3 priests-to-be ordained as deacons

Bishop Stika celebrates the Rite of Ordination at Sacred Heart

By Bill Brewer

Deacon Bo Beaty had been ordained only a few moments when he realized he already has someone ready for the priest-to-be to bring into the Catholic Church.

Deacon Beaty is one of three young men in the Diocese of Knoxville ordained to the transitional diaconate by Bishop Richard F. Stika on June 3 at the Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus. He was joined by Deacon Michael Willey and Deacon Daniel Herman.

As soon as the ordination Mass concluded and as photos were being taken on the cathedral sanctuary steps, Deacon Beaty’s father, Donald, shared that he likely will become Catholic once his son is ordained a priest.

Mr. Beaty, fighting back tears of joy, spoke proudly of being a resident of Jamestown in Fentress County, where his son was born and raised. He recalled that the mother of his best friend in Jamestown helped found St. Christopher Parish there.

“I went to Mass with him every Saturday night. I probably went there more than I did anywhere, but I never switched to Catholic,” Mr. Beaty said. “I told Bo that when he got to where he could do more that I would probably join up.”

That time should come next spring, when Deacons Beaty, Willey, and Herman complete their final year at St. Meinrad Seminary and School of Theology in St. Meinrad, Ind., and are ordained to the priesthood.

Mr. Beaty also spoke proudly of his son and his accomplishments as the new deacon begins to serve God, the people of God, and the Catholic Church.

“It’s unreal. It’s something to be proud of. It is amazing what he has made himself into,” Mr. Beaty said.

Was Deacon Beaty’s call to the priesthood pre-ordained by God? Certainly so, and his mother, Marsha Dillard, shared an interesting family story that provided a hint. She explained that the woman who helped found St. Christopher wanted the Beatys to have infant Bo christened in the Catholic Church at St. Christopher.

“We were like no, we aren’t Catholics. She said, ‘That won’t matter. I can make that happen.’ Now I think she is probably sitting up there on that cloud of witnesses saying, ‘I tried to tell you two,’” Ms. Dillard said, smiling.

And like Deacon Beaty’s father, Ms. Dillard found the ordination to be an uplifting, emotional moment in the life of the family.

“I am so proud of Bo. It has been amazing to watch his commitment and his surrender to Jesus and what He has for him on this path. My breath was taken away just watching him ordained as a deacon. I can’t wait until next year to watch him be ordained as a priest. It’s exciting,” Ms. Dillard said.

Tammy Cross said June 3 was a very emotional day for her as well, with some crying. The mother of Deacon Michael Willey described her son’s ordination as awe-inspiring.

“I have been crying. It’s just so humbling, and I’m so proud. It was an absolutely beautiful Mass,” she said.

Deacon Willey’s father shared those sentiments.

“It’s just a very proud day. It’s been a long road for him, and it’s finally coming to conclusion. I’m very proud of him and all my kids,” Richard Willey said.

The ordination took on a special vocational significance for the Herman family.

Deacon Joe Herman, who was ordained to the permanent diaconate last year at the cathedral and now serves at his home parish, St. Anthony of Padua in Mountain City, assisted Bishop Stika as deacon of the Word during the Mass.

And he vested his son during the part of the liturgy where the new deacons first put on their diaconate vestments.

During the ordination Mass, Bishop Stika joked that the next year will be interesting in the Herman household.

“There’s going to be a little confusion in Mountain City. If someone calls up and says, ‘We’d like to speak to Deacon Herman.’ We’re going to have a fight. ‘That’s me. No, that’s me.’ And then next year, Deacon Herman the father will have to say, ‘Father Herman, how are you today?’ I bet he’s a little nervous. But there is joy in his eyes,” Bishop Stika remarked.

Deacon Daniel Herman said it feels somewhat overwhelming to be called “deacon” because he still has so much work to do.

“As a deacon, there is a lot of work involved in serving the people of God. I see that as a calling and a mission. I’m really looking forward to the opportunity,” he said as the thanked Jesus Christ for instituting the diaconate and for allowing him to serve as a deacon. He also thanked his family and friends, his church family at St. Anthony of Padua, and the staff at St. Meinrad.

