Spurred by the love to serve and guided by the desire to learn more about the root of the Catholic faith, Bill Thurman joined the deacon formation program sponsored by the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City in 2005.
The deacon formation program is a four-year process, with the first year being a year of discernment and prayers, Thurman explains. During this time, an applicant can find out if the diaconate is for him before he makes a commitment to go into formal training.
“The first year was the most rigorous,” Thurman said. “This was a period of aspirancy and it was intended to see if we could handle the heavy demands of a deacon.”
After working through the first year, Thurman spent the next three years in preparation for the diaconate. His preparation included attending deacon formation classes one weekend a month and taking theology courses towards a bachelor’s degree in pastoral ministry.
Other preparatory work included retreats, summer formation sessions and regular meetings with his spiritual director, said the Rev. Martin Lugo, O.S.B. and former abbot of St. Gregory’s Abbey.
All of which contributed to a very fruitful and spiritually rewarding, albeit demanding, four years while providing for a family, Thurman reminisced. Thurman, a long-time resident of Shawnee and parishioner of St. Benedict Catholic Church, was ordained permanent deacon on Nov. 6 at the Cathedral of Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Oklahoma City by Archbishop Eusebius Beltran.
He became only the second parishioner from the Shawnee parish ordained into the diaconate in the parish’s 100 plus years.
In the Catholic Church, deacons are ministers ordained for the tasks of service. The word deacon comes from the Greek word “diakonos,” meaning minister or servant. A deacon is, by definition, a man called and ordained as a servant to the people of God.
The functions of a Catholic deacon are to assist the priest in the celebration of the Eucharist, conduct communion services and other prayer services, proclaim gospel readings, perform baptisms, officiate at funerals and wakes, serve as official witness at weddings and other liturgical and pastoral capacities.
In addition, a deacon may also dedicate himself to the various ministries of charity such as attending to the sick and the needy and working for justice in all of society.
After his ordination, Thurman assisted and delivered the homily at different masses at St. Benedict Catholic Church on the weekend of Nov. 7-8. In celebration of his ordination, a parish-wide luncheon was held in his honor after the 10 a.m. mass at the Benedict Center.
The Rev. Don Wolf, pastor of St. Benedict Church, said Thurman’s ordination is the culmination of his own discernment and hard work throughout the past several years.
“I met Bill more than 25 years ago when we were involved in the Cursillo movement beginning in 1981,” Wolf said. “Since then, I have been aware of Bill’s involvement in the parish and in the life of the Catholic Church in Oklahoma. It is only fitting that his ordination to the diaconate will follow.”
Thurman’s immediate plans include taking an active part in liturgical celebrations in the parish, getting involved in RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults) and starting a marriage ministry for the estranged and divorced.
Thurman works in general contracting and project management at Westchester Development in Shawnee. He and his wife of 38 years, Denise, have five grown children, Stephanie, Brandy, Jacob, Ashley and Josh. They also have four grandchildren, Camden, Cade, Tanner and Landon.
SHAWNEE, Okla. —
