Ordination Mass at the Cathedral of Mary of the Assumption.
Please pray for the men to be ordained to the permanent diaconate:
Matt Begres, Sacred Heart Parish, Mount Pleasant
John Copes, St. Michael Parish, Maple Grove
Hugh LeFevre, St. Dominic Parish, Saginaw
Jason Rasmussen, Holy Spirit Parish, Shields
Bob Sasiela, St. Joseph Parish, Saginaw
Lenn Stankiewicz, St. Michael Parish, Maple Grove
Bob Zondlak, Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Parish, Midland
*Parish assignments will be shared soon and may differ from parishes listed above.
During the Mass, the men make sacred, lifelong promises of obedience to the bishop and his successors. They then receive the sacrament of Holy Orders as Bishop Gruss ordains them through prayer and the imposition of hands.
During the Rite of Ordination, Bishop Gruss entrusts each candidate with the Book of the Gospels, reminding them to “Believe what you read, teach what you believe and practice what you teach.”
About Deacons
Deacons are ministers of the Catholic Church, ordained to be sacramental signs of Christ the Servant. As members of the clergy (alongside bishops and priests), they preside at baptisms and funerals outside of Mass, witness marriages, perform works of mercy, assist at the altar, preach, teach, lead the faithful in prayer, and much more.
The Diocese of Saginaw currently has 21 permanent deacons, some of whom are married and some who are single. Men who sense that God may be calling them to serve as a permanent deacon should e-mail [email protected] or call the Office of the Permanent Diaconate at 989-797-6662.