The ordination Mass let Deacon Daniel know that something he has prayed so fervently for can come about.

“This has been a dream come true. This is an answered prayer, a lot of prayers from family and friends, and from my small parish in Mountain City, St. Anthony of Padua. It doesn’t seem real that this day has finally come. … There have been a lot of people behind our formation, and I feel like God has truly prepared them to prepare us,” he said.

And as for the family situation, the ordinand said now that he is a deacon, he gets to see his father from a unique perspective.

“It’s good. Now I get to see my father in a whole new light. At home, he’s my father, and the fourth commandment says to love my father and my mother and to honor them. At the same time, he’s my brother, someone I can rely on in more ways than I would if he wasn’t a deacon,” Deacon Daniel said. “Bishop Stika calls the home the first seminary. From the time I was born, my father instilled a love of God, a love for prayer, and the duty one has for faith.”

Deacons Daniel and Joe agree that their mother and wife, Lucia, deserves much of the credit for the richness of faith in their family.

“Our faith and attending Mass were always a priority to us. My wife was very instrumental and was very strong in her faith. She deserves a lot of the credit,” Deacon Joe said, noting that he and his wife are blessed. “It’s a very proud moment to say the least. We feel so blessed. I know he’s worked very hard to do this, but most importantly he has followed God’s calling.”

Deacon Joe doesn’t see any confusion about who is who for the next year.

“At home, it probably will continue to be dad and Danny. But at Mass or around church it will definitely be Deacon Daniel,” he noted.

Meeting the ordinands

The ordinands processed into the cathedral along with Bishop Stika, more than 20 priests, and some 20 fellow deacons from the diocese. Cardinal Justin Rigali served in choir during the Mass.

Bishop Stika greeted the families of the ordinands to begin Mass as well as the congregation that included friends and supporters of the young men.

“The Church of the Diocese of Knoxville, scattered throughout all the counties of East Tennessee, this day again celebrates a historic moment in which three men have been called by God Himself to become transitional deacons, the last stage before priesthood next year. We are grateful for all those who have brought us to this moment, especially their families,” Bishop Stika said.

Father David Carter, rector of the Basilica of Sts. Peter and Paul in Chattanooga, called for the deacon candidates to step forward toward the altar at which time Donald Bocephus Beaty, Daniel Joseph Herman, and Michael Daniel Willey responded “present.”

Then Father Arthur Torres, pastor of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish in Chattanooga and director of vocations for the diocese, asked Bishop Stika and the Church to ordain the men to the diaconate.

Bishop Stika responded: “Father Arthur, do you know them to be worthy?”

Father Torres answered: “After inquiry among the Christian people and upon recommendation of those concerned with their formation, I testify that they have been found worthy.”

Bishop Stika then said, “Relying on the help of our Lord, God, and savior, Jesus Christ, we now choose these, our brothers, for the order of the diaconate. Thanks be to God.”

In his homily, Bishop Stika introduced the ordinands to the assembly but also to the diocese and beyond.

“You just said ‘present.’ You presented yourselves, my brothers, to the whole Church. Not just the Church in this cathedral, or the Church in the Diocese of Knoxville, but to the whole Church universal scattered throughout the world.

“Your life has brought you to this moment, a moment that God always knew because He’s here (pointing to his heart), and maybe in the mystery of life and experiences you could never have fathomed years ago,” Bishop Stika said.

Bishop Stika then spoke about each ordinand.

“So, we have Bo, a product of St. Christopher Parish in Jamestown who began his journey in Jamestown and eventually converted to the Catholic Church. He is the only Catholic in his family. We welcome his family with open hearts because we still believe in the Lord, Jesus Christ.

