Deacon Perry's "transfiguration moment" leads to call to diaconate call

When experiencing a “transfiguration moment” on a mountain top, one may expect that is the precise moment they will receive an answer to a burning question. This was not the case for Deacon Joe Perry when taking in the majestic view at the top of Pico de Orizaba in Mexico.

The Blessed Mother gave him the answer after he came down from that mountain and was at the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe. She answered, “Yes, you should become a deacon.”

Bishop Michael G. Duca ordained Deacon Perry and three other men to the permanent diaconate Aug. 12 at St. Joseph Cathedral in Baton Rouge.

Deacon Perry grew up in a “very Catholic family.”  He received his education at St. Gerard School (now St. Gerard Redemptorist Elementary) and graduated from Redemptorist High School.  

While his mother was “crazy devoted” to the Blessed Mother, Perry said he never picked up on the devotion. He was Catholic “in name only.”


The deacon had a conversion when he and his wife, Christy, whom have been married for to 28 years, adopted their daughter Claire, who recently graduated from St. Michael the Archangel High School in Baton Rouge and will be attending Shelton State Community College in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.

“It struck me how much I wanted her to be baptized and how much I wanted her to go to a Catholic school and wanted her to “find the faith.” But for me, my whole life I had just ignored it, never put energy or effort or thought into my own faith.”

When Deacon Perry went to Mass at St. George Church in Baton Rouge with his wife and daughter, he experienced profound moments of peace. Yet he would make some strides forward, then “immediately go back” to his old ways.

When Claire was a student at St. George School in Baton Rouge, she and Deacon Perry talked about faith issues.

“I would have these moments when it was very clear to me that I needed to be a deacon,” said Deacon Perry. “But I thought, ‘That was the stupidest thing I’ve ever heard in my life. Are you kidding? What made you think that? You’re not even a good Catholic, a good Christian.’ ”
Then Deacon Perry met Father Brad Doyle, then a newly minted priest serving as parochial vicar at St. George.

“He was young, athletic, smart and cocky,” said Deacon Perry. “I had never seen a priest like that. I thought ‘Who is this guy?’ But it intrigued me, it lit a fire in me, I thought ‘I need to check this out.’ ”

Father Doyle invited the St. George men to go with him to climb Pico de Orizaba. It is an active stratovolcano with an elevation of 18,620 feet above sea level; the highest volcano in Mexico as well as the highest mountain in Mexico and the third highest mountain in North America. Then they would tour the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe to “give praise to Our Mother.”

“I thought, ‘This is the is the craziest thing I had ever heard of … I don’t like cold weather; I’m not going to risk my life on this mountain.’ But I signed up anyway,” Deacon Perry said.  

The group of eight men spent a year getting physically in shape and spiritually by reading about how to be strong men in society and lead their children and families and “be the men God called them to be.”

During the training, Deacon Perry privately learned about the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe and prayed the rosary and had more thoughts about being a deacon.

“I put the Lord to the test, I said, ‘Well, I’m going on this trip, I’m going to be with a priest, I’m going to be at Mass every day for 10 days. I’m going to be hiking. I’m going to have a lot of time to think about if (being a deacon) is your will. Will I be a deacon? You’re going to have to show me and if I don’t get that sign, I will move on and never think about it again.’ ” the deacon stated.

Near the trip’s conclusion, Deacon Perry challenged himself like never before and relished new experiences. Yet he thought, “This has been a great trip, I grew up spiritually but there was never a sign or inkling that I needed to be in the deaconate.”

“I remember relaxing in the back of the van and getting out at the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe and thinking, ‘It’s over. I can just relax and we’re going to tour the shrine and celebrate Mass and then we’re going into town and eat, drink and be merry like men who just climbed a mountain.’ ”

After a day of touring the shrine, praying and talking, Deacon Perry received his call during a private Mass at a chapel in the shrine.

“Father Brad said, ‘Hey after my homily, will you talk to the men about the tilma and the symbolism behind the miracle you researched and that you know really well?’ I said ‘OK’ and he gave his homily and asked me to stand up and talk to the men about the miracle and its importance.


“When I sat down Father Brad stayed in the same spot and never moved and was staring me right in the eyes. Then he said, ‘Wow, that was very beautiful. You need to be a deacon one day so you can teach and preach.’ ”

Deacon Perry did not expect something so powerful. It was too strong to ignore.

He went home and told his wife and began the diaconate formation process. Throughout his formation, he leaned on his wife for support saying, “She’s an amazing spouse and partner.”

Deacon Perry has been assigned to the community he grew up in and loves, St. Gerard Church.
His ministry of charity will be serving children at St. Gerard Redemptorist Elementary, something he already has experience with.

Prior to ordination Deacon Perry returned to the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe with Father Paul Yi, pastor of St. George, as part of a Marian consecration because he believed she wanted him to return before becoming a deacon.

“I did just what she asked as Our Mother,” Deacon Perry said. “She asked me to be a deacon and I listened to her. She wanted me to come back to give me a new peace and purpose to go and serve God’s people.”

Photos by Collin Richie | Collin Richie Photography