A deacon from Illinois wanted me to know they’ve been busy ordaining more men in Belleville — and no, they aren’t priests.

From the Belleville Messenger:

Seven men were ordained permanent deacons July 26 at St. Peter Cathedral in Belleville in a more than two and a half hour event that filled the cathedral not only with beautiful music, but, according to the new deacons, with the Holy Spirit that filled them with gratitude and peace.

“I was so in awe of everything, very nervous, and like my brother deacons, felt the Holy Spirit upon me,” Deacon Arthur Hampton said.

Deacon Dennis Vander Ven said: “I felt a special closeness with the Holy Spirit during the moment of ordination, when, in silence, Bishop (Edward K.) Braxton placed his hands on my head. It is a moment that I will always remember. I live in hope that this closeness will always be with me.”

“During the Rite of Ordination, Bishop Braxton placed his hands on the head of each man,” Deacon Rich Bagby said. As he “imposed his hands on my head, I could feel the Holy Spirit infusing me, flooding me with a warm, loving, soulful embrace. I knew at that moment that all the training, prayer, and preparation had led me to accept willingly this blessed moment.”

Feeling the moment as “most profound,” Deacon Steve Pautler expressed it this way: “One of the most moving parts of the ceremony was the Laying on of Hands. This is really the most solemn moment of the Rite of Ordination. Bishop Braxton ordained each of us by placing his hands on our heads and invoking the Holy Spirit. I can’t imagine a more profound,and especially humbling experience than this.

During the rite, the seven men lay prostrate on the floor of the sanctuary while the Litany of the Saints was sung.

What were they thinking as they listened while laying on the floor?

As he lay on the floor during the Litany, Deacon Linus Klostermann thought of the Holy Spirit “nudging me forward. This journey to the diaconate has been a happy one; the tasks, the time, the struggles have all led to an inner peace, closeness to God. I know that God has called me and now I can better appreciate and understand the words from scripture that says, Lord you have given me a task that is easy, a burden that is light. It was a wonderful experience, laying there as if alone in the presence of God.”

For Deacon Vander Ven: “As I lay prostrate, I allowed myself to be with the entire community of the saints, where I felt a love and an acceptance. … It was a moving experience for me.”

For Deacon Hampton, “I felt all the anxiety and fear float away and this calm came over me. Hearing their names was like each saint speaking to me and blessing me.”

The deacons’ wives, who have accompanied them on this journey to ordination, experienced their own emotions as well.

“As I reflect on the ordination celebration, I am so grateful to God for the encouragement, prayers and support of all our family members, friends and parishioners who continue to share in our ministry and faith journey. We are truly blessed,” Sue Klostermann said.

All of the women who commented said they believed this was where the Holy Spirit was leading all of them.

Deacon Steven Pautler seemed to sum up the mood of the deacons and those attending the ordination: “The grace of God flowed on everyone there, not just those of us becoming deacons,” he said.

You can read more about the new deacons at this link.

Blessings, and congratulations, one and all! Welcome!

Photo: by Liz Quirin