Cover story

Deacon Makes His Mark

On most days, you’ll find Deacon Greg Kirk at the YMCA. Fitness is an important part of his life, and for more than twenty years he’s kept a routine that includes regular weight lifting and swimming. On Sundays, you’ll find Deacon Kirk at St. Joseph Catholic Church. He has been a deacon of the Diocese of Toledo for more than 25 years.

At 61, Greg Kirk is a busy man. He works full time as a loan officer for a local bank. He has a wife, Shelly, five children, and one grandchild. As a deacon, he is assigned to his home parish, St. Joseph Catholic Church in Galion, Ohio and Holy Trinity in nearby Bucyrus. Despite those commitments, he’s at the YMCA nearly every day. In fact, he credits the workouts with helping him get through his busy days. “I think physical exercise helps us work through stress and worry and the demands of daily life,” Greg said.

Greg’s routine is to exercise six days a week. Half of the time he heads to the pool on his lunch break to swim a half mile. “It’s not a chore for me. I love being in the pool,” he says with a smile. The other days, he heads to the weight room. Sunday, naturally, is a day of rest.

Deacon Greg stands at the ambo at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Galion, Ohio.

Photo by Scott W. Grau/Special to the Diocese of Toledo

Greg’s love of physical fitness started as a child. He jokes that it might be in his DNA. His dad was drafted to a professional baseball team, the New York Giants (later to relocate and become the San Francisco Giants). During his youth, Greg enjoyed baseball, basketball, running and swimming. Years later, he encouraged his children to try some of the same sports. The Kirk house was a hub for baseball, volleyball, running, and skateboarding. By the time Greg turned 40, he had not lifted weights regularly for years. He decided to change that. “I wanted to lose weight and have more energy,” Greg said. Twenty years later, he is still committed to those goals.

Greg Kirk in the weight room at the YMCA in Galion, Ohio.

Photo by Scott W. Grau/ Special to the Diocese of Toledo

While Greg enjoys his time in the weight room, swimming is special to him. In addition to the physical benefits, Greg finds tremendous spiritual benefits. In the pool, he finds a sense of peace. In fact, it’s one of his favorite places to pray. “When I finish a half mile or three-quarter mile swim, I feel like my body, mind, and spirit are one.” He continues, “The physical work gets me to a point where I’m ready to listen to God.” He’s found that the same is true for other types of exercise, but he particularly loves the quiet of the pool.

“In my years of swimming, I’ve only been interrpted once,” he laughs. The connection between faith and physical fitness is obvious to Greg. “We’re made in the image and likeness of God. He created us. Why wouldn’t we take care of that gift?” he ponders.