Parishioner Michael P. Kaufman was ordained a deacon on Oct. 1, 2022, at St. Paul Cathedral in Pittsburgh and assigned to serve at All Saints Parish. After a six-year journey of preparation, he and 16 other men were ordained by Bishop David A. Zubik. The following day, Deacon Mike served at Masses - the photos here are from the 10am Mass at St.Paul Church and the reception held afterward. As ordained ministers of the Catholic Church, Deacons assist priests at Mass, preach on occasion, and preside as needed at baptisms, weddings, funeral services, and other liturgical functions. They also help provide pastoral care to people in hospitals and nursing homes, jails and prisons, and various other settings, sharing the faith by word and example. Permanent deacons coordinate what is typically part-time ministry with job and family responsibilities. “These men have been deeply immersed in the diocesan Deacon Formation Program for more than five years,” Bishop Zubik said. “The process has helped them discern their vocation to this ministry, deepen their relationship with the Lord, and model their lives on Jesus, who came not to be served but to serve.” Deacon Stephen J. Byers, director of the Deacon Formation Program and the Office for Deacon Personnel, says, “It has been a profound joy to walk with these men throughout the formation program and to witness their growth with the help and assistance of so many dedicated individuals who have been a part of their journey.” The ministry of deacons dates back to the earliest days of the Church. The New Testament recounts that, when faced with the need for help in caring for the practical well-being of the faithful, the apostles prayed and designated certain men for special service to the community.