Franciscan deacon ready to start ‘new phase of life’ following ordination

GARY – Thanksgiving came early for the Richardson family. Bryan and Janet, of Virginia, were left in awe and gratitude as they watched their son, Aaron, ordained as a transitional deacon by Diocese of Gary Bishop Robert J. McClory on Nov. 19.  

 

“It hasn’t quite sunk in yet,” said Deacon Aaron Richardson following the ordination at the Cathedral of the Holy Angels in Gary a week before Thanksgiving. “It’s a new phase of my life and I’m just welcoming it with joy,” he said of the diaconate, scheduled to end with his priestly ordination next April in Maryland.

Along with his parents and friends, several pews were filled with Richardson’s brothers. Although his two biological brothers were unable to attend, several brothers from the Order of Friars Minor were able to attend.

“I’m so happy many attended, especially my brothers from Chicago,” Deacon Richardson said.  

Prior to the ordination, the 37-year-old southern California native stated he felt “very relaxed” and was looking forward to continuing his ministry in the diocese, specifically at the Cathedral of the Holy Angels, Ss. Monica and Luke, and St. Joseph the Worker, all in Gary, where he spends much of his time serving in the food pantry and soup kitchen.

Deacon Richardson explained that his religious vows belong to his Franciscan community, and he can be sent anywhere in the world. As an ordained deacon in the Diocese of Gary, his obedience is to Bishop McClory to faithfully serve the people of the local parishes.

Deacon Richardson shared how his time in a Philadelphia soup kitchen was the most influential for his discernment of a priestly vocation and to the Franciscan order. 

“I spent a lot of time doing active service for others, plus doing it with a group of men who pray together,” he said. “It deepened my life with God and led me to the path of discerning the life of a priest or religious. I realized that community was really such an important part of what I was looking for.”

Baseball was Richardson’s passion as a youth, but football would reveal his true passion. What started as a simple Saturday morning flag football game with other young adults developed into “Christ-centered friendships. Flag football turned into Saturday morning Mass and breakfast club long after football season was over with a great group of people who fostered my vocation. 

“We were all discerning together in our own ways,” he said. “It went beyond playing football. It really spurred me toward my discernment of desiring community, desiring to do service with them. That moved me more and more toward religious life.”

During his homily, Bishop McClory shared with Richardson how vital peripheral vision is both on the athletic field and in his role as deacon. “Qualities and skills that are helpful either on a football field or basketball court (are enhanced) through that good peripheral vision … it gives you a good sense of the field.”

Bishop McClory also noted that Pope Francis reminds the faithful about “our ministry on the peripheries.”

“We need to have peripheral vision for those who are on the margins, those who aren’t in plain view, those who aren’t right in front of us,” the bishop said. “Those on the peripheries guide us in our ministry.”

Bishop McClory added that caring for those in the margins are a template for spiritual life and are particularly helpful in reflecting on the role of the ministry of deacons.  

He reminded the Richardson that Jesus “came not to be served, but to serve. A deacon’s role is to be merciful, zealous for the Lord, and a minister for all.”

Deacon Richardson said he’s looking forward to finding his strengths now that he’s ordained. “I love preaching,” he said. “That’s always been a part of what we do. Now I’ll be able to preach more often during Sunday liturgies. It puts my life into conversation with the lives of the people in the pews, listening to God's word and then letting God’s word flow through me. It’s beautiful.

“I see some very inspirational lives and that’s fruit for my own spiritual life, as well as insight into who God is and how God works in the world,” he added.

Deacon Richardson described his journey to ordination as a “long and winding path.”

Mother Janet Richardson shared how her son first wanted to be a Franciscan brother with no interest in the priesthood, but open to wherever God led him. “Over the past two years we’ve seen a transformation come over him and a realization that, yes, (the priesthood) is the right path where God is leading him,” she said. He dropped out six months before confirmation and joined another group at a nearby Franciscan church and loved it. “It was a foreshadowing of what was to come,” she said.

“This is exactly where he should be. You could see the pure joy on his face standing up there,” said his mother. “Sometimes God asks things of us we can’t do or don’t want to do. But it’s exactly what we should do.”

Bryan Richardson said of his son: “You never know what God’s going to do. I never imagined Aaron would be here. He stayed faithful, prayed and followed God’s voice.”

“This is something that has happened to me. It’s not something I’ve accomplished. It’s a gift,” said the newly-ordained deacon.