Two weeks ago, they ordained what the local paper has dubbed a “bumper crop” of deacons in Pensacola-Tallahassee.

From Florida Catholic:

God blessed the Diocese of Pensacola-Tallahassee abundantly with a bumper crop of new permanent deacons June 20 when Bishop John H. Ricard, SSJ, ordained 17 men during Mass at St. Paul Parish.

Coming from parishes across the diocese and beyond, friends and family members filled the year-old church to capacity. The ordinands were seated with their families as the Mass began. Priests of the diocese concelebrated the Mass, assisted by the deacons of the diocese.

Following the Gospel, Deacon Tom Kennell called the 17 forward, and Deacon Gerard Williamson, the retiring director of permanent deacons and deacon formation, presented them to the bishop and attested to their proper preparation. The bishop accepted them, saying, “Relying on the help of the Lord God and our Savior Jesus Christ, we choose these, our brothers, for the Order of the Diaconate.

The assembly concurred, responding, “Thanks be to God.”

In his homily, Bishop Ricard referred to the Gospel chosen by the ordinands for the Mass. “In this Gospel, Jesus says, ‘Greater love than this no man has, than to lay down his life for his friends.’ We wonder if we could ever muster the courage to do that – to lay down our lives for our friends. Jesus described something very real that was about to happen in his life. And who were the friends of Jesus?”

The bishop listed a number of Jesus’ unlikely friends: the prodigal son, the woman caught in the act of adultery, the thief who was crucified alongside him, his first disciples who abandoned him, Peter who denied him. “Yet Jesus placed himself between each of them and condemnation. For all of them, and for all of us, Jesus allows himself to be led to the cross that we might achieve our full potential to share in the life of his Father.

“Jesus has taught us what true love really is. And he gives us this command: ‘Love one another as I have loved you.’ In this, my dear brothers, is the ministry you are about to receive: to love as Jesus loves. Such is the ministry of the diaconate, a ministry of service. You may not realize it now, but this ministry is one of extraordinary influence over the lives, hearts and minds of many people, but it is a servant leadership. The success of your ministry will depend on how you decide to love, who you decide to love,” the bishop said.

There’s more, along with the names of the new deacons, at the FC link. Congratulations, brothers! Ad multos annos!

PHOTO: by Peggy Dekeyser/Florida Catholic