St. Louise de Marillac at 320 McMurray Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15241-1616 US - Diaconate Formation
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Bill Batz and Tom Krulikowski are currently in diaconal formation at St. Paul Seminary. Bill and Tom are in the class to be ordained in January 2011.
Tom and Bill recently finished their second full year of studies, completing half of 24 prescribed courses in fields like Christology, Sacred Scripture, Patristic Theology, Church History and Canon Law. Also, both men have served in various ministry internships in parish, hospital and other settings. Their formation program calls for them now to participate more actively with our priests and deacon in various liturgical roles.
Recently Tom and Bill were formally installed by Bishop David A. Zubik in the Ministry of Lector, which is the first of two liturgical steps prior to actual ordination. Under canon law, a layman instituted as Lector is one who normally proclaims the Word of God, especially on Sundays and major feasts. You will begin to see Tom and Bill more frequently in liturgical roles, principally as ordinary ministers of the Word during Holy Mass, and at other sacramental and prayer celebrations. Their responsibility will increase later this year when the Bishop installs them in the Ministry of Acolyte to assist the priest at the altar as normal ministers who distribute Holy Communion, purify the sacred vessels, and so on. I know all the members of St. Louise Parish will continue to support and encourage these two men as they begin to move more visibly into ministry.
Tom and Bill must successfully complete two more years of class study and practicum work before ordination to the Diaconate in January, 2011. Please keep both our deacon candidates and their wives,
The diaconate is an ordained ministry along with the priesthood and the episcopacy. Deacons preach and teach, assist priests and bishops in the celebration of the Eucharist, and oversee ministries of service and charity.
The diaconate flourished in the western Church in the early centuries, then declined, surviving as an intermediate step for those preparing for priestly ordination. The Second Vatican Council called for restoration of the diaconate.
The restoration of the diaconate was seen by the Council as a means to "enrich the Church with the functions of the diaconate," to strengthen "with the grace of diaconal ordination those who already exercised many of its functions of service," and "to provide regions, where there was a shortage of clergy, with sacred ministers."
The Deacon class Newsletters "Called to Serve: The Journey to Diaconal Ordination" on the links below chronicle class of 2011’s journey to ordained ministry.
Please continue to pray for Bill and Tom in their diaconal formation. If you have any questions concerning the permanent diaconate please contact Bill Batz or Tom Krulikowski through the parish office.
Called to Serve - November 2008
Called to Serve - April 2008