Deacon – Life on the Chrism Trail

Homily for the Tuesday of the Fourth Week of Easter

Opening Mass for the National Association of Diaconate Directors Conference

April 28, 2026
St. Patrick Cathedral
Fort Worth, Texas

Acts 11:19-26
Psalm 87:1b-3, 4-5, 6-7
John 10:22-30

“It was winter.” These are the words we read in today’s Gospel as written by John the Evangelist. “It was winter.” It was a winter not so much of discontent but of disbelief. It was a winter of cold disbelief among those who saw the works of Jesus but refused to understand them. It was a winter of cold disbelief among those who heard the words spoken by Jesus but refused to listen to them or to recognize His voice. It was a winter of suspense and anxiety among those who waited for the Christ but would only recognize and accept Him on their own terms. “Tell us plainly.” It was winter.

Homily for the Ordination of Isaac McCracken to the Transitional Diaconate

Solemnity of Saint Joseph, Husband of Mary

March 19, 2024
Saint Maria Goretti Catholic Church
Arlington, Texas

Numbers 3:5-9
Psalm 96:1-2a, 2b-3, 10
Romans 4:13, 16-18, 22
Matthew 1:1-16, 18-21, 24a

Today in her liturgy the Church offers us a respite from Lent in all its purple and penitence, in giving us this great solemnity of Saint Joseph, Husband of the Blessed Virgin Mary. On this day, the Gloria returns for one celebration until the Vigil of Easter and the triumphant color of white for the purity of the saints made so by Christ’s conquest of sin and death is returned for the moment as we celebrate this solemnity of Saint Joseph, Most Chaste Spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Foster Father of Jesus, and Patron of the Universal Church. It is more than fitting that we celebrate the ordination to the diaconate of Isaac McCracken on this great solemnity of the Church’s calendar that we might enter more deeply into the mystery of the Church’s call to holiness.

Homily for the Diaconal Ordination of Austin Hoodenpyle, Randolph E. Hopkins, and Brandon LeClair

May 21, 2022
St. Philip the Apostle Catholic Church
Flower Mound, Texas

Numbers 3:5-9
Psalm 89:21-22, 25, 27
Romans 12:4-8
John 15:9-17

“The Levites shall discharge the obligations of Aaron and those of the whole community before the tent of meeting by maintaining the tabernacle. They shall have responsibility for all the furnishings of the tent of meeting and discharge the obligations of the Israelites by maintaining the tabernacle. You shall assign the Levites to Aaron and his sons; they have been assigned unconditionally to him from among the Israelites.”