On Saturday, January 8, 2022, seven men were ordained to the permanent diaconate in the Diocese of Grand Rapids. Among them was our very own Brian Piecuch! We asked Brian to share a little bit about becoming a deacon. See what the Diocese of Grand Rapids has shared here.
Brian Piecuch (middle row, far right) with the six other men ordained to the diaconate on Saturday, January 8, 2022.
What made you decide to pursue ordination to the permanent diaconate?
There was a time in my life before becoming Catholic when I sensed a calling from God and was discerning whether to be ordained a Protestant minister. That desire went dormant after getting married, working overseas, and converting to the Catholic faith. However, after having the opportunity to talk to a married Catholic friend who had recently been accepted into a diaconal formation program, the Holy Spirit kindled anew the desire to serve as an ordained minister. At the time, we were living in a diocese that didn’t offer formation into the permanent diaconate, so it wasn’t until about five years after moving to Holland, when Bishop Walkowiak restored the diocesan formation program, that I was able to apply to join the program.
Brian and Bishop David Walkowiak during the Rite of Ordination
Describe how you were feeling at the ordination Mass. Did any part of the Rite of Ordination stand out to you? How was God present to you during this time?
I was filled with joy throughout the whole Mass. There were a number of things that stood out to me: kneeling before the bishop, placing my hands between his, and promising my obedience to him; lying prostrate on the floor while the litany of the saints was sung; receiving the Book of the Gospels from the bishop with the words, “Receive the Gospel of Christ whose herald you have become. Believe what you read, teach what you believe, and practice what you teach”; and making numerous promises, including the promise to “conform your way of life always to the example of Christ, of whose Body and Blood you are a minister at the altar.” Even the final blessing at the end of the Mass was awesome! “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 its sincere and fervent witnesses. 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 the world.”
In regards to God’s presence, the joy I felt was certainly a special grace of the Holy Spirit. During the litany of the saints, I found myself focusing on the promise to conform my life to the example of Christ. I petitioned God for even greater clarity of knowledge of his will for my life and the grace to focus my words and actions completely on fulfilling that purpose.
Tell us a bit about the ministry of a deacon. What will you be doing to serve the Church?
Archbishop José Gomez of Los Angeles once wrote that “a Deacon is called to minister in persona Christi Servi – in the person of Christ the Servant. Ordination configures him to Jesus in his most humble form – as the Son of God who emptied himself to come among us in the form of a servant; as the Son of Man who came not to be served, but to serve.”
Brian Piecuch with his wife and children
Deacons are members of the clergy along with priests and bishops. A deacon’s ministry has three dimensions: liturgy, word, and service. At the liturgy, he assists the bishop and priests. At the Mass, the deacon proclaims the Gospel, may be invited to preach the homily, and assists at the altar. The deacon may also baptize, witness and bless marriages, preside at the Liturgy of the Hours, and preside at funeral liturgies, among many other duties. Living in the world, deacons are sent by the Church to be the presence of Christ to those in need.
Personally, I will continue my involvement in praying/live streaming Lauds every morning and helping with marriage preparation at the parish. I also will begin serving at different Masses each week and preaching roughly once a month. Other ministries will arise as the needs manifest themselves and time allows.
How are you most looking forward to serving as a deacon?
I like to preach, although homilies take a lot of preparation time and prayer (at least for me!), so I’m thankful I will have at least a month to prepare every time before preaching. Baptisms are beautiful, joyful times and will be fun. However, I think it will be at funerals where I will feel most useful, because of the opportunity to bring Christ’s love into the lives of people who are in deep pain and who are often far from him.
Brian and his wife Carmen have lived in Holland for twelve years. They have five children: Armand, Sofia, Cristina, Lucia, and Austin. Brian has worked as the Development Director and Program Coordinator for the Saint Benedict Institute for the last seven years. Many people are surprised to learn that Brian has a twin brother and several parishioners had a chance to meet him for the first time at the ordination!