Solemn Profession of Vows
& Ordination to the Diaconate

Br. Robert Juroszek, T.O.R.

Friday the 17th of September, 2004, began as any other day with prayer in the church at 7:15 a.m. followed by a quick trip to the seminary for classes. From there I returned to the friary in the early afternoon.

The afternoon was spent in preparation for the 6 p.m. Mass with the Rite of Profession. Needless to say, at this time I was a bit on edge and anxious. Barring anything that God may have put into my path, I had made the decision to ask for Solemn Vows early on in my time of simple profession. This was a major step in my life and was very important to me.

Br. Robert receives his vows from Fr. Anthony while Frs. Brad and Patrick witness.

I clearly remember Fr. Patrick and I discussing vows early in my simple profession and the need to be discerning where God desired me to be. He told me that I was old enough; I ought to know.  That is, don't wait until the last year to discern; pray and meditate now on God's call and desire in my life.

At around 5:30 p.m. I went into the church and saw that people were already arriving. I spent time walking around and alternated between praying and talking to people. People from St. Cloud, including my mother, were coming down. People were arriving whom I knew from my old job, the Civil Air Patrol, the Knights of Columbus, amateur radio and of course those whom I have met since joining the community.
There were people from numerous religious communities in attendance. It was humbling that this community and I were joined by so many, including Bishop Richard Pates to celebrate my Solemn Profession.
The celebration began with the friars singing the Salve Regina followed by the opening hymn. We walked in behind the processional cross and I carried the Book of the Gospel.
Fr Anthony was the celebrant with Bishop Pates in attendance. Frs. Patrick Quinn and Brad Baldwin were the witnesses for the profession. The profession itself began after the proclamation of the Gospel. I was presented for profession by Fr. Patrick and then called to publicly proclaim that I was requesting to take vows for life.

Fr. Brad Baldwin gave the homily and it was a doozey. Fr. Brad spoke not only about me but also about my activities: amateur radio, electronics, my delight of the delicacy known as Spam, the wearing of my cowboy hat and, of course, my love for Nascar. He also spoke of what it meant to be a friar with the ultimate question that the community asks to be answered: Is this someone that I could and would live with? The only thing that he missed was my love of animals and the three cats, Chantry, Shasta and D.C., which a family took in for me when I first came to live with the community.  Yes, Fr Brad answered in the affirmative about living with me, if only to make sure that when his radio broke I would be there to look at it and hopefully fix it.

The next step was to prostrate myself in the sanctuary during the Litany of the Saints. It was a moving experience to be lying there in the form of the cross and signify, in a physical way, the transformation from one life to another. Upon hearing the first words of the hymn "Awake, O Sleeper," I got up and moved toward Fr. Anthony. I knelt, put my hands into his and publicly spoke the vows, which he accepted from me.  Then we walked to the altar where I signed the profession book.   I then moved to the front of the altar where in song I asked for God's help and the congregation’s help to live this life most fully.  I then knelt before Fr. Anthony in front of the altar for the prayer of consecration. As I knelt, I knelt on the corner of the metal service box in the step. I nearly bolted straight upright but somehow maintained the position (although I did slide my knee over a mite).

Bp. Pates and Br. Robert

After the prayer of consecration, I was received in an embrace of peace, fellowship and welcome by the friars beginning with Fr. Anthony, followed by Fr. Brad, and then Fr. Patrick who said, "That's it. It's for real. Welcome." This was echoed by the other friars and I ended this by going to Bishop Pates and embracing, him. I thanked him for his presence and prayers and he thanked me for my commitment to the Order, the Church and to God.

Now, this has been a kind of a blow-by-blow account and you might get the idea that this was nothing but the final piece of the puzzle. Wrong. It is the opening piece of the puzzle. A puzzle of which the exact dimension and shape is yet to be determined. Yet, whatever that puzzle comes out to be it will be configured by, with, and through this band of brothers under the direction and guidance of God.

Taking my Solemn Vows was very emotional. Embracing the friars and Bishop Pates brought a lump to my throat and tears to my eyes. Then at the reception receiving the well wishes from all those present was extraordinary. This was truly a life-changing and life-enhancing event.
Now to paraphrase a famous Marine quote from WWII: by the grace of God and a bunch of friars, friends, and relatives I have come to do God's will for me. I look forward to what He has in store for me and serving Him to the best of my ability.
May God give you peace.
 

On Tuesday, November 30^th, 2004, the Feast of St. Andrew the Apostle, at 7 p.m. at the St. Paul Seminary School of Divinity, St. Mary’s Chapel in St. Paul Minnesota, Br. Robert S. Juroszek, TOR, was ordained to the diaconate by Bishop Frederick F. Campbell, Auxiliary Bishop of the St. Paul-Minneapolis Archdiocese.

As guests arrive, I am able to greet some of themincluding Secular Franciscans, Serrans, and friends from Civil Air Patrol, amateur radio and CPE.  My mother and sister were unable to attend but some friends who are family to me were able to be there.