“Bo began his journey at Carson-Newman in terms of faith, where one day he stopped by St. Patrick Church in Morristown, and eventually he met up with Monsignor (Patrick) Garrity, who Bo attributes to instilling in him a sense of vocation to the priesthood. And so began a very warm friendship. But it wasn’t only Monsignor. Father Michael Sweeney, who has the distinction of pastoring three parishes and drives hundreds of miles to celebrate Mass with people at St. Christopher in Jamestown, St. Ann in Lancing, as well as his parish in Harriman, Blessed Sacrament. Bo worked at McDonald’s, to which I have contributed a great deal of money over the years. Bo, you present yourself before God,” the bishop continued.

He then turned to Daniel Herman and Michael Willey.

“Now Danny, also a product of a smaller parish in Mountain City, Tenn. He has the distinction of having his father as my deacon here today. He was ordained last year. Danny is a true product of Mountain City. He played football and was involved,” the bishop said. “Eventually, he entered the United States Navy to be a pilot. But for a reason, God called him to this moment, with all of his experiences and all of his joys with his family.”

“We also have Michael, a product of St. Thérèse of Lisieux Parish in Cleveland. Michael studied philosophy at St. Louis University, where I attended, before he was planning to come into the seminary. He received his degree, and he is very talented with languages. I have learned that Michael did not waste any time during COVID. He began to fall in love with kayaking,” he added.

Understanding the office

As the Rite of Ordination for deacons continued, Bishop Stika reminded the congregation that a deacon’s role “is to be a minister of charity, to be a minister of the Gospel who has that privilege of preaching and proclaiming the Gospel, to celebrate at wakes and funerals, baptisms, beautiful sacraments, but to represent the bishop, to represent the Church, to represent the people of God in sacramental ways, but also the witness by how they choose to live their lives.”

He said the deacons will commit to faithfully praying the Liturgy of the Hours, which is the official daily prayer of the Church, to join with the Church throughout the world in praying the Psalms, to pray through intercessory prayer, and to celebrate the feast days.

Bishop Stika also instructed the assembly on celibacy as a part of the men’s ordination.

“They will also make a commitment to celibacy, which is sometimes so misunderstood. Celibacy is giving one’s life to the Church. It’s not just chastity, but it’s celibacy. As I have been reminding people over the 14 years that I have been here, if you forget to pray, if you forget to focus on Jesus, if you forget the sacramental understanding of who you are as deacons and as priests, down the road you will cease to be a celibate, maybe a name only, but you could become just a cranky old bachelor who demands of others what you should be giving to them. Prayer is the root and foundation of celibacy as you give your life to the Church,” the bishop said.

Bishop Stika instructed the ordinands on the vow of obedience that deacons and priests take, which extends to the bishop and beyond.

“You will promise respect and obedience to me and my successors. What does that mean? What that means is you will promise obedience to the Church, and respect to the Church, to me and my successors, but through me and through my successors to the Church and to the people of God, who will continue to teach you about what it means to be a man of faith and a man of God, to be the sacramental presence in their lives,” Bishop Stika advised the ordinands.

He also cautioned the young men against thinking their formal education is coming to an end as they prepare to celebrate the Holy Eucharist at the altar. Seminary is at least a four-year commitment before ordination to the priesthood depending on the coursework a seminarian undertakes.

“You may think, ‘Oh, thank goodness. The seminary is almost finished.’ No, your life begins anew. For the people of God will now be your professors, and the grade will be how they choose then to respond to your message. The deacon serves at the altar to assist the ministers, the priests, and the bishops. There’s nothing more fundamental. As the Church reminds us in Vatican II, the Eucharist itself is the summit of everything we believe in. It is the glue that binds us together in the love of Jesus Christ, in the love of His Father, inspired by the Holy Spirit,” Bishop Stika said.

The bishop shared that he has now ordained 24 men to the priesthood for the Diocese of Knoxville, reminding the ordinands that in a year they will join that list.

“So, I say to you, thank you. Thank you for this radical change in your life. A radical change. An ontological change. A beautiful change in your life. Thank you in the name of all the people of God,” Bishop Stika told the newest members of the Diocese of Knoxville diaconate.

