Seminarian Matthew Flatley ordained to diaconate as step toward Priesthood

This article originally appeared in the December 9, 2011 issue of The Catholic Missourian.

By Jay Nies

Once a deacon, always a deacon. Even when deacons become priests or bishops. “It’s not like other places where once you get finished with one job, you go on to another,” Bishop John R. Gaydos noted right before ordaining Matthew Flatley a transitional deacon on Dec. 3 in St. Joseph Church in Martinsburg. Rev. Mr. Flatley, a seminarian for the Jefferson City diocese who is in priestly formation at Sacred Heart School of Theology in Hales Corners, Wis., hopes to be ordained to the Holy Priesthood next December.

In the meantime, while completing his theological studies and practicums in ministry, he will participate in the threefold ministry of a deacon: proclaiming the word, assisting at the altar and carrying out concrete works of charity in the name of God and His Holy Church.

The word “deacon” comes from the Greek word meaning “slave,” in keeping with Jesus’ teaching that the greatest among His apostles is the one who serves others (Matthew 20:25b-28). “Jesus insists that the ways of the non-Christians lording it over others must not happen among those who follow Him,” Bishop Gaydos noted in his homily. “That’s not the way of true disciples, and certainly not the way of those who are set aside as ministers of the Gospel. “Rather,” the bishop stated, “they must aim to be diakonia — deacons — at the service of others, just as Jesus came to be at the service of others, even sacrificing His life to bring about our redemption.”

Like all deacons, permanent and transitional, Rev. Mr. Flatley will be called upon to proclaim the Gospel and instruct believers and unbelievers; to prepare the altar for the Mass; and to distribute the Body and Blood of Christ to the faithful. His responsibilities will also include presiding over public prayer, administering baptism, assisting at and blessing marriages, bringing viaticum to the dying, and conducting funeral rites.

 “With the help of God, he will go about all these duties in such a way that you will recognize him obviously as a disciple of the One Who came not to be served but to serve,” said Bishop Gaydos. As a transitional deacon for the diocese, he joins Rev. Mr. Colin Franklin, Rev. Mr. Louis Nelen and Rev. Mr. Anthony Viviano, who hope to be ordained priests for the diocese in the Spring of 2012.