Diaconate ordination

The role of all ordained ministries is to be modeled on the life of Christ, and that of deacons especially is, that of Christ the servant. 
 
Two men were recently ordained to the diaconate on Oct. 25—Deacons Aaron Schmit and Steve Quintus. Bishop Kagan ordained them to the ministry of the permanent diaconate at the Cathedral of the Holy Spirit. Deacons Aaron and Steve are the 39th class of permanent deacons to be ordained for the diocese.
 
In the Bismarck Diocese, men have been called forth to be ordained as permanent deacons since 1981. The diaconate office assists men who are studying to become deacons in their formation through a five-year program of academic instruction, spiritual and human development as well as practical pastoral experience. Upon completion, each man is prepared to minister as a deacon in parish and other ministerial situations, to preach the Gospel, to serve the poor and assist during the celebration of the Sacred Liturgy of the Church. 
 
Deacon Aaron Schmit 
 
Deacon Aaron and his wife, Kristal, have five children and he works as a financial advisor with American State Bank and Trust Company in Williston. Deacon Aaron serves at St. Joseph in Williston, St. John the Baptist in Trenton and St. Boniface in Grenora.
 
For Deacon Aaron, the calling to the diaconate came over the course of several years of asking God what he could do to further his faith.
 
“I have known for a long time that God wanted more from me,” Deacon Aaron said. “My entire adult life, I have been a practicing Catholic but mostly just going through the motions. From time to time, I would put a little more effort into my faith life and that is when I could hear God’s call. This went on for many years. Father Russell Kovash was our pastor for 11 years here at St. Joseph’s in Williston and he had a big impact on me and my faith life. He was instrumental in making Lighthouse Catholic CD’s available in the parish and brought Catholic radio to our area. I learned so much from him and those resources.”
 
Through prayer, Deacon Aaron slowly realized that God was preparing him for a greater role in the Church.
 
“At one point, Father Kovash brought Jerome Richter to Williston to speak at a one-day men’s Lenten retreat,” Deacon Aaron explained. “It was in prayer at that retreat that I first recognized that God was calling me specifically to the diaconate. That was about eight or nine years ago. I can see now how all that time prepared me, and that God really wanted more for me, not from me. What a blessing!”
 
After five years of formation, Deacon Aaron had mixed emotions approaching ordination. 
 
“I had all sorts of feelings, thoughts and emotions but mostly I felt grateful, humbled and ready.”
 
The formation process is long and rigorous in preparing a man to be a true servant of the Church and the people of the diocese. 
 
When asked what has sustained him throughout formation, Deacon Aaron said, “It has to be our good and patient Lord and others praying for me. I have had many people tell me over the last five years that they are praying for me. That has given me so much peace. I am so grateful.”
 
Being new to the deacon role, Deacon Aaron is still figuring out his vocation. He’s going to leave that up to the ultimate guide, Jesus, as well as his pastor, Fr. Paul Eberle.
 
He also happens to have another significant role model for the diaconate in his dad, now-retired Deacon Ken Schmit, who was ordained to the diaconate for the diocese in 2008 and served at the parish of St. Charles in Bowman.
 
“The impact my family had on my faith goes back to my early childhood,” Deacon Aaron said. “Mass attendance and being involved in the Church was a big part of our family life. My grandparents were also a positive influence on me in that regard. Church was a place of comfort, happiness and peace for me. Because I was comfortable in Church and I saw my parents and grandparents comfortable in Church, this provided me with an openness to God and His Church. This openness led me to being involved and, in turn, learning more about my faith. This all contributed to me being able to hear God’s call. I have to believe that our family life also contributed to my dad being able to recognize his call.”
 
Deacon Aaron never really thought of it as following in his dad’s footsteps to the diaconate as he had his own path to forge, but watching his dad as a deacon had a profound impact on his faith.  
 
“I have always looked up to my father and we have always had a close relationship,” Deacon Aaron said. “I am very grateful. I am also very grateful for the hours and hours and hours of prayers that he and my mom have prayed for our extended family. They have been and continue to be a wonderful example of love and faith.”
 
Deacon Steve Quintus
 
Deacon Steve and his wife, Barb, have three grown children. He is retired and was most recently employed as an assistant principal at Mandan High School. Steve serves at the parishes of Spirit of Life in Mandan, St. Martin in Huff and St. Anthony in St. Anthony.
 
Like Deacon Aaron, Deacon Steve has a very special family connection to the diaconate. His twin brother, Deacon Terry (now deceased) was ordained a deacon for the diocese in 2002.
 
“The discussion for my calling to the diaconate started when my twin brother, Terry, began his formation and then was ordained,” Deacon Steve explained. “At that time, I did not feel ready for the call to the diaconate. It took a few more years, after we moved to Mandan, that I really started to discern becoming a deacon. I had more discussions with Terry as well as people telling me that I should consider being a deacon. Unfortunately, Terry passed away as I was applying. But God stayed with me and kept urging me that now it is my time to become a deacon.”
 
Family support and a firm trust in God carried Deacon Steve to his ordination day. 
 
“A couple of weeks before ordination, I was a little bit apprehensive but then God provided me with a sense of peace and calm,” Steve said. “God also provided me the grace to help in my duties as a deacon and to always trust in Him. I feel privileged and honored to serve as a deacon.”
 
The formation process is a major commitment, but well worth it. The wives of married applicants attend all the formation sessions alongside their husbands. They are a great support to their husbands during formation as well as after ordination during their ministry.
 
“Daily prayer has definitely sustained me going through the formation process,” Deacon Steve said, “and my wife, Barb, who is ‘all in’ throughout the entire time. Also, support from my family, parish community, all the past and present priests who I have been associated with and especially at Spirit of Life in Mandan, Fr. Todd Kreitinger, Fr. Brandon Wolf and Fr. Keith Streifel. Others like Fr. John Paul Gardner and Fr. Chris Kadrmas also provided guidance.”
 
Both Deacon Aaron and Deacon Steve are also grateful to Deacon David Fleck, who heads up the diocesan office of the diaconate, for his help and guidance.
 
Applicants to the diaconate program come from various professional and academic backgrounds. A man must be between 30 and 55 years of age to apply. If you think you may have a calling to serve Christ’s Church as a deacon or to inquire about the formation program, contact Deacon David at 701-204-7210 or [email protected].