Deacon Beaty has been assigned to the Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus when he is not in school for his last year at St. Meinrad Seminary and School of Theology in St. Meinrad, Ind. Deacon Herman, who also is studying at St. Meinrad, has been assigned to St. Alphonsus Parish in Crossville. Deacon Willey, who is studying at St. Meinrad, too, has been assigned to St. Patrick Parish in Morristown.

Bishop Stika concluded his homily by saying when the young men are ordained as priests in 2024, “the totality of your lives is now given to the Church. What a blessing. What a grace. And what a gift. Amen. Alleluia!”

Bishop Stika then proceeded with the examination phase of the Rite of Ordination, the Promise of the Elect.

“My dear sons, Bo, Danny, and Michael, before you proceed to the Order of the Diaconate you must declare before the people your resolve to undertake this office. So, I ask you:

• “Do you resolve to be consecrated for the ministry of the Church through the laying on of my hands and the gift of the Holy Spirit?
• “Do you resolve to discharge with humble charity the office of the diaconate so as to assist the priestly order and to benefit the Christian people?
• “Do you resolve to hold fast to the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience, as the apostle says, and to proclaim the faith by word and deed according to the Gospel and the Church’s tradition?
• “Those of you who are prepared to embrace the celibate state, do you resolve to keep this commitment perpetually as a sign of the dedication of your life to Christ the Lord for the sake of the kingdom of heaven and in service to God and others?
• “Do you resolve to guard and increase the spirit of prayer proper to your way of life, and in keeping with this spirit and the circumstances of your life, to celebrate faithfully the Liturgy of the Hours with and for the people of God and indeed for the whole world?
• “Do you resolve to conform your manner of life always to the example of Christ, whose Body and Blood you will handle at the altar?”

Each man responded “I do” or “I do with the help of God” to each question.

During the Litany of the Saints the deacon candidates prostrated themselves before the altar.

The candidates then knelt before Bishop Stika one at a time, placed their hands in Bishop Stika’s hands, and when asked by the bishop if they promise respect and obedience to him and his successors, responded “I do.”

Bishop Stika replied after each “I do,” “May God, who has begun this good work in you, bring it to fulfillment.”

Prayer of Ordination

Bishop Stika then gave the Prayer of Ordination and led the congregation in a prayer for the diaconate candidates, saying, “Dearly beloved, that God, the almighty Father, will in His mercy pour out the grace of His blessing on these His servants, whom he is pleased to receive into the sacred Order of the Diaconate.

“Grant, O Lord, to your servants, whom you have replenished with heavenly food and drink, that for the sake of your glory and the salvation of believers, they may be found faithful as ministers of the Gospel, of the sacraments, and of charity. Through Christ, our Lord. Amen.”

Following the Prayer of Ordination, the ordinands became deacons.

At this point in the liturgy, the investiture took place with the diaconal stole and dalmatic.

Deacon Beaty was vested by Father Sweeney. Deacon Willey was vested by Deacon Steve Ratterman, who serves at St. Thérèse of Lisieux in Cleveland. After Deacon Joe Herman vested his son, they shared a long embrace.

Bishop Stika led the congregation in a closing prayer for the new deacons:

“May God, who has called you to the service of others in His Church, give you great zeal for all, especially the afflicted and the poor. May He, who has entrusted you with preaching the Gospel of Christ, help you as you live according to His Word to be a sincere and fervent witness. May He, who has appointed you stewards of His mysteries, make you imitators of His Son, Jesus Christ, and ministers of unity and peace in this world. Amen”

“What a great day it is in the history of the Diocese of Knoxville, for once again, like I have in the past 14 years, I’ve had the honor and privilege of ordaining transitional deacons who will be priests next year. These three men join an additional deacon who was ordained earlier this year, and next year we will have four new priests,” the bishop said.

“This is a joyful time for the diocese to have four men who are willing to give service to the Church for the rest of their lives,” he added.

Deacons Willey, Herman, and Beaty join Deacon Renzo Alvarado Suarez, who Bishop Stika ordained to the transitional diaconate in Mexico on Jan. 22. Deacon Suarez, who is in seminary in Mexico, is serving at the Basilica of Sts. Peter and Paul in Chattanooga this
summer.