Meet Deacon John Leonard & Deacon Jesse Murga: Longtime Parishioners Answer God’s Call to Diaconate

As the Catechism of the Catholic Church tells us, “Deacons share in Christ’s mission and grace in a special way” (1570). Here at St. Mary on the Hill, we are blessed to have two new deacons recently ordained and ready to serve our parish.

Deacon John Leonard and Deacon Jesse Murga, both parishioners of St. Mary’s, were ordained in May.

Deacon John and his family have been parishioners for 15 years. He and his wife have been married for 32 years and they have three grown sons. He works as a Sales Manager at Mc- Corkle Nurseries in Dearing. He first felt a call to the diaconate many years ago but was unsure how to pursue it.

“In fairness, I also never asked anyone,” Deacon John says. “About six years ago, I saw an announcement for an information session in Augusta in the Southern Cross. With the encouragement and support of our pastor at the time and one of our deacons, I decided that it was time to answer this call.

“My discernment entailed a lot of quiet centering prayer (Christian meditation) and listening for God’s guidance,” he adds. “Discernment lasted into the formation process where, at a certain point, I felt a lot of peace and consolation in my decision.”

To start his role at St. Mary, Deacon John is serving Mass, proclaiming the Gospel and preaching, as well as leading the Pro-Life Holy Hour from time to time. But his other responsibilities are still under discussion. Previously, Deacon John has served as an altar server, catechist, Eucharistic Minister, and lector. This new vocation as a deacon provides a unique opportunity for Deacon John to serve our parish and evangelize others.

“I am most excited about the opportunity to serve the Church I love in a more formal and larger way and to help get people to heaven,” he says.

Studying for the diaconate was a rigorous process, lasting about five years, and involving social studies as well as theology. Both Deacon John and Deacon Jesse say the experience was difficult to balance while also living out busy family and work schedules. But it was nonetheless remarkable for both the deacons.

“I was blessed to be in the company of 10 truly outstanding classmates and a great Diaconate Formation director,” says Deacon Jesse.

Deacon Jesse has been a parishioner since he joined the church through RCIA in 1987. He has been married to his wife, Carrie for 14 years. He first felt a call to the diaconate about eight years ago.

“My initial discernment included a lot of personal prayer,” he says. “The discernment at the beginning of the Diaconate Program was based on the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola.”

Before his ordination, Deacon Jesse served in many capacities around our parish community. He has served as a Eucharistic Minister, sacristan, lector, altar server, RCIA assistant, Confirmation preparation classes, serving on Parish Council, and he is a Fourth Degree Knight of Columbus.

Deacon Jesse’s favorite saint is St. Maximilian Kolbe, “for being a light in the darkest of hours,” he says. St. Maximilian Kolbe lived an incredibly selfless life during the 20th century, ultimately giving his life for a man at Auschwitz. He is known for his love of Our Blessed Mother and the Eucharist.

To those discerning a vocation, whether to religious life or ordained clergy, Deacon Jesse shares his advice.

“Pray for guidance from the Holy Spirit about discerning your call, and always remember a call to service in the Church is a call to serve with love,” he says.

Deacon John Leonard was ordained to the diaconate this past May.

Deacon Jesse Murga was ordained this past May to the diaconate.