Joyfully coming before the Lord
CHARLOTTE — Deacon Darren Balkey and Deacon Aaron Huber became the Diocese of Charlotte’s newest transitional deacons and took the next step on their journey to the priesthood June 5 during a two-hour diaconate ordination Mass at St. Mark Church in Huntersville.
Father Christopher Gober, diocesan vocations director, attested to the preparedness of the two men, who were called to stand before Bishop Jugis at the steps of the altar during the start of the ordination rite.
“Joyfully we come before the Lord today to receive the gift of two new deacons for the Church,” Bishop Jugis said during his homily. “The Lord never tires of blessing the Church of Charlotte with great candidates for holy orders. That blessing from the Lord continues today in the two men who have been chosen for ordination to the diaconate.”
Bishop Jugis pointed out that the scripture readings chosen remind them of the three-fold ministry of deacons, which is a ministry of service: the ministry of the altar, the ministry of charity, and the ministry of the Word. He described the functions and responsibilities to which the men are called.
“Our Gospel reading of St. Matthew (9:35-38) presents the compassion of Jesus – visiting all of the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the Gospel of the Kingdom. And so our new deacons, in their ministry of the Word, will continue the Church’s teaching mandate by proclaiming the Gospel of Christ at Mass and teaching the doctrine of Christ,” Bishop Jugis said.
“Diaconal ministry is a ministry of service… And you, Aaron and Darren, will have an official role in that ministry as deacons of the Church,” he added.
Bishop Jugis also enjoined them to “give your heart to Jesus. Remain united to Jesus through your prayer every day. And today, being the first Saturday of the month, a day on which we customarily honor the Blessed Mother, ask the Immaculate Heart to bring you close to Jesus and keep Him close to you.”
He explained that in going through the rite, they will now be changed by the action of the Holy Spirit. “The indelible spiritual character imprinted upon your soul will configure you to Jesus Christ, the Servant. He made Himself the Servant of all. He came not to be served, but to serve and to give His life as a ransom for many.”
After the homily, Balkey and Huber stood before the bishop and publicly affirmed their intentions to serve him and the Church. Then they prostrated themselves before the altar, as Bishop Jugis knelt in prayer with them and the faithful while the Litany of Supplication (also known as the Litany of the Saints) was chanted.
Balkey and Huber then arose and, one by one, approached the bishop. He laid hands on each man’s head and prayed the prayer of ordination over them, thus consecrating them as deacons.
The newly-ordained deacons were then vested with a stole, a sign of the deacon’s office of service, and the dalmatic, the outer garment used in the liturgy. Deacon Darren Balkey was vested by transitional Deacon Joseph Wasswa of Sacred Heart Church in Salisbury and Deacon Aaron Huber was vested by Deacon Timothy Mueller of St. Michael Church in Gastonia.
The newly-vested deacons then again approached the sanctuary one by one, receiving the Book of the Gospels from Bishop Jugis and an acknowledgment from Bishop Jugis, who welcomed them to their new role in the Church.
The two deacons will now be able to proclaim the Gospel at Mass, preach at the invitation of the priest, prepare the altar for the sacrifice of the Eucharist, distribute the Lord’s Body and Blood to the faithful, administer baptisms, officiate at marriages, bring Viaticum to the dying, conduct funeral rites, instruct believers and nonbelievers in Church doctrine, preside over public prayer and perform works of charity.
Bishop Jugis told Deacons Balkey and Huber, “By your faithful service, the imitation of Christ, may you be blessed by that same Jesus saying to you on the last day, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant, enter into the joy of your Lord.’”
Deacon Balkey will serve his summer assignment at Queen of the Apostles Church in Belmont. Deacon Huber will serve his summer assignment at St. Thomas Aquinas Church in Charlotte.
— SueAnn Howell, Senior reporter. Photos by SueAnn Howell and Amy Burger
Deacon Darren Balkey
Home parish: Sacred Heart Church, Salisbury
Birthplace: State College, Pa.
Birthday: March 1, 1992
Raised in: State College, Pa.
Family: Parents Steven and Sheryl Balkey; siblings Matthew and Seth
College: Belmont Abbey College
Degree: Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice
Pre-Theology: Pontifical College Josephinum
Theology: Mount St. Mary’s Seminary, Cincinnati, Ohio
Summer assignments in the diocese: St. Thomas Aquinas Church, Charlotte; St. Patrick Cathedral, Charlotte; St. John the Evangelist Church, Waynesville; Queen of the Apostles Church, Belmont
CNH: What are some of your interests/hobbies?
Balkey: Any sort of outdoor adventure — hiking, swimming, biking, climbing, paddling, etc. Also, I enjoy playing the trumpet and working with my hands in the woods or in a shop.
CNH: When did you first realize you had a vocation to the priesthood?
Balkey: My first sense of a priestly calling was when I started serving Mass, about nine years old. It seemed natural to want to be near the Word of God and the altar during Holy Mass. Throughout the years, that desire to be near God and bring him to others stuck around.
CNH: Who has helped you (mentored you) or given you a good example to follow during these years of discernment and seminary?
Balkey: Many of the priests of the Diocese of Charlotte have offered great insight and encouragement, especially my pastor, Father John Eckert.
The seminary’s faculty priests have been exemplary as well, both in Columbus and Cincinnati. Finally, Deacons Albert Beltz and Thomas Hunyor, Jr., of Toledo, Ohio, have been authentic companions and mentors.
CNH: Is there any comment you would like to share with our readers about becoming a transitional deacon here in the Diocese of Charlotte?
Balkey: The deacon is ordained to proclaim the Gospel as he is continually configured to Christ the servant. This particular season in my vocation allows me to express my gratitude to almighty God and the faithful for the many gifts bestowed upon me in a very tangible way. I am eager to serve.
Read more in his Seminarian Spotlight: Darren Balkey
Deacon Aaron Huber
Home parish: St. John the Evangelist Church, Waynesville
Birthplace: Mount Pleasant, S.C.
Birthday: July 8, 1996
Raised in: Cruso, N.C.
Family: Parents Eric and Tamara Huber; siblings Eric, Jr., Joshua, Jessica, Sarah, Maria, Isaac, Noah and Benjamin
College: St. Joseph College Seminary
Degree: Bachelor of Philosophy, Belmont Abbey College
Theology: Mount St. Mary’s Seminary, Cincinnati, Ohio
Summer assignments in the diocese: Sacred Heart Church, Salisbury; Our Lady of Grace Church, Greensboro; St. Elizabeth Church, Boone; St. Mark Church, Huntersville; and St. Thomas Aquinas Church, Charlotte
CNH: What are some of your interests/hobbies?
Huber: Skateboarding, basketball, ultimate frisbee, reading literature, chess, and piano.
CNH: When did you first realize you had a vocation to the priesthood?
Huber: I first heard the call to the priesthood when I was young, possibly ten or eleven years old. I remember talking to a friend of mine about what we wanted to be when we grew up, and both of us voiced our desire to be the Pope! While my aspiration for the papacy has certainly changed, the desire to serve Our Lord as His priest never left.
However, my attention to the call was sporadic. When I was a junior in high school, I had a profound conversion experience in which I felt the deepest peace at the thought of being a priest. Finally, it was not until the summer after my freshmen year at Belmont Abbey College while serving as a Totus Tuus missionary that the Lord really revealed
Himself to me in such a way that I knew I had to pursue Him.
CNH: Who has helped you (mentored you) or given you a good example to follow during these years of discernment and seminary?
Huber: I have been truly blessed to have had several people hep me along the path of discernment. From Bishop Jugis and priests of the Diocese of Charlotte, to the monks of Belmont Abbey and priests from other dioceses, I have witnessed true holiness, charity and priestly service. In particular, I owe a debt of gratitude to the priests at St. Joseph College Seminary. From the beginning, they have guided me through my discernment, fostered the love of Christ within me, and helped me get to where I am today.
CNH: Is there any comment you would like to share with our readers about becoming a transitional deacon here in the Diocese of Charlotte?
Huber: I am very excited to be entering the diaconate for the Diocese of Charlotte. Since I will be making promises to obedience, prayer, and celibacy, my ordination day will be like one’s wedding day. On June 5th, I will be committed to a life of service to God and His Church, and this knowledge fills me in immense joy.
Read more in his Seminiarian Spotlight: Aaron Huber
BELMONT — During this past year of pandemic, Catherine’s House has continued meeting the needs of vulnerable women and children – remaining open as a place of hope, safety and healing despite increased demands and challenges.
Catherine’s House serves women and children facing homelessness due to domestic violence, unemployment or underemployment, the shortage of affordable housing, unexpected tragedies, and the lack of a support network.
Catherine’s House provides a range of individualized services including housing, financial literacy, parenting support, job-seeking assistance, supportive counseling from a licensed clinical social worker, stress management and more.
Throughout the pandemic, Catherine’s House has continued without pause this “mission of mercy” to assist women and children.
Exacerbation of substance use disorders, mental health diagnoses, and a surge in domestic violence has led to a “pandemic within a pandemic.”
The number of Americans experiencing depression and anxiety reached an all time high in the first six months of the pandemic. Recent research shows 51 percent of adults reported that stress was impacting their mental health. With the fallout from the pandemic, the reality is we all need more support than we have ever needed.
The most vulnerable do not debate the severity of the pandemic. In the Charlotte area, encampments for the homeless sprang up due to social distancing protocols in homeless shelters that reduced their capacities. Additional barriers included joblessness and limited access to resources as daily shelters closed or scaled back their services. People had to transition to virtual care for mental health care, and then often found themselves disengaged from services even as they experienced increased symptoms. Stimulus checks, although they were needed, have not helped more people get access to affordable housing. In fact, housing and socioeconomic barriers that already existed became nearly insurmountable for many.
The effects of quarantine also created physical and emotional isolation that led to many people having feelings of despair. Other people experienced a rise in intimate partner violence and abuse. Financial instability, unsafe housing, violence, lack of childcare and poor social supports make the shaky ground even worse for some. Many shelters saw an increase of more than 40 percent for domestic violence related calls.
The staff at Catherine’s House has maintained operations even as they have been personally impacted by the pandemic. They have been among the support professionals who have ensured that the under-served are not forgotten in the midst of this worldwide crisis.
Catherine’s House remains dedicated to meeting the pandemic stress and the impact of the pandemic on vulnerable and marginalized women and children. Learn more online at www.catherineshouseinc.org.
—Jane Cacchione, Special to the Catholic News Herald. Jane Cacchione is the development director for Catherine’s House, a transitional home for women and children who would otherwise be homeless. Based in Belmont, it is a sponsored ministry of the Sisters of Mercy.