A peer into the Diaconate leads me to something else

Many of my family and friends are aware that for the past several years I have been answering a call in my life to lead a more religious life as a Deacon in the Catholic Church. The journey along this path led me to some great experiences, introduced me to lifelong friends, taught me about spiritual direction and has taught me much about my faith that I may never have learned without the need to take certain courses for the Vocation. I also learned in my time in the Diaconate that service to the Church and to our brothers and sisters can be done whether I am ordained or not. This fact that should be obvious and practiced by all people of good will was something that I was blinded to. I am not always that assertive of a person to just offer help as a concerned Christian brother, I always want a certified reason to be somewhere. But through my limited education I have learned that a title is not something I need to serve my fellow citizens of this world.
Service can be done in other ways.

(Going through the Rite of Candidacy, Spring 2011)

I do feel that it is necessary to say that I have profound love and respect for the other men and their wives that were enrolled in the Diaconate with me. I also pray daily for the 8 men that are still in formation to be ordained in the Spring of 2013. Having the knowledge of the sacrifices that these men and their wives make daily in order to serve our Catholic Church and the faithful brings me to  my knees and saddens me that I am no longer walking with them on their journey.

(Field Agent training in New Haven, CT)

My journey has brought me to a never imagined mode of service. It is often said that when God closes one door, He opens a window. My window has been with the Knights of Columbus. I first joined the Knights a year earlier while in the Diaconate as a way to be involved in my Parish while getting to know other like minded, charitable men of my faith. It was through this organization I found my way to serve others without being ordained into the clergy. I am a lector, usher and sometimes even a Eucharistic Minister at Mass, all of which I find to be terrific ways to serve my Church.

Then something else took me by surprise, and I am so glad it did. I was asked if I had any interest in becoming a Field Agent for the Knights of Columbus. My first thought was "an insurance  agent?" After all, I had dabbled in insurance a few years earlier and while I found myself somewhat good at it, I did not really enjoy it. But because of the organization, I felt compelled to at least research the opportunity. I  said yes to the initial interview and was asked to view a short video about this opportunity, which can be viewed at this link: http://bcove.me/zr0sbe9g. I was hooked after watching this video and viewed a few others at www.kofc.org. There were other hurdles to overcome, but I did with no problems.

Me and Supreme Knight Carl Anderson

This career choice has led to a fantastic opportunity to not only provide for my family financially but to also serve Catholic families in different ways. As their insurance agent I am able to help them understand the sometimes overwhelming world of finances and insurance, make changes to their existing insurance and help them file claims when a family member dies. It is this final duty that makes me realize that I am doing a service to God's people in being there with them in these tough and tragic times. I have been asked to pray with families as they go through unimaginable circumstances. This is something I envisioned myself doing as a Deacon someday.  Through my career with the Knights of Columbus I find myself to be an asset to the members who take advantage of the products we offer. I am their agent, I am there for them when children are born, young men get married, and when parents die. I am available and called on at all stages of life.

Father Michael J Mcgivney, the man I work for

Father Michael J Mcgivney had a vision of what the Knights of Columbus could do and I think he saw me and wanted me to be a part of that vision. http://kofc.org/un/en/about/history/index.html is a brief history of the Knights of Columbus.