connection between the divine love symbolized by the Sacred Heart and the loving service the new deacons are called to carry out in their diaconal ministry.
The seven new deacons and their parish assignments are as follows:
- Deacon Matt Begres, Sacred Heart Parish, Mount Pleasant
- Deacon John Copes, St. Catherine of Siena Parish, Bay City
- Deacon Hugh LeFevre, Cathedral of St. Mary of the Assumption Parish, Saginaw
- Deacon Bob Sasiela, St. Joseph Parish, Saginaw
- Deacon Lenn Stankiewicz, St. Michael Parish, Maple Grove
- Deacon Bob Zondlak, St. Brigid of Kildare Parish, Midland
By saying “yes” to God’s call to be a permanent deacon, these men are offering service to the Church without any salary. Per diocesan policy, they are now to be addressed as Deacon Matt, Deacon John, etc. – just as priests are called “Father.” As clerics, they and the other permanent deacons in the Diocese of Saginaw are permitted to wear clerical attire in certain ministerial situations, such as when presiding at a vigil service, doing prison/jail ministry, visiting hospitals and assisted living facilities, etc. The three chief ministries of a deacon may be summed up by “the three W’s”:
- Works of charity, i.e., carrying out spiritual and corporal mercy
- Worship, assisting the bishop or a priest at the altar and presiding at baptisms, weddings and funerals outside of Mass
- Word, proclaiming the Gospel at Mass and carrying out faith formation and evangelization < With the addition of these seven new deacons, the Diocese of Saginaw now has 28 permanent deacons. Married or single men who sense that God may be calling them to serve as a permanent deacon should e-mail diaconate@diosag.org or call the Office of the Permanent Diaconate at 989.797.6662.
Learn more about the permanent deacon formation program here
Deacon Andrew Waligorski named Director of the Permanent Diaconate
SAGINAW — The Most Rev. Robert D. Gruss, Bishop of Saginaw, has appointed Deacon Andrew Waligorski to serve as director of the permanent diaconate for the Diocese of Saginaw. Deacon Waligorski began his 3-year term of service on July 1. He has served at Holy Family Parish in Sandusky, Michigan since being ordained a permanent deacon in 2021, and currently works as a clinical system analyst at Aspire Rural Health Care. He and his wife, Sarah, are blessed with six children.
“I am both humbled and excited to be appointed by Bishop Gruss to this new role of service for our diocese,” said Deacon Waligorski. He is succeeding Deacon Stanley Kuczynski who has served as director of the permanent diaconate since 2022.
As director of the permanent diaconate, Deacon Waligorski will support the permanent deacons of the diocese, as well as their spouses and the widows of deceased deacons. He will also collaborate with Dr. Dan Osborn, coordinator of permanent diaconate formation and ministry, in developing, planning and overseeing ongoing formation and initiatives that meet the needs of the permanent deacons in the Diocese of Saginaw, as well as the formation of men preparing for diaconal ordination.
Bishop Gruss said, "I am grateful to Deacon Waligorski for his willingness to serve in this capacity, and to Deacon Kuczynski who has generously served as director of the permanent diaconate. Our diocese is truly blessed by these two deacons who follow Jesus’ example of wanting to serve rather than be served.”
“It will be a joy to serve alongside Deacon Waligorski, just as it has been a gift to collaborate with Deacon Kuczynski over the past three years," Dr. Osborn added.