Deacon Candidate Class of 2024 Immaculate Conception, Lakeland
I, my wife Nichole, and our three daughters, are life-long residents of Pointe Coupee parish and members of Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary church parish in Lakeland. For the past 19 years, I have been employed by the Stephenson National Center for Security Research and Training at Louisiana State University, serving the past 5 years as Assistant Director of the Law Enforcement Enterprise Portal Support Center. Throughout my life I have been involved in various lay-ministries, but I would often have this feeling that I was being called to offer more of myself. I did not know exactly what that ‘more’ would ultimately look like until two deacons involved in our church parish separately mentioned to me that I should consider the diaconate. After much prayer and discussion with my family, we came to the realization that I should answer the call by entering into formation for ordination to the Permanent Diaconate. The past year and a half of formation have been one of the most challenging and rewarding times of my life. Balancing the requirements of formation with family life and my job have been challenging, but with God’s help and the support and encouragement of my family, I have been able to persevere. I am so grateful for the rigorous intellectual formation provided by the Theology faculty at FranU, along with the spiritual leadership and guidance of the diocesan advisory board. I look forward to the next three and a half years of formation as I continue to discern God’s call in my life.