WISCONSIN DELLS — Deacon Michael Hess, a seminarian for the Diocese of Madison, was ordained a transitional deacon on May 15.

The joyful event was held at St. Cecilia Church in Wisconsin Dells, a part of St. John Paul II Pastorate.

Bishop Donald J. Hying of Madison ordained the new deacon.

Concelebrating the Mass were many priests of the diocese, as well as priests from the faculty of St. Francis De Sales Seminary and Sacred Heart Seminary, both in the Archdiocese of Milwaukee.

Fr. Jared Holzhuter, director of vocations for the Diocese of Madison, and Fr. Paul Ugo Arinze, parochial administrator of St. John Paul II Pastorate, were among the concelebrants.

There were also several deacons assisting at the Mass.

The Diocesan Choir and Schola provided the music.

The Knights and Dames of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem were present, along with a Knights of Columbus Honor Guard.

Family and future

After the Gospel, the rites of ordination began with the soon-to-be deacon being called forward and officially presented to the bishop by Father Holzhuter.

Then the bishop gave his homily. He thanked the vocations directors and seminary faculty.

He also expressed his warm gratitude to Deacon Hess’s family, many of whom were present.

Due to him being the only one to be ordained at this Mass, there was sufficient flexibility to hold the ordination at St. Cecilia Church.

This was a beautiful opportunity, since it is Deacon Hess’s home parish and his family goes back generations in the area.

There had been some concerns about traffic, with the Automotion festival being held in the area that weekend. But with local advice giving them advance warning, most attendees left early or drove alternative routes, and St. Cecilia Church was full when the Mass started.

The bishop, in his homily, addressed Hess directly.

“The Lord always provides laborers for His harvest, and so your vocation is the fruit of much prayer and sacrifice from the people of God, but also your own freedom, your own discernment and formation, which has led you to this one moment of both decision and grace. So we thank you, Michael, for laying your life down for Christ and His church.”

As the bishop reflected on the call of a deacon, he reminded Hess, “The Word does not belong to you. You belong to the Word.”

The bishop also looked back on his own experience of Hess’s commitment and expressed his confidence in the soon-to-be-ordained.

“As I look to the future for you, I see decades of holy, happy, loving service . . . We praise God in advance for all the good that He will do through you.”

Ordination rites

After the homily, Hess made a series of promises standing before the altar.

He resolved to be consecrated for the Church’s ministry, to live his office with humble charity, to hold fast to the mystery of the faith, to remain celibate, to maintain a spirit of prayer, and to conform his life to the example of Christ.

Then Hess knelt before the bishop to promise obedience to him and his successors.

After the promises, Hess lay prostrate while the congregation sang the Litany of the Saints — invoking a host of Heavenly intercessors on his ordination and ministry.

After the litany came the pivotal moment of ordination.

The bishop laid his hands on Hess’s head, passing on the Holy Spirit he had himself received, and prayed the prayer of ordination.

Following this, the newly made deacon vested for the first time, wearing the stole and dalmatic.

Fr. Greg Ihm, former vocations director for the Diocese of Madison, now serving as parochial administrator for St. Dominic Pastorate, was the vesting minister.

After vesting, Deacon Hess laid his hands on the Book of the Gospels and received the exhortation from Bishop Hying: “Believe what you read, teach what you believe, and practice what you teach.”

Finally, the deacon was welcomed with a sign of peace from other deacons present.

In this case, that included several of Deacon Hess’s upperclassmen, their own priestly ordination rapidly approaching a week later.

After his ordination, the new deacon took his place at the altar on the bishop’s right side.

Deacon Hess helped receive the gifts from his parents at the Offertory.

Throughout the rest of the liturgy, he assisted with the Mass, including distributing Communion to his family.

At the end of Mass, he was given a special blessing before the final joyful hymn.

Following Mass, Father Paul warmly invited the faithful to join in a reception across the street at the parish center.

God willing, Deacon Hess will be ordained to the priesthood for the Diocese of Madison next year.