In 1976, just months after my own ordination to priesthood, I was given a rare and wonderful opportunity to spend a few days in retreat with a man named Jean Vanier. Vanier’s example, his writings, his vision of ministry, his love of the poor and lowly will remain as lasting legacies to the Church.

Jean Vanier came from a prominent Canadian family. His father was the 19th Governor General of Canada. Career opportunities abounded in Jean Vanier’s life. Yet after receiving an exceptional education and a wide array of career opportunities, he chose to dedicate his life and lay ministry to the developmentally disabled in cities across the world. He founded L’Arche Communities – special homes where the disabled live out their lives in worth, dignity and productivity.

During my retreat experience, Vanier shared a wonderful story about a young man named Stephen, who was a resident of the L’Arche Community. Vanier described Stephen as a youngster who could run like the wind and dreamed of one day participating in the Special Olympics.

The staff of the L’Arche Community also recognized Stephen’s prowess on the running track, so they enrolled him as a Special Olympic hopeful. Under the tutelage of the L’Arche staff, Stephen ran, trained and practiced until the big day finally arrived.

The staff and residents of the L’Arche Community crowded into the grandstand and waited for the race to begin. Stephen and his fellow runners got in line, the starting gun sounded and Stephen ran for all he was worth – far ahead of the pack, just as everyone predicted. But then the unexpected happened. One of Stephen’s fellow runners tripped and fell. Stephen saw the mishap from the corner of his eye. He stopped running, went back to his friend, helped him up and dusted him off. All the other runners passed them by. Young Stephen took the hand of his fallen friend, and the two of them, in slow motion, finally crossed the finish line in last place.

Stephen did not win the gold or the silver or the bronze, but he won the hearts of all who gathered on that day.

Vanier pointed out that the poor, the lowly, and the little ones in God’s kingdom teach a priceless lesson to the followers of Christ. In a world that values wealth and power, degrees and pedigrees, the little ones (called anawim in Hebrew) have great things to teach us. In the words of St. Paul, they teach us, “To set our hearts on the greater things” and to fashion our hearts after the meek and humble example of Christ.

On Dec. 16, witnessing the diaconal ordination of our brother and friend, Stuart Long, provided a living homily. Stuart is a man filled with goodness and compassion, who has heard the voice of the Lord calling him by name. After years of dedicated study and preparation, Stuart presented himself for ordination to the Transitional Diaconate. The Church recognizes Stuart’s faith in Christ, his love of the Church, his own commitment to the poor and lowly, and his willingness to serve. That Saturday began a new chapter in Stuart’s life marked by servant leadership.

In a powerful reflection on diaconal ministry, German Cardinal Walter Kaspar offered a poignant and startling observation on the ministry of deacon in the Church: “The basic attitude of the deacon must make it clear that the Christian path is not an ascent or triumphal march in glory, but a path that looks downward, following Jesus Christ, Who descended from Heaven.” Kaspar describes the ministry of deacon as a “downwardly mobile career, marked with an attitude of humility and a willingness to meet the needs of the Church.”

From the earliest days of the Church in the writings of Justin, Hippolytus, Polycarp and Ignatius of Antioch, the deacon is described in similar terms by each of the Church Fathers. He is the one who becomes, through the laying on of hands, the eyes, the ears, the heart and the hands of the bishop, so that the needs of the whole community – especially the poor and lowly – will be met with tenderness and care.

Cardinal Kaspar observed that the deacon also helps the entire community, through a life of humble servitude, loving Christ with a tender and selfless love, and then inspiring others to carry the torch of His love into every heart and home, into workplace, marketplace, classroom and neighborhood. This gospel vision helps us and one another see no longer with physical eyes, but with the eyes of the heart, as in the words of the Eucharistic Prayer that “We might live no longer for ourselves, but for Christ.” Through the Ordination Rite, Stuart became a co-worker with the priests of the Church who have as their primary duty the proclamation of the gospel to all. As such, he was asked to “Believe what you read, teach what you believe and practice what you teach.”

The loudest gospel he will preach will come from the way he lives out his life.

In his homilies, he will be asked to recognize the saving presence of Jesus, Who is ever active in the midst of the community, and help other people recognize the Holy Spirit at work in their daily lives and in the midst of this community, whenever two or three gather in His name.

He will re-present the Church through a life of public ministry that flows from his relationship with the Diocesan Bishop and the Universal Church. His dedication will be deepened and enriched by his promise to remain obedient to his bishop and to lead a life of chaste, celibate love for the sake of the Kingdom. His promises of obedience and celibacy become powerful symbols of his undivided love for Christ, and for the people he has been ordained to serve.

During his ordination, I asked the Holy Spirit to rest upon Stuart, and to give him every grace and blessing he will need to serve the Church faithfully and well. I also asked the Holy Spirit to imprint his soul with the spirit of confidence and joy so that others will see in Stuart the spirit of Christ, Who came, “Not to be served, but to serve.”

In this way, Stuart will come to know that special joy which belongs to those who dedicate their lives to faithful discipleship in Christ Jesus, Who is here, in our midst “As One Who serves.”


Published in The Montana Catholic, Vol. 23, No. 1, January 12, 2007.