Vol. 68, No. 11
Serving the Diocese of Crookston
July 23, 2014
Called to the Order of Deacons Christianson & Kujawa ordained May 31
CROOKSTON – “My friends, our hearts are full. We are grateful to God and Holy Mother Church for his great love and care and ‘we rely on the help of the Lord God and our Savior Jesus Christ’ in what we are about to do. By God’s grace, may John and Bryan be good Deacons.” With these words, Bishop Michael Hoeppner began the Mass for the ordination to the Diaconate of John Christianson and Bryan Kujawa. Family and friends of John and Bryan as well as parishioners, priests and deacons from around the Diocese gathered in the Immaculate Conception Cathedral on May 31 for the ordination of two native sons of the Diocese of Crookston. In his homily, Bishop Hoeppner invited the worshipping assembly to consider the solemnity of what was about to happen, saying: “Brothers and sisters, since these our sons, who are your relatives and friends, are now to be advanced to the Order of Deacons, consider carefully the nature and rank in the Church to which they are about to be raised. Strengthened by the gift of the Holy Spirit, they will help the Bishop and his Priests in the ministry of the word, of the altar, and of charity, showing themselves to be servants to all.” Explaining further the threefold ministry of the diaconate in service
to the word, to the altar and of charity, the bishop concluded: “These three – word, altar and charity – are united. One flows out of and into the others. All three are essential, all three are required, and all three are the criterion by which the credibility of a Deacon’s ministry is judged. With the help of God, a Deacon is to go about these duties in such a way that you will clearly recognize him as a disciple of the One who came not to be served but to serve.” Then, before the bishop and in the midst of the worshipping assembly, John and Bryan made their diaconal promises, among which were the promises to prayer, fidelity, obedience and celibacy. After invoking the assistance of heaven through the solemn chanting of the Litany of Saints, in turn John, then Bryan, knelt before Bishop Hoeppner for the ancient, apostolic gesture of the laying on of hands. By this gesture the Bishop calls down the Holy Spirit upon those to be ordained to consecrate them for their sacred duties. Giving voice to the silent gesture the Bishop then prayed the prayer of Ordination in which he said: “Send forth upon them, Lord, we pray, the Holy Spirit, that they may be strengthened by the gift of your sevenfold grace for the faithful carrying out of the work of the ministry. May there abound in them every Gos-
Bishop Hoeppner prays over the diaconal candidates.
pel virtue…” And with joy the Church joined together and sang: AMEN! Deacon John and Deacon Bryan both expressed humble gratitude for the outpouring of love, prayers and support during their years of formation and on this great day. A reception in their honor took place in the Cathedral Centrum for all in attendance to celebrate. Many were able to share how deeply touched they were by the sacred ordination ritual of the Church. For his part, the newly ordained Deacon John summarized the experience saying: “It was a miraculous event. And it will linger as a fond memory due to the Grace that I received from God and the coming together of the diocese, my family and my friends to witness God’s steadfast work in the Church still today.” Deacon John Christianson was assigned by Bishop Hoeppner to serve St. Joseph’s of Moorhead for the summer. Deacon Bryan Kujawa was assigned to serve Sacred Heart of East Grand Forks and its missions of Holy Trinity, Tabor and St. Francis, Fisher. Both deacons will return for their final year of study and formation at St. Paul Seminary in the fall and, by God’s grace and successful completion of formation, will be ordained as priests for the Diocese of Crookston on May 23, 2015.
Newly ordained Deacons, Bryan and John, near the altar during the Liturgy of the Eucharist
John Christianson (left) and Bryan Kujawa (right) lay prostrate before Bishop Hoeppner and Bishop Emeritus Balke in Crookston’s Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception during the Mass of Ordination’s Litany of Saints on Saturday, May 31. (Story: OND Staff/ Photo Credit: Jason Klinnert)
Deacon Bryan Kujawa, Bishop Michael Hoeppner and Deacon John Christianson are all smiles following the Mass of Ordination.