Some happy news for a Sunday morning: Indiana has nine shiny new deacons for the Diocese of Gary:

Many are called. Few answer.

Dennis Guernsey jokes he’s a little deaf, but God’s call came loud and clear in mid-life.

“I feel ready,” said the 55-year-old former Marine, dressed in the light cream vestments and gold stole of a new deacon. “This is the time. I need to give back what God gave to me.”

The husband and father of five from Portage was one of nine Roman Catholic men ordained deacons Saturday at the Cathedral of the Holy Angels in Gary. Bishop Dale Melczek called the men “priestly people.”

Deacons are “a constant reminder that vocations in the church are not about entitlement, bur rather are about Jesus. … They do this especially by encouraging us and leading us to works of charity and justice,” said Melczek, who, backed by dozens of clerics, presided over the two-hour ceremony and Mass.

Laymen age 35 and older must complete a six-year program to be ordained to the diaconate. The course includes training in theology, canon law and ministry formation. Deacons must devote at least 10 hours of prayer and ministry to the community weekly. They also can preach, officiate at baptisms, witness weddings and preside at funeral vigils and funerals.

Of the nine men ordained Saturday, eight are married, and many have families. They also have day jobs, working in places such as steel mills and water treatment plants.

The permanent deacons are Martin Brown, 48, of Gary — St. Casimir Church, Hammond; Guernsey — Nativity of Our Savior, Portage; Christopher Hawkins, 50, of LaPorte — St. Peter; Paul Krilich, 56, of St. John — St. John the Evangelist; Jamie Lewis, 46, Hobart — St. Bridget; Ed Shultz, 62, of Highland — Our Lady of Grace; Robert L. Viviano, 64, of St. John — St. John the Evangelist; and Daniel Zurawski, 61, of Munster — St. Thomas More.

Ad multos annos! Congratulations and prayerful good wishes to you all!

You can find more at the link, including some lovely pictures by John Luke.