From The Catholic Globe:
A week’s worth of rainy days could not dampen the joy at the Mass for the conferral of Holy Orders for the ordination of deacons on April 30. “If April showers bring May flowers, then we are blessed with these gifts in the garden of the church with the ordination of four men as permanent deacons,” Bishop Walker Nickless, the ordaining prelate, told the standing-room only crowd at the Cathedral of the Epiphany, Sioux City. Edward Albright of Fort Dodge, Richard Kallsen of Sioux City, David Prenger of Carroll and Scott Steffen of Boone were ordained as the 21st deacon class since 1977 and the sixth class to be ordained by Bishop Nickless for the Diocese of Sioux City. …In his homily the bishop expressed his thanks to the deacons, their wives – Lorie Albright, Mary Kallsen, Terri Prenger and Kathy Steffen – family and friends for their presence at the Mass. “Those who are being ordained know better than anyone else that they would not be here today without first, the grace and mercy of God, and second, the support of you (those present) and their wives,” he said. Bishop Nickless expressed his gratitude that the four men responded to their vocational invitation. “Thank you for saying yes to the call of the Lord to follow as deacons, servants of the word, servants of the altar and servants of charity,” he said. The bishop referenced the Gospel reading which the candidates had chosen, John 15:9-17. “The Lord speaks directly to you when he says, ‘You did not choose me, but I chose you,’” he said. “And like the seven deacons in the first reading from the Acts of the Apostles, you have been chosen because you are full of the spirit and reputable.” Bishop Nickless quipped, “However, maybe all of your family does not see you as full of wisdom.” As the laughter died down, he continued, “We rely on God’s choice in this matter.”
Congratulations and welcome! Ad multos annos!
Photo: The Catholic Globe
And today we celebrate...