Bishop Campbell wished to have the ordination at St. Mary's I expect so that the Seminarians could attend more easily.  In preparation, I was able to help choose the music, readings and whom I wanted to be acolytes and the deacon of the Mass.  I chose Kim Pappas, SFO, to be the reader and Deacon Barg "Andy" Anderson to be the Deacon of the Mass.  I also asked that Antonio Len-Rios be an acolyte and that perhaps Deacon Scott Wittkop could be the Deacon of the Word, but the position of Deacon of the Word was not utilized.  For my vesting deacon I asked the deacon from St. Bridget’s Church, Deacon Rich Heineman.    Rich would bring the vestments, the stole and dalmatic, over to me and assist me in donning them after the laying on of the Bishops hands during the ordination rite.

The ordination rite is celebrated within the context of Mass.  I processed in behind the acolytes, reverenced the altar and then took my place in the front left pew.  I remained there until after the Gospel when I was called by name and answered: "Present!"  Then I was presented to the Bishop and the congregation as being worthy of being ordained to the diaconate.

Br. Robert receives the Book of the Gospels from Bp. Campbell.

Facing the Bishop in front of the altar, I was examined by him in order for me to declare my full intention to be a deacon in both word and deed.  The final question: " Are you resolved to shape your way of life always according to the example of Christ, whose body and blood you will give to the people?" I answered: "I am, with the help of God." 

During the Litany of the Saints I lay prostrate facing the altar.  My arms were folded under so that my chin was resting on my hands.  This was unlike my solemn vows where my arms were outstretched.

After the Litany, I knelt before Bishop Campbell.  At this point he laid his hands on my slightly bowed head in silence.  I looked at his face and saw the extraordinary emotion that was evident.  It really was clear that this was not a perfunctory activity but a very moving experience for him, both emotionally and spiritually.  I too was quite moved at this time and I understood why there was a feeling of peace, awe and wonder that had come over me. 

I don’t know what the future holds for Bishop Campbell--he has since been installed as Bishop for the Diocese of Columbus, Ohio--and myself, but I know that there is now a connection between us and that I can never look at him without remembering this.

Bishop Campbell then went into the prayer of consecration.  At the conclusion of this prayer I stood up and moved over to the right side of the sanctuary where Deacon Rich Heineman was already picking up the stole and dalmatic.  He then assisted me in donning them.  It was quite moving to have this deacon, my friend, assist me like this.

After being checked out by Rich to make sure I was ship shape, I returned to the Bishop and once again knelt before him.  There I was ceremonially presented with a book of the gospels with the admonition:  "Receive the Gospel of Christ, whose herald you now are.  Believe what you read, teach what you believe, and practice what you teach."

At this point I was to stand and after the acolyte received the Book of the Gospels back from me, I was to give a sign of peace – an embrace – to Bishop Campbell.  Instead, I moved directly in front of the altar, forgetting the Bishop, to receive and give an embrace of peace to the other deacons in attendance.  Fortunately, Bishop Campbell followed me and we embraced, me a bit embarrassed and the Bishop slightly amused.

The Mass continued as normal from this point on.  I had no duties as a Deacon other than to be a full and active participant in the mass just like anyone else that was there.  My only Diaconal duty was to be a Eucharistic Minister and distribute the Blood of Christ during communion, which I have done before.  This time, however, I was distributing Blood of Christ as a Deacon.

Br. Robert stands with the Secular Franciscan fraternity, for which he's been spiritual assistant.

I don't think that being an ordained deacon really hit home until the Christmas liturgies at my teaching parish, St. Austin's, even though I was the Deacon of the Mass and preached in mid December 2004.  Then on Christmas Eve I was privileged to read the Gospel and then serve at the altar.  The next morning on Christmas Day I was given the great privilege of proclaiming the homily as well as the Gospel.  It was quite an experience.  At that time I really felt that I was in God's presence and was doing God's will.

You might ask why did it take so long?  Well, I was told and reminded on several occasions that my ordination to the diaconate was a movement, like my acolyte or lector installation.  But what a movement.  It is more than just a movement such as being installed as acolyte or lector.  It is a great privilege and a humbling experience to be able to serve God and the people of God at liturgies as a Deacon.

It is very humbling.  I don’t know why God chose me to become a Franciscan and then to work towards ordination.  I do have the feeling though, that if I were not to follow this call I would be short changing what God has in store for me.

Let me try to explain the importance of the different events that I have been through since joining the Franciscans.  Imagine a three step stoop in front of you.  You are standing at the bottom of the steps and that is where you are as a candidate with the order.  The next event is entering novitiate and you are still at the bottom of the steps.  At the end of novitiate, you take your first vows and for that you are on the first step.  As you are installed as acolyte and then lector you remain on the first step.  After your time in first vows is complete you take your solemn vows and you are on the third step.  Then you are ordained to the diaconate.  Move one foot and your weight to the second step and keep the other foot on the top step.  All of these are important events in my life but some are more important than others, both in how they were celebrated and in how they affected me.  My next event is ordination to the priesthood where once again I will be on the third step. 

My solemn vows, diaconal ordination and priestly ordination will have been celebrated in the space of less than a year.  My solemn vows stated that whatever my ministry, I would be doing it through and with this band of brothers.  My priestly ordination will state that I will be doing this ministry as a priest.

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