Name: Bruce Richards
Age: 55
Spouse: Pamela
Home parish: St. Joseph in Waconia
Residence: Victoria
Profession: Principal at St. Joseph Catholic School in Waconia
Children: Wendy Richards-McKeehan (27), Natalie (25), Benjamin (23)
Birthplace: Moorhead
Q) What inspired you to pursue the diaconate?
A) Throughout my adult life, I have felt a desire to serve other people and to serve God. The opportunity to serve as a deacon in the Church has been on my heart for 20-plus years. I am very excited to fulfill this call.
Q) What made you certain this was your call?
A) Ongoing prayer and encouragement from those who know me best helped me know that this was the right answer for me. Deep prayer led to an ever-stronger relationship with our Lord, and I have continued to feel an attraction to come closer to him. Trusting the process of diaconate formation allowed the call to be solidified over time.
Q) What aspect of diaconate ministry are you most looking forward to?
A) I am excited to serve the greater community and I pray that the Lord might use me as an instrument to help bring others closer to Christ. Our lives are complicated, and they are tough to navigate. It is through living an active faith that we can fulfill the purpose that God has for us and ultimately when we are doing this, the world is a better place.
Q) What areas of ministry are you especially interested in?
A) I love to teach, and my ultimate hope and dream is to help others reach heaven. Any and all aspects of diaconate ministry that will help me help others grow closer to God is something that I am looking forward to as a deacon.
Q) What role will your family play in your new ministry?
A) My family has been extremely supportive throughout the formation process, and they have learned a lot by walking with me over the past several years. I am hopeful that some of the fruits of my formation have helped them grow and develop a deeper relationship with God. Because of that growth, I pray that they, too, will be used in ministries that help others grow in faith, hope and charity.
Q) Where do you see the greatest needs in the local Church?
A) Luckily, the Synod process has identified some areas for our local Church to grow. The priorities that have been outlined in Archbishop Hebda’s letter, “You Will Be My Witnesses” involve our greatest needs. I am excited to assist in the process in whatever way necessary.
Q) What part of your formation has been the most rewarding?
A) In the aspirancy year of formation, we learned about ways to pray through the School of Prayer. Learning and implementing those forms of prayer were instrumental in helping me continue to move forward throughout the formation process. The prayers of so many people throughout this process also gave me the courage to persevere through the many courses, studies, projects and internships. Also, the relationships that have been developed over the formative years have been life-changing and these rewards will last many years. It has also been rewarding to learn how to serve at the altar.
Q) Who has been a model for your ministry?
A) Several deacons have been wonderful models for this ministry for me. My fifth-