Bishop Thompson's Homily - April 9 Diaconate Ordination Mass For John Pfister And Jerry Pratt Jr.
Diaconate Ordination Homily (John Pfister & Jerry Pratt) Acts 10:34, 37-43
St. Benedict Cathedral Ps 100
9 April 2016 1 Pt 4:7-11
John 15:9-17
Immediately following today’s ordination of John Pfister and Jerry Pratt, although only
for two months, the Diocese of Evansville will have four transitional deacons. In fact, for a
couple of minutes, we will have five. When was the last time that happened? The two that we
already have, Homero Rodriguez will be ordained a deacon while Deacons Tyler Tenbarge and
Ambrose Wanyonyi, will be ordained priests here in this same place on June 11. Interestingly
enough, the two that we will ordain priests are younger than the two that we are ordaining
deacons. That is in no way a complaint or criticism, but merely an observation. In fact, while
drawing from the wisdom of life experiences, Jerry and John have evidenced a rather youthful
sense of energy, enthusiasm and adaptability. Just as they have fit in so well with our
seminarians, they will fit in well with our deacons and priests.
Just two weeks out from Easter Sunday, our celebration truly bears the fruit of the Risen
Jesus Christ. It is in His name that we call forth these men, Jerry and John, for the Order of the
Diaconate. Their diaconal service must be rooted in the whole of the life, passion, death and
resurrection of Jesus Christ. There is no part of the gospel that can be left out of their witness to
the mission of our savior in revealing the kingdom of God at hand. Being ordained in this
Jubilee Year of Mercy, they and all of us should keep in mind that God ultimately desires mercy
rather than mere sacrifice. Indeed, ordained ministry and service involves a willingness and
capacity to sacrifice. That sacrifice, however, must be predicated on love and compassion rather
than pride and self-righteousness. Only then can we reflect the image of Jesus Christ, the face of
the Father’s mercy, in those we serve.
John and Jerry, you have learned much from those who have been entrusted with your
formation and education. It all began with your respective families, especially your parents. The
parishes and schools in which you attended have left their mark on you as well. More proximate
to this moment, we take note of our indebtedness to St. Meinrad Seminary and the parishes—
including priests, deacons, religious, staff and parishioners—in which you have gained
ministerial experience. Regardless of how old or prepared you may feel, however, you still have
much to learn. As you have done throughout your life leading up to this point, so you will
continue your formation and education through ongoing prayer, spiritual reading, study,
contemplation, collaboration with others and in the act of service itself. Your minds and hearts
must remain open to the various ways, expected as well as unexpected, that God will be revealed
to you in diaconal service. As Pope Francis noted in his Apostolic Exhortation, Evangelii
Gaudium (“The Joy of the Gospel”), we must be especially attentive to learning from the very
poor and vulnerable that we seek to serve. Commenting that the poor have much to teach us, the
Holy Father, states; “We need to let ourselves be evangelized by them…We are called to find
Christ in them, to lend our voice to their cause, but also to be their friends, to listen to them, to
speak for them and to embrace the mysterious wisdom which God wishes to share with us
through them.” [EG #198]
The scripture readings selected for your ordination Mass reflect the very principles of
missionary outreach to the margins in ministry and service. As St. Peter confirms in the first
reading, the Acts of the Apostles, you are being anointed with the Holy Spirit to bear witness to
all that Jesus Christ has done for us. You are commissioned to proclaim the Good News by your
lives as those who have gone before you. To be effective, as St. Peter writes in the second
reading, ministry and service must be motivated by love, relying on God more than self. As
noted in the Gospel of John, ultimate joy is to be realized in sacrificial love by laying down one’s
life—one’s own particular wants and desires—for the needs of others. Indeed, remain in the
love of Jesus Christ that your love for those entrusted to your care will actually benefit from truth
in charity rather than being merely placated with a false notion of cheap grace.
The disciplines of prayer, obedience and celibacy are meant to enable you to grow in the
spirit of service and witness to mercy. They are not obstacles, hurdles or distractions that are
somehow detached from what it means to be an ordained minister of the Catholic Church. They
are not meant to set you up as being better or greater than others. Your embrace of these
disciplines must be rooted in a Christ-centered mindset and devotion. Here, there is little room
for pride, selfishness and arrogance. Rather, as Pope Francis reminded the bishops upon entering
the Synod on the Family, you must cultivate the virtues of courage, humility and generosity.
Ultimately, you must surrender yourselves to Jesus Christ and His Body, the Church, in order to
serve as authentic and effective ministers for the sake of those entrusted to your pastoral care.
With great joy, the Diocese of Evansville calls you forth for Holy Orders. Though each
of you possesses tremendous gifts and talents, we pray that you will rely upon the grace of God
to fill up whatever may be lacking in you to carry out the rights and responsibilities that come
with being ordained deacons. Remember especially that diaconal service, like that of priestly
ministry, is not so much about the minister as it is about the will of God and the mission of Jesus
Christ, which are always geared toward the kingdom at hand and the salvation of souls. May
your witness as deacons be rooted in the joy of the Gospel.
