Hewitt ordained to transitional diaconate

By KENNY KEANE, Globe staff reporter
August 14, 2003

Right about this time next year people will hopefully refer to him as a priest, but for now they can just call him Deacon Matthew Hewitt.

The seminarian of the Sioux City Diocese was ordained to the transitional diaconate by Bishop Daniel N. DiNardo during an evening Mass on Aug. 9 at Sacred Heart Church in Sioux City.

"It was very exciting to be back in my home parish and see all the familiar faces - to feel their support and their enthusiasm - and to be there in prayer with them as I take the step," said Hewitt, who graduated from Sacred Heart School. "It was just an exciting day - overwhelming and moving - as I took the vows and consecrated myself to service in the church as a deacon.

"Events like this are like anchors in one's life that they can look back to. They really keep you going in the right direction and kind of rejuvenate and fuel a person for a future ministry. This will be a great memory that I can look back on and be fueled by."

The Mass began with Hewitt seated in the first pew next to his parents, Daryl and Sharon Hewitt of Cedar Rapids, and his five siblings - one older brother and four sisters.

Hewitt's sister Brenda recited the first reading, 1Kings 19:4-8, and his sister Tricia read the second, Ephesians 4:30-5:2.

After reading the Gospel, John 6:41-51, Deacon Robert Wiskus asked Hewitt to come forward for the election of the candidate. Father Brian Hughes, vocations director for the diocese, presented Hewitt before the bishop and testified that he has been found worthy to be ordained as a deacon.

The bishop led the congregation in applause and then delivered his homily, during which he said that the role of deacon is that of a servant. Pointing to the altar, he told the seminarian that by being ordained to the diaconate, he would become a servant of this and every other altar table.

"That's what a deacon does," the bishop said. "He's a servant of the table of the bread of life."

In conclusion to his homily, the bishop asked those present to consider carefully the nature of the rank in the church to which Hewitt was about to be raised.

"Strengthened by the gift of the Holy Spirit, he will help the bishop and his priests in the ministry of the word, of the altar and of charity, showing himself to be a servant to all," Bishop DiNardo said. "As a minister of the altar, he will proclaim the Gospel, prepare the sacrifice and distribute the Lord's Body and Blood to the faithful.

"Furthermore, it will be his duty, at the bishop's direction, to exhort believers and unbelievers alike and to instruct them in holy doctrine. He will preside over public prayer, administer baptism, assist at and bless marriages, bring Viaticum to the dying and conduct funeral rites."

Following the homily, Hewitt stood before the bishop for the promise of the elect, during which the prelate asked him a series of questions about his commitment to this new ministry, to which the seminarian responded, "I do."

Hewitt then knelt and placed his hands between the bishop's to make his promise of obedience.

Next was the litany of supplication where the elect prostrated before the altar, during which the Litany of Saints was sung.

At the conclusion of the litany the bishop extended his hands and said, "Lord God, mercifully hear our prayers and graciously accompany with your help what we undertake by virtue of our office. Sanctify by your blessing this man we present, for in our judgment we believe him worthy to exercise sacred ministries."

With Hewitt kneeling before him, Bishop DiNardo then placed his hands on the seminarian's head and prayed in silence. Extending his hands over the elect, the bishop recited the prayer of consecration.

The newly ordained deacon was then vested in stole and dalmatic by former Sacred Heart pastor, Father Bruce Lawler. Hewitt again knelt before the bishop, who presented him with the book of the Gospels. The bishop offered the new deacon the sign of peace, after which other deacons and priests present offered Hewitt the sign of peace and joined him at the altar for the Liturgy of the Eucharist.

Following the Mass, a reception was held in the parish hall.

Before his priestly ordination next year, Deacon Hewitt will return to Rome on Sept. 5 for continued discernment and growth in his calling to the priesthood. In the meantime, he said he is just glad to be a deacon for the Diocese of Sioux City.

"I'm looking forward to being a deacon for the Masses here at the Cathedral, proclaiming the Gospel and giving homilies," he said. "I'm very fortunate to have received so much encouragement and support from the parishioners at Sacred Heart and at the Cathedral. I'm just overjoyed and filled with the Holy Spirit to continue, be enriched and be nourished to go back to Rome and finish up this last year preparing for the ordination to priesthood."