The Deacon

The vocation of a deacon in the Catholic Church is deeply intertwined with the identity of Christ as both a servant and a healer. Jesus Christ, throughout his earthly ministry, exemplified the dual roles of serving others and offering himself in sacrificial love. As the Gospel of Mark states, “The Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many” (10:45). For the deacon, ordination is a profound unification with Christ in this mission of service and sacrifice, a calling that extends beyond mere action to become a living embodiment of divine love.

The burning passion to serve Christ as a deacon was reignited for me in the wake of a tragic event connected to my ministry in Uganda. The horrific news of 40 students murdered by terrorists in a village that had become close to my heart confirmed the urgency of my mission in Christ. This tragedy deepened my commitment to serve, not just as an individual, but as a deacon whose ministry is rooted in the transformative love of Christ. My response was not to ask, “What can one person do?” but rather to embrace the reality that my actions are part of a larger divine mission — a mission that extends Christ’s healing presence to those in desperate need.

This realization, however, did not occur overnight. It was in 1988, at my ordination, that I first reached out to receive the Book of the Gospels, a powerful symbol of my call to proclaim and live out the Gospel of Christ. The words spoken at that moment, “Receive the Gospel of Christ, whose herald you have become,” resonated deeply within me. They signified not only a public witness to my faith but also a commitment to a life of service in Christ.

My calling as a servant leader in Christ and subsequent ordination dramatically connects to a very personal event occurring on Oct. 26, 1981. On that date, my pregnant wife Kathy, and unborn son Todd survived a near-death medical mishap in the local hospital delivery room. Moved by witnessing God’s saving power on behalf of our family I turned to God asking for Kathy and me to enter into Christ’s healing service called to serve God’s people via ordination in 1988.

Mission in Africa

Witnessing the lifesaving work of midwives in Africa in 2013 abruptly reminded me of by calling as a universal servant healer in Christ empowered in ordination wherever situated.

The evolution of my diaconal ministry took a significant turn in 2013 during a visit to Kampala, Uganda. I was attending the ordination of a priest friend, and it was there that I experienced a profound stirring within my soul — a call within a call. Witnessing the dedication of midwives in parish-based clinics as they cared for pregnant women, I felt an undeniable pull to extend my ministry beyond the borders of my home diocese. This moment marked the beginning of a new chapter in my life, one that would lead to the founding of the Microfinance Alliance Projects Africa Foundation, a U.S.-based nonprofit dedicated to empowering communities in Uganda through sustainable development initiatives.

This “second calling” did not diminish my original vocation as a deacon in the Archdiocese of Chicago. Instead, it enriched and expanded it, allowing me to serve as a bridge between two worlds — my local parish community and the people of Uganda. My dual role as a “senior deacon” in Chicago and as a mission partner in Africa reflects the universal nature of the Church’s mission. It is a tangible expression of the Church’s call to be a global family, united in Christ’s love and committed to serving the least among us.

In 2015, my mission in Uganda was further affirmed when I met with Bishop John Baptiste Kaggwa of the Diocese of Masaka. During our meeting, Bishop Kaggwa conferred upon me a mandate to serve alongside him in bringing Christ’s healing presence to the suffering people of his diocese. This mandate was not merely an assignment but a sacred commission, a call to embody the servant leadership of Christ in a context of profound need.

Working in Uganda has been a humbling and transformative experience. It has challenged me to live my diaconal vocation in new and dynamic ways. The people of Uganda have taught me what it truly means to be a servant leader — to listen with compassion, to act with humility, and to offer hope amid suffering. This mission has also deepened my understanding of the global Church as a living, breathing community of believers who, though separated by distance, are united in their commitment to the Gospel.

Deacon as a Slave of Christ

The nature of my work as a deacon in Uganda can be best understood through the lens of St. Paul’s reflections on his apostolic ministry. In his letter to the Romans, Paul describes himself as a “slave of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle and set apart for the gospel of God” (Rom 1:1). This description captures the essence of the diaconal vocation — being set apart not for personal glory but for the service of the Gospel and the People of God.

As deacons, we are called to pour out the slave of Christ, who lives in service, following the example of Christ who “emptied himself, / taking the form of a slave” (Phil 2:7). This self-emptying is not an act of self-negation, but rather a profound expression of love that mirrors the sacrificial love of Christ. It is a call to be fully present to the needs of others, to serve without counting the cost, and to bear witness to the transformative power of the Gospel.

In Uganda, this calling has taken on a concrete form. Whether supporting local clinics, advocating for justice or simply being present to those who are suffering, my ministry in Uganda is a living testament to the deacon’s role as a servant leader in the global Church. It is a reminder that the call to diaconal service is not confined to the walls of a parish, but extends to the farthest corners of the earth, wherever there are people in need of Christ’s healing touch.

The vocation of a deacon is a sacred calling to be a global mission partner through Christ the Servant. In my own journey, I have been blessed to serve both in Chicago and in Uganda, two communities that, though worlds apart, are united in their need for Christ’s healing love.

Through this ministry, I have come to understand that the true measure of a deacon’s service is not in the magnitude of the tasks performed, but in the depth of love with which they are carried out. As deacons, we are called to be Christ’s hands and feet in the world, to serve with humility, and to proclaim the Gospel with our lives. In this way, we fulfill our vocation and God is glorified.

DEACON DON GROSSNICKLE, Ed.D., has been serving in the Archdiocese of Chicago since 1988. He is the founder and president of the Microfinance Alliance African Projects Foundation.