Diaconate Ordination Celebrated At Enid's Saint Francis Xavier

By Ray Dyer
The Sooner Catholic

ENID — Oklahoma Catholics celebrated the Eucharist and the Diaconate Ordination of Daniel James Letourneau on Dec. 28 at Saint Francis Xavier Church. Archbishop Beltran, in the name of the Church, ordained Deacon Letourneau after he was recommended by Father Lowell Stieferman, Director of Vocations for the Archdiocese.

Deacon Letourneau is scheduled to be ordained a Roman Catholic Priest in June.

In his homily, Archbishop Beltran said it was appropriate for the Diaconate ordination to take place on the Feast Day of the Holy Innocents. The Feast Day recognizes the young boys Herod ordered killed because he feared the birth of Christ and what it would mean to his power. Archbishop Beltran said the baby boys massacred by Herod’s men were the first to give their lives for Christ.  He   said all are called to give their lives for Christ,   not necessarily as martyrs, but by living good and holy lives.                                                                          

“Even though they didn’t know it, they gave their life for God,” Archbishop Beltran said of those remembered on the Feast of the Holy Innocents.  Then, looking directly at Deacon Letourneau, but speaking to all the archbishop said “Like Jesus, you are here to serve and not to be served.”

Those on the path to the priesthood are normally ordained to the Diaconate at the seminary in which they are studying. Because of Hurricane Katrina, seminarians studying at Notre Dame Seminary in New Orleans were allowed to be ordained in their home dioceses. Deacon Letourneau was a Theology 4 seminarian at Notre Dame when the powerful hurricane struck late in the summer of 2005. He has been serving his Pastoral Internship at Saint Francis Xavier where Father Kevin Ratterman is pastor. Deacon Letourneau was vested by Father Ratterman and Father Ernest Flusche, who is in residence at Saint Francis. Father Robert Wood served as Master of Ceremony and some two dozen priests from throughout the Archdiocese took part in the Eucharistic celebration and the ordination. A like number of deacons also participated, including Deacon Anthony Crispo who serves at Saint Francis Parish.  The procession was led by the Knights of Columbus 4th Degree.

The celebration attracted Catholics from throughout the Archdiocese. Among those in attendance were Deacon Letourneau’s parents, Mr. and Mrs. Lloyd and Delores Letourneau of Ponca City as well as his sisters and their families, who traveled from Texas and Kansas for the celebration.

The choir was comprised of parishioners from Saint Francis Xavier and Saint John the Baptist in Edmond. It was accompanied by a dramatic eight-member musical ensemble that featured strings, bells, percussion, organ, piano, trumpets and flute. A reception followed hosted by the Knights of Columbus Council 1044, Knights of Columbus Auxiliary and the Saint Francis Xavier Parish family.                      Top: Archbishop Beltran prays as he lays hands on the forehead of                                                                         Deacon Daniel Letourneau. The diaconate is temporary since Deacon                                                                         Letourneau is scheduled to receive the Sacrament of Holy Orders in                                                                         June. Middle: Archbishop Beltran blesses the hands of Deacon Daniel                                                                         Letourneau during the Diaconate Ordination. Bottom: Father Kevin                                                                         Ratterman, left, and Father Ernest Flusche vest Deacon                                                                         Letourneau.Sooner Catholic Photos/Cara Koenig