The Kisperts joined our parish in 2012. Since then, Eric and Debby have served consistently and generously in several ministries, most notably the Marriage Ministry, which has been significantly blessed by their faith, leadership, and commitment to evangelization.
In Fall 2018, Eric, accompanied by Debby, officially entered Diaconate Formation in our Diocese of Paterson. Fast forward four years, Eric received the Rite of Acolyte this past Thursday evening as the last milestone before his official ordination as Permanent Deacon, anticipated for June 2023.
This past Sunday, at the 11:30 am Mass, Eric served at the Altar as an Acolyte for the first time.
We took the opportunity to ask Eric to share about his Diaconate Formation journey thus far. Below are some excerpts from our conversation.
Tell us about your calling to the diaconal formation process. Seven years ago, I started to have conversations with my wife, my analyst, and various deacons in the parish about the diaconate. This began what I refer to as a knocking in my head. While I had prayed for direction during this time, I did not experience any deep calling. In January 2018, my wife Debby and I joined 40 others on a pilgrimage to the Holy Land with Bishop Serratelli. Immediately, I started discussing with several priests on the trip with us about their callings. As we were getting ready to leave the Tel Aviv Airport, I asked Bishop what I should do about my experience. He directed me to call Deacon Peter Cistero, the Director of Diaconal Formation, and to meet with Fr. Paddy. As God would have it, there was a new cohort beginning only eight weeks after our return. Only God could have planned the timing of my calling so perfectly, as new classes only happen once every three to five years!
How has formation transformed you to this point? Since beginning my journey, my life and my marriage have changed considerably. My faith, prayer life, and desire to serve the Lord increased in a way I could not have imagined. While I have always had a close relationship with Jesus, formation has deepened the daily friendship I experience with Him. Formation and our parish renewal have also fueled my eagerness to adopt more of a servant-leadership role, especially in the Marriage Ministry with Debby and our co-chairs, the Bonos. Every day, I live my life more intentionally. I no longer take for granted this amazing gift from God. The answer to this question is so long it probably needs more space at another time!
What is in store for you during the next year as Acolyte? Receiving the Rite of Acolyte on June 9th allows me to serve at the altar. I am honored and privileged to assist Fr. Paddy, Fr. Alex, and Dcn. Joe in this capacity. Additionally, I am excited to expand my role within parish ministry, leadership, and other areas of the liturgy. I also am blessed to be involved in a new initiative within the seminary to enhance pastoral leadership within the formation process. And this summer, I am volunteering at St. Clare’s Hospital in their Pastoral Service department. This is my third and final practicum for the program. My commitment to the Church is only limited by the balance of time needed for my other vocations of marriage, family, and work.
How has formation impacted your marriage? Early in formation, the evil one attacked Debby’s and my marriage. We were told that the closer we got to the Lord, the more susceptible we were to attack; they were right! To the Lord’s credit, we used this difficult time as a means to deepen our faith and conviction in the diaconate. As we have come to know in our marriage, God will use all the ingredients of our lives for good, even the less savory ones. The diaconal formation is as much about the couple as the husband. Not only has Debby provided me with unwavering support in this process, but she has also put forth a tremendous amount of effort in her own spiritual and personal development. Know that without Debby’s help, sacrifice, and personal efforts, I would not have been able to sustain the academic, spiritual, and emotional rigors of formation. She is truly an angel beneath my feet, carrying me to ordination.
What are your prayers and hopes as you approach ordination as a deacon in June 2023? As I approach the next 12 months, I pray for a stole with my name on it!!! I also look forward to graduation and receiving my MA in Theology from Seton Hall, as this is a main element of the five-year formation process. While the education was amazingly rich, and I was blessed to be trained by some of the smartest individuals in the field of religion, I am a little fatigued and look forward to more sunlight!
Going forward, if it is God’s will, Debby and I would like to expand our role in the parish in the area of evangelization, in particular in the broader community. We have so much to offer as a church family; we are certain that more will ‘come to the table’ upon invitation. Debby and I also have begun planning a couples retreat for the parish (and possibly beyond). My ministry with the clients at Straight & Narrow, which emerged last year from my summer practicum, will continue. And as an ordained deacon, I am eager to lead Matt Talbot retreats for recovering persons. With all this said, each day, I thank God for being on His team and ask Him to do with me as He will. “Here we are, Lord, send us,” has been Debby’s and my refrain for over 30 years. We will continue to pray and follow his lead down the path of faith and service! Let us continue to hold Eric and Debby in our prayers on this last leg of the formation journey. We look forward to the fruitfulness the Lord and His Holy Spirit will bring through them on their continued journey of missionary discipleship!