By Sallie Bachar
Catholic Herald correspondent

Tomahawk parishioners welcome their new deacon

TOMAHAWK --Clifford Eggett became the Diocese of Superior's newest deacon on Saturday, Aug. 31. He was ordained by Bishop Raphael M. Fliss in a ceremony which took place at St. Mary Church. The ordination Mass was concelebrated by Fr. John Scheer, SAC, Fr. Michael Tupa, pastor of St. Mary, Fr. Edward Powell and Fr. J. P. Slowey, Eggett's spiritual director. Many fellow deacons, as well as Eggett's family and friends attended.

Fliss, in his homily, reminded Eggett of the strength and empowerment of the Holy Spirit conferred on him in the sacrament. "This will enable you to become a tremendous asset to the church and a help to me as bishop," he said. "Remember that this Holy Orders is given to you but is not for you but for the people you are going to serve."

Fliss said, "Jesus is telling you to feed his sheep. God's flock is in your midst. Give it a shepherd's care."

Baptized and confirmed in the Moravian Church, it was there at the age of twelve that Eggett dreamed of some day being a pastor and serving God in a special way. Even after converting to the Catholic faith with his marriage to his wife Jean, the desire stayed with him.

Said Eggett, "I always felt the Lord was calling me to do something more than teach CCD or serve on the parish council." He first thought of becoming a deacon while attending a Covenant Keepers meeting where he was challenged to take charge of the faith in his family. "I thought about it on and off through the years," he said, "but my wife was especially concerned because I was a convert."

That desire recurred in 1977 at a TEC (Teens Encounter Christ) Retreat in the diocese. After sharing his own and his wife's concerns with Slowey, the spiritual director of the retreat, his fears were dispelled. "Father Slowey told me that God doesn't call the qualified, but he qualifies those he calls," said Eggett, "and that set things in motion for me."

TEC retreats have played a very influential role in his faith life and his journey to the diaconate. "Just being around the youth at these retreats brings my spirits up and renews my faith," he said.

Eggett's family and friends have also been very supportive. "My wife has kept me humble," he said, "reminding me I am not doing this for myself but to serve God." Trying to keep that focus during the diaconate process, he said, "I continually ask myself 'Who am I doing this for?'"

Eggett is also a member of St. Mary's prayer group, whose prayers and support have helped him tremendously in his discernment and preparation for the diaconate.

He and his wife have two children, Christopher, 30, and Amy, 27, both of whom participated in the ceremony, and two grandchildren. Other family members served as ushers, gift bearers and hospitality ministers. His wife Jean presented the Book of the Gospels to the bishop, who in turn presented it to Eggett, instructing him to believe, preach and practice the Gospel of Christ. The richly embroidered stole he wore, signifying the Lamb of God, was a gift from his brother William and his family. It was designed and handcrafted by his sister-in-law Fran and niece Cindy.

Eggett closed the ceremony saying, "God has blessed me beyond all measure." "I did it all for Jesus," he said, "and that is my prayer, that you come to understand what Jesus really means to us in our lives and to share that with one another."

Eggett will continue to focus his ministry on the youth. He has been involved with young people all his life, having taught religious education for over twenty years, coached little league baseball for fifteen years, and more recently being actively involved in TEC retreats. He also plans to expand his ministry to include the elderly, visiting them in the local nursing homes and bringing communion.

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© Superior Catholic Herald, 2002