Articles on the Permanent Diaconate A deacon offers wide-ranging ministry to God's family Deacon Michael McKale My desire to serve God began at a very early age. Soon after I made my First Communion I learned the Latin responses and became an altar server. During the summers I would walk daily to my home parish and wait there for a priest to come in to say an unscheduled Mass at the side altar just so that I could serve. I remember running into church during my lunch hour at school to pray in order to get some of "God's grace and energy" before going out onto the playground.   Deacons celebrate jubilee anniversaries Detroit – The Archdiocese of Detroit recognized permanent deacons who are celebrating significant anniversaries of their ordination this year at a Mass and dinner last Sunday at Sacred Heart Major Seminary. 2004 New deacons: Eight men ordained to serve archdiocese Robert Delaney, The Michigan Catholic Deacon Kenneth R. Weiss' journey to ordination was fraught with difficulties, but his troubles helped the entire 2004 class of permanent deacons – and their wives – form strong bonds of friendship and mutual support. Eight New Deacons for Detroit Archdiocese Cardinal Adam Maida ordained eight men to the diaconate in a ceremony Saturday, Oct. 2, at the Cathedral of the Most Blessed Sacrament in Detroit.    Archdiocese welcomes 12 new deacons Cardinal Adam Maida ordained 12 men to serve the Archdiocese of Detroit as permanent deacons last Saturday before a congregation of about 900 in the Cathedral of the Most Blessed Sacrament.  Deacon: 'Listen to the people near you ... God calls you' Deacon Raul Feliciano, Ste. Anne de Detroit Parish Was I struck by a bolt of lightening, or felt the power of the Holy Spirit harboring over me? Not really. When people ask me how I knew I was called to be a deacon, my answer is "I do not really know." What I say to those who ask is "listen to the people near you, they are the voice of God calling you."