Bishop Duca ordains four to permanent diaconate

Sent forth by Jesus’ command to “love one another as I love you,” the four newest deacons of the Diocese of Baton Rouge expressed their readiness to bring others to Christ through their service.
Bishop Michael G. Duca ordained Don Allison, Terry Bellon, Billy Francioni and Joe Perry to the permanent diaconate during a Mass Aug. 12 at St. Joseph Cathedral in Baton Rouge.

The rite of ordination took place after the reading of the Gospel, John 15:9-17, in which Jesus commanded the apostles at the Last Supper to “love one another.”

Deacon Michael Parker, Deacon Assistant and Parish Life Coordinator at Holy Rosary Church in St. Amant, called the elect for the diaconate to come forward. Father Paul Gros, Director of Formation for the Diaconate, presented the candidates to Bishop Duca and testified to their readiness for ordination. Bishop Duca chose the candidates for the Order of the Diaconate and the assembly applauded to express their assent.

In his homily, Bishop Duca reminded the candidates as well as those ordained and faithful present that through baptism they are called by love into a “diaconia” or service for the Gospel. Some, such as the deacons, are called to a special service in serving the community.

The bishop referred to the second reading of the day, Acts 6:1-7B. As the number of disciples grew, the Hellenists complained against the Hebrews because their widows were being neglected in daily distribution. The Twelve Apostles then established the diaconate by selecting seven reputable men “filled with the Spirit and wisdom” to “serve at table” the neglected widows and the poor so the apostles could focus on prayer and proclaiming the Gospel.


Priests, deacons and bishops all carry the ministry of the deacon, Bishop Duca emphasized.

Deacons are given sanctifying graces by the Holy Spirit, according to the bishop.

“You must always open your heart to the prompting of the Holy Spirit, which you already have because God has seen something that you did not see until suddenly inspired to consider the vocation of diaconate,” Bishop Duca said.

“Do not be so comfortable in your ministry that you don’t think that every day the Holy Spirt has something more to show you, more intense direction and that the Holy Spirit will call you into a deeper relationship with Christ.”

Among the duties of a deacon are to assist the bishop and priests with the ministry of the word at the altar, baptize, exhort unbelievers and believers alike in holy doctrine, preside over public prayer, witness and bless marriages and conduct funeral rites. All those will be connected to the ministry of charity, the bishop pointed out.

The bishop referred to the day’s Gospel reading in which Jesus says, “As the father has loved me, so I have loved you. Love another as I have loved you.”

“In our loving, the love of Christ pulls us into the love of the Trinity. And in our love of others, we pull them into that love of Christ. And through that love of Christ into the love of the Trinity,” said Bishop Duca.

“Let your ministry come from a heart of love,” stated the bishop.

Following the homily, Bishop Duca questioned the elect regarding their willingness to embrace the office of deacon. The elect then kneeled before the bishop and promised respect and obedience to him and his successors.

In a moving part of the liturgy, the elect laid prostrate before the altar as the assembly prayed for them through the intercession of the saints. Next, Bishop Duca laid hands on the heads of the Deacons in silence and then offered the prayer of ordination.

The newly ordained deacons were then vested with stoles and dalmatics, garments of a deacon.
Vested a deacons, the newly ordained kneeled before the bishop and received the Book of Gospels, with the instruction to “Believe what you read, teach what you believe and practice what you teach.”

After Bishop Duca gave each of the deacons the fraternal gesture of peace, the newly ordained deacons offered a gesture of peace to their fellow deacons.

With the Rite of Ordination completed, the celebration moved into the liturgy of the Eucharist.

At the conclusion of Mass, the assembly burst into applause and cheers as the new deacons walked down the aisle and exited the church to join waiting family and friends as the majestic recessional hymn, “Oh God, Beyond All Praising” resounded in the cathedral.

Photos by Collin Richie | Collin Richie Photography