Permanent Deacons

Introduction

The Order of Deacons is the third of the hierarchal degrees of the ordained clergy of the Roman Catholic Church.  The Order of Bishops and the Order of Priests constitute the other degrees of the Sacrament of Holy Orders.  "Those who are constituted in the order of the episcopate or the presbyterate receive the mission and capacity to act in the person of Christ the Head, whereas deacons are empowered to serve the People of God in the ministries of the liturgy, the word and charity." (Omnium in Mentem, §2)

Ordination

Deacons are ordained by the laying on of hands, a tradition handed down from the Apostles, so that through sacramental grace they may effectively fulfill their ministry. Therefore, even from early Apostolic times, the Catholic Church has held the holy Order of the Diaconate in high honor.

"Insofar as competent authority assigns them, it pertains to the deacon: to administer Baptism solemnly; to protect and distribute the Eucharist, assist at and bless marriages in the name of the Church, bring Viaticum to the dying; read the Sacred Scriptures to the faithful, instruct and exhort the people; preside over the prayer and worship of the faithful, administer sacramental, and officiate at funeral and burial rites. Dedicated to duties of charity and administration, deacons should be mindful of the admonition of St. Polycarp. 'Be merciful, zealous, waling according to the truth of the Lord, who made himself minister of all." (Rite of Ordination of Deacons, 173-174)

Spirituality  

“My sons, you are being raised to the order of deacons. The Lord has set an example for you to follow. As deacons you will serve Jesus Christ, who was known among his disciples as the one who served others. Do the will of God generously. Serve God and mankind in love and joy. Like the men the apostles chose for works of charity, you should be a man of good reputation, filled with wisdom and the Holy Spirit. Show before God and mankind that you are above every suspicion of blame, a true minister of Christ and of God's mysteries, men firmly rooted in faith. Never turn away from the hope which the Gospel offers; now you must not only listen to God's word but also preach it. Hold the mystery of faith with a clear conscience. Express in action what you proclaim by word of mouth. Then the people of Christ, brought to life by the Spirit, will be an offering God accepts. Finally, on the last day, when you go to meet the Lord, you will hear him say: ‘Well done, good and faithful servant, enter into the joy of your Lord.’" (Bishop’s Homily, Rite of Ordination of Deacons, 199)

Permanent Deacons of the Diocese of Victoria in Texas

Deacon Stephen Borowicz, St. Joseph Parish, Inez
Deacon Adrian Canales, St. Robert Bellarmine Parish, El Campo*
Deacon Margarito Cervantez, St. Robert Bellarmine Parish, El Campo
Deacon Louis Endris, St. Rose of Lima, Schulenburg
Deacon Richard Evans, St. Mary Parish, Victoria*
Deacon Kenneth Fishbeck, St. Joseph Parish, Moulton
Deacon John Glueck, St. Anthony Parish, Columbus
Deacon Charles Glynn, Sts. Peter & Paul Parish, Frelsburg
Deacon Jerome Grahmann, St. Philip the Apostle Parish, El Campo
Deacon Linard Harper, Sacred Heart Parish, Hallettsville
Deacon Anthony Hensley, Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Parish, Ganado*
Deacon Nazario Hernandez, Our Lady of the Gulf Parish, Pt. Lavaca 
Deacon Lution Hill Jr., Sacred Heart Parish, Hallettsville
Deacon Lawrence Hoelscher, St. Philip the Apostle Parish, El Campo
Deacon Bennie Holesovsky, St. Anthony Parish, Columbus
Deacon Paul Hunsucker, St. Rose of Lima, Schulenburg
Deacon Edward Huse, Holy Family of Joseph, Mary and Jesus Parish, Victoria*
Deacon Billy Key, Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish, Bay City
Deacon Kevin Knox, Holy Cross Parish, Bay City
Deacon James Koenig, St. Mary Parish, Victoria
Deacon Larry Koether, Our Lady of Sorrows Parish, Victoria
Deacon Tim Kozelsky, Sacred Heart Parish, Flatonia*
Deacon Patrick Kubala, St. John Nepomucene Parish, New Taiton
Deacon Dennis Kutach, St. Joseph Parish, Yoakum
Deacon Dusty Leopold, Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Parish, Nada
Deacon Joseph Machacek, Sts. Cyril and Methodius Parish, Shiner
Deacon Alvin Matthys, Holy Family Parish, Wharton#
Deacon John McCourt, Queen of the Holy Rosary Parish, Hostyn
Deacon Eduardo Molina, Our Lady of Sorrows Parish/Holy Trinity Chapel, Victoria
Deacon Michael Morkovsky, Sts. Cyril and Methodius Parish, Shiner
Deacon Andrew Nunmaker, St. Roch Parish, Mentz
Deacon Kevin Petrash, Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Parish, Ganado
Deacon Joseph Ramos, Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish, Bay City
Deacon Guadalupe Rodriguez, Our Lady of Guadalupe, Bay City
Deacon Matthew Schaefer, The Cathedral of Our Lady of Victory Parish, Victoria 
Deacon Leo Sharron, St. Michael Parish/Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish, Cuero
Deacon Fred Soto, St. Patrick Parish, Bloomington
Deacon Michael Tankersley, Sacred Heart Parish, Hallettsville*
Deacon Joseph Targac, St. Mary Parish, Hallettsville
Deacon Rusty Theut, St. Anthony Parish, Columbus*
Deacon Frank Tilley, Our Lady of Sorrows Parish, Victoria
Deacon Luan Tran, Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish, Bay City
Deacon Douglas Tromblee, Sts. Peter & Paul Parish, Frelsburg/St. Roch Parish, Mentz
Deacon Bruce Turner, Holy Famil Parish, Wharton
Deacon David Valdez, Holy Family Parish-Wharton/St. Joseph Mission-Boling
Deacon Michael Vieira, St. Anthony of Padua Parish, Palacios
Deacon Frank (Jay) Vocelka, St. Rose of Lima Parish, Schulenberg
Deacon Anthony Warzecha, Holy Family of Joseph, Mary, and Jesus, Victoria#
Deacon Edward Wendel, St. Andrew's in Hillje and St. Procopius in Louise

*Member--Deacon Council
#Retired

Deacon Wives

Introduction 

Little is said of the role of the wife in the National Directory for the Formation, Ministry, and Life of Permanent Deacons in the United States. Perhaps because until now there is no specific role for the wife of a Catholic clergyman, there is reluctance establish detailed requirements. The only definite requirement is that the wife gives her consent and support at several stages of development and formation. That is the primary reason for the desire that the wife should attend formation sessions.  She can only give her consent and support to what she knows, and there is simply no other way to know about the impact of ordination on any individual or the family without an extensive reference point.

Further, the Directory says….

In deciding to pursue a possible diaconal vocation, a married man must comply with the wishes of his wife, in a spirit of mutual commitment and love. A wife is an equal partner in the Sacrament of Matrimony and is an individual person with her own gifts, talents, and call from God. A candidate’s diaconal formation can be a unique and challenging situation and opportunity for his wife. She should be involved in the program in appropriate ways, remembering, however, that it is the husband who is responding to a call to the diaconate. The Church has determined that a married man cannot be considered for the diaconate without the consent of his wife. After ordination, a deacon’s wife needs to “be duly informed of [her] husband’s activities in order to arrive at a harmonious balance between family, professional and ecclesial responsibilities (Directory, 138).

Because of the importance of blending marriage and diaconal ministry, wives are strongly urged to attend the deacon spiritual formation sessions, unless illness, family, or other obligations prevent it. The program understands that some wives will have work or family obligations that make it difficult to attend all weekends or all parts of particular weekends.