Sacred Service

The vocation of the permanent deacon is a great gift of God to the Church. Called to serve, the permanent deacon is a public and living icon of Christ the Servant within the Church. 

The upcoming ordination of the 12 candidates to the permanent diaconate by Bishop McGrattan on November 18, 2023, stands as a living testament to how Christ continues to raise ministers within the community for the purpose of mission. Much like the first apostles, this diverse group of 12 candidates has responded to Christ’s call in accordance with their unique circumstances, consistently exhibiting humble hearts, generosity, and a zeal for mission: 

• John Arbeau, Ascension Parish, Calgary 
• Bruce Alan Barnett, St. Martha’s Parish, Lethbridge
• Ferdinand Gayos, St. Albert the Great, Calgary
• Randy Victor Gritter, St. Michael’s Parish, Calgary
• Thomas Hing Cheung Ha, Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Calgary
• Brian Kinahan, St. Augustine’s, Taber
• Timothy Peter Lilienthal, All Saints Parish, Lethbridge
• James Arnold Manzara, All Saints Parish, Lethbridge
• Carlos Perez, St. Thomas More, Calgary
• Ricardo Rosero, Mary, Mother of the Redeemer, Calgary
• Andrew Ross, St. Joseph, Calgary
• Reynaldo Tadifa, St. Albert the Great, Calgary

Brothers and sisters, choose seven men from among you who are of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we will appoint to this duty.”  (Acts 6:3)

The establishment of the diaconate took place with the ordination of the seven deacons described in the Acts of the Apostles. Renewing the practice of the early Church, the Second Vatican Council restored the order of deacons as a proper and permanent rank of the hierarchy. This restoration began in Canada in 1969 and in the Diocese of Calgary since 1998.

How did you find your calling? 

When candidates were asked how they were introduced to the diaconate, answers varied widely. Some had long harboured a calling. Others were invited by their parish priest. Interestingly, two candidates were personally tapped by Bishop Emeritus Henry, who seemed to employ a direct recruitment approach! 

Candidate Carlos Perez recalls, “During the Couples for Christ annual Evangelization Rally… Bishop Emeritus Henry asked me to talk to my pastor on how to go through the process of applying in the permanent diaconate program… It was quite unexpected and seemed  mysterious… I didn't even know at that time what exactly a deacon was.” 

Similarly, candidate Thomas Ha shares his experience a few years ago, “I passed by Bishop Henry at the Chinese New Year Banquet when he invited me to follow Christ through the Diaconate program. It was like Jesus asking the apostles to follow him by the shore of Lake Galilee, and I responded!”

Carlos & Melrose Perez

Thomas & May Ha

When candidate John Arbeau was asked by a priest years ago,  “My initial reaction was why are you asking me, as I didn’t think I was the person!” But with formation, training, and prayer, he adds that “I have matured and grown in my spirituality to understand the service of a deacon.”

Meanwhile, candidate Randy Gritter, formerly a staunch Protestant, underwent a significant conversion to Catholicism before he felt the call to the permanent diaconate. “I initially learned about the diaconate as a Protestant. We had deacons who were specifically tasked with aiding the poor in our community," he shares. His then-parish priest, Fr. Julian Studden, was highly supportive of his vocation. 

When Gritter applied for the second time, he discovered that Fr. Studden had been appointed Vicar of the Diaconate. He interpreted this as a sign that God was guiding him through this door.

Stay tuned to future issues of Faithfully for more detailed vocational stories of each candidate.

John and Kerry Arbeau

Randy & Mary Gritter with their family

The formation journey
​​“I believe you don't wake up one day and decide you want to be a Deacon. “ says candidate Ferdinand Gayos. He adds, “If we haven’t learned serving, it may be a difficult and uphill climb going through the formation. The Deacon's heart is formed first in serving our own family, our parish community and the wider community.” 

Deacons share in Christ’s threefold mission of teaching, sanctifying and leading the People of God. While the unifying principle of diaconal ministry is the service of charity, which shapes their service of the Word and of the liturgy, the three responsibilities are inseparably united. 

Quoting Galatians 2:20, candidate Reynaldo Tadifa shares, “It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. If I want to be the image of Christ to others, I have to recognize the gift of my own Baptism as a means of dying to my old ways and rising to a life of sacrificial love, just as Christ did for all of us, and let me be a channel of spreading his mercy, love and compassion to others.“

Under the leadership of Bishop McGrattan, the Diocese has developed a new formation program for the permanent diaconate that is both grounded in the nature of diaconal ministry and adapted to the pastoral needs of the multicultural and multiethnic Diocese of Calgary.  

The permanent diaconate formation program is based on four dimensions: human, spiritual, theological and pastoral. The overall purpose is to help candidates to mature spiritually and to develop the personal and pastoral skills which will enable them to be servants of the Word, of the liturgy and of charity.

Over a period of 4 years, candidates spent an average of 35 hours per month in formation weekends, supervised pastoral education, personal study and spiritual formation.

Ferdinand Gayos & wife Malou Ponon

Reynaldo & Pam Tadifa

Brian & Linda Kinahan

During the formation years, our deacon candidates also experienced strong prayer support from their fellow parishioners and mentors. All credited their spouses and families above all for encouraging them.  

Speaking of his wife’s unwavering support, deacon candidate Brian Kinahan mentioned, “This has been her journey as well. And, although we've had long conversations about where this journey is taking us, and she has had her uncertainties about it, she has never stopped praying for me, and listening to me during my own doubts.” 

“Speaking with the deacons who have come before us, they are glad that we are having the experiences that we are having. It has also been helpful on this journey to get help from their experiences, from their journey and from what they have learned and done,” says candidate Jim Manzara.

Candidate Ricardo Rosero-Gonzallez shared that his understanding on being a deacon has evolved, stating that as a deacon, "I represent the Church whereever I am.”  This was echoed by candidate Peter Lilienthal, who added, “The ministry of presence is key to this role, and being able to let the Holy Spirit work through me.”      

Strong bonds naturally formed between the 12 deacon candidates and their families during the formative years. 

“Our diaconate class of 12 families was very close. We were not immune, over the 4 years, to the struggles and griefs within the path of life,” says candidate Bruce Alan Barnett. “We all experienced the "oneness" of the Body of Christ in our prayers, compassion and empathy shown many times through the journey.” 

Ricardo Rosero & Gladys Alvarez

Jim & Helen Manzara

Peter and Cyndi Lilienthal

But are these deacon candidates prepared for the upcoming  ordination as permanent deacons? Deacon candidate Andrew Ross shares a sentiment that would resonate deeply with his fellow candidates, “God knows, those around me know, and I know that I am far from perfect – but I am ready. Ready to embrace the spirit of humble service and selflessness, to work to fulfill my ministry with readiness and dedication.”
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Commending this year’s class of graduates, Deacon Walsh (Director of Formation for the Permanent Diaconate program) said, “Each one of these men, along with their spouses, have  gone through a beautiful transformation of the heart….Not only have they grown, but they have helped those of us who have helped facilitate them through the process.” He added that the candidates actively contributed to their own and each other’s transformation into servants of Christ. 

Our Diocese is blessed to welcome them into sacred service this November! 

Bruce (left) and Pat (right) Barnett

Andrew & Irene Ross

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Written by Alice Matisz and the staff of the Catholic Pastoral Centre for Faithfully.