Bishop ordains Jeremy Wind transitional deacon

By RENEE WEBB, Globe editor
Dec. 20, 2007

With Christmas just around the corner, Bishop R. Walker Nickless said this was the time of year when the Catholic Church rejoices.

"The church in the Diocese of Sioux City rejoices today that one of our brother's, Jeremy, will be ordained into the Order of Deacon," he said in his homily at the ordination Mass held at Cathedral of the Epiphany on Dec. 15. "As a deacon, he will be called to give his life in service to the church."

The bishop presided over the ordination of Jeremy Wind to the diaconate. The ordination takes Wind one step closer to the priesthood.

In the homily, Bishop Nickless referred to the initial doubts that the deacon candidate had about following his call to priesthood. He compared Jeremy to the prophet Jeremiah from the first reading, who had resisted the call of God.

"Lucky for us and lucky for Jeremy, I'm sure, that he finally gave in," said the bishop. He thanked the deacon elect for not being afraid to say yes.

Referring to the second reading, 2 Corinthians 4, 1-2, 5-7, Bishop Nickless reminded Wind that "it is in your weakness that you will be strong. God works through you. He is the source of light - light and truth - and he has chosen you to show forth not yourself but him in all his holy majesty."

Bishop Nickless spoke of some of the responsibilities of a deacon.

"Strengthened by the gift of the Holy Spirit, he will help me as bishop and priests in the ministry of the word, of the altar, and of charity, showing himself to be a servant to all," said the bishop. "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."

At the bishop's direction, it will also be the new deacon's duty to instruct people on church doctrine. He will also preside over public prayer, administer baptism, assist at and bless marriages, bring viaticum (Holy Communion) to the dying and conduct funeral rites. He is also to perform works of charity in the name of the bishop or pastor.

After the homily, Wind stood before the bishop as the ordination rite continued with the Promise of the Elect. The deacon elect then knelt before Bishop Nickless as he promised obedience to the bishop and his successors.

The deacon elect then lay prostrate before the altar during the Litany of Saints. As the litany concluded, he knelt before the bishop for the laying on of hands and prayer of consecration.

"Lord, send forth upon him the Holy Spirit, that he may be strengthened by the gift of your sevenfold grace to carryout faithfully the work of the ministry," prayed the bishop. "May there abound in him every Gospel virtue: unfeigned love, concern for the sick and poor, unassuming authority, the purity of innocence and the observance of spiritual discipline."

The newly ordained was vested in stole and dalmatic with the help of Deacon Tim Murphy of Carroll.

The ordination rite continued as Deacon Wind knelt before the bishop to receive the Book of Gospels. Handing the book to the new deacon, Bishop Nickless said, "Receive the Gospel of Christ, whose herald you have become. Believe what you read, teach what you believe, and practice what you teach."

Bishop Nickless and fellow deacons congratulated the new deacon and Mass continued with the Liturgy of the Eucharist.

As the liturgy concluded, the bishop thanked the Wind family for the gift of Jeremy and those who helped with the Mass.

The new deacon described the ceremony as awesome.

"About half way through it I thought, 'Wow, I'm a deacon," said Deacon Wind. "I was bubbling on the inside."

During the laying on of hands, he said it was as if he could feel the Holy Spirit entering him.

His mother, Sue Wind of Jefferson, said she knew for a long time that her son Jeremy had been called to serve God but he initially fought it.

"I am very happy that he is at peace with his decision to follow the call," she said.

She found the most spiritually uplifting portion of the ceremony to be when her son was lying prostrate during the Litany of Saints.

When everyone applauded for her son, she said she felt very blessed to be the mother of Jeremy.

"I feel blessed to be the mother of all of my children," added Sue. "I feel as though God has blessed me with motherhood and the opportunity to share my children with others in the world."

Tom Wind, Jeremy's father, credited his wife with nurturing their son's priestly vocation.

He was impressed and touched with the number of priests and deacons who attended the ordination in support of his son.

Wind's sister, Marieta, called the service memorable and welcoming.

"I think he knew that this was God's calling and he has chosen the right path for himself," she said. "I think he is definitely doing the right thing."

Dick Brunner, who taught Jeremy ninth-grade science at Jefferson High School, described him as "a quiet but bright kid." He saw his former student grow and mature as he discerned the vocation to priesthood.

"He is a good, bright and caring person," said Brunner. "Jeremy didn't step blindly into this; he thought about it a while and I think he will be good."