MONONA — On Sunday, July 24, Bishop Donald J. Hying of Madison and the Diocese of Madison were blessed to ordain two men to the order of the Diaconate: Deacons Lee Gerard Eggers and Craig Michael Wood.
Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish in Monona generously hosted the ceremony.
The beautiful Ordination Mass began with a long procession, as many deacons showed up to honor and welcome their two new brothers.
The presence of many priests, the Knights of Columbus, and the Knights and Ladies of the Holy Sepulcher also contributed to the occasion.
Ordination rites
After the reading of the Gospel, the men were presented by Fr. William Felix, director of formation for the permanent diaconate for the Diocese of La Crosse, where the men did their formation and studies.
After the recommendation was approved by Bishop Hying, the bishop proceeded to give his homily expressing his gratitude and encouragement to the two men and his hopes for the work God would do through them.
The homily was followed by the commitment of the two ordinandi, as they expressed their resolve to serve Christ faithfully.
Then came the Litany of the Saints, sung by Deacon Chris Schmelzer, director of the permanent diaconate in the Diocese of Madison, during which the two ordinandi lay prostrate.
This posture expressed their humility as they begged for the intercession of the Church, both on Earth and in Heaven, for their ministry.
Then came the solemn moment of consecration.
Both men knelt individually before the bishop as he laid hands on them.
It is a beautiful thing that this action takes place in silence. Although glorious singing accompanied much of the Mass, this particular moment was accomplished in reverent silence, signifying the extraordinary presence of God who changed these men.
After the laying on of hands, the bishop prayed the act of consecration over the two ordinandi.
It included a plea for the virtues befitting a deacon: “May every evangelical virtue abound in them: unfeigned love, concern for the sick and the poor, unassuming authority, the purity of innocence, and the observance of spiritual discipline. May Your precepts shine forth in their conduct . . . so that, imitating Your Son on earth, who came not to be served but to serve, they may be found worthy to reign with Him in Heaven.”
The ordinandi were then assisted in vesting for the first time, and handed the book of the Gospels, being instructed, “Receive the Gospel of Christ, whose herald you have become. Believe what you read, teach what you believe, and practice what you teach.”
The final moment of the ordination was a communal one: After the bishop gave the newly ordained the sign of peace, each of the deacons present came forward to do so as well, welcoming them to their new ministry.
Changed forever
In some ways, the ceremony was rather short and simple to change a man’s soul forever.
However, changed they were: for the rest of the Mass, they sat on the bishop’s left and right, taking over for the two deacons who began the Mass with him.
They assisted at the altar during the Liturgy of the Eucharist and distributed Holy Communion. It was their first time acting as deacons.
One beautiful moment to note in the Liturgy of the Eucharist was the offertory.
The wives of the two deacons brought up the gifts, symbolizing the much larger sacrifice they were making of assisting their husbands in their journeys to the diaconate and in the new ministry they were starting.
After assisting Bishop Hying through the end of Mass, the two new deacons processed out with their brethren, newly vested and sent forth to minister.
The joy was palpable in the congregation, which was sizable enough that parking was scarce, although thankfully the church building was sufficient to seat everyone.
The celebration continued after the Mass: the Immaculate Heart of Mary hospitality committee and the St. Anne’s Society kindly provided a reception.
The thanksgiving will surely continue far beyond that, as the diocese rejoices in the work of Christ through Deacons Lee and Craig.
About the new deacons
Deacon Eggers will be serving at St. Mary Parish in Platteville and will also be involved in prison ministry.
He and his wife Patti have two children, Andy, 21, and Emily, 19.
Deacon Eggers will also be partaking in visits to the homebound and nursing homes of parishioners, assisting at Mass two to three weekends per month, and Benediction for Eucharist Adoration as scheduled.
“Ordination for me was powerful, life-changing, and inspiring,” Deacon Eggers said.
“So many family and friends who attended to support me, but especially the numerous priests and deacons that took their time to praise God and witness the Ordination rite was truly humbling.”
He added that, “What I didn’t realize was how much attending the ordination for others would be such an evangelization event. Person after person and comment after comment were very consistent and so was the look on their faces. Everyone had a profound smile and excitement in their voice, and comments of praising God for participating in a Mass, which was different than any they had previously experienced.”
Deacon Wood will be serving at St. Bernard Parish in Middleton.
He and his wife Jane have one daughter, Hillary, 31.
Deacon Wood will also be bringing the Eucharist to the homebound and those living in nursing and rehabilitation homes.
“Jesus Christ called for his followers to take those graces that he gave us from the Cross — and now from the altar at Mass — out into the world,” said Deacon Wood. “As a deacon, I am now able to bring those graces to people to strengthen their souls, build up their spirits, nourish their minds, and to increase the love in their hearts for God in Jesus Christ.”
He added that, “I realize very much that I cannot serve the people of God as a deacon without the support and prayers of the laity and others in the clergy. We must always pray for each other. As we all pray and serve each other in our particular capacities in this world, we bind together as the bride of Christ with the hope of someday meeting up with him, the bridegroom, in the eternal wedding feast of Heaven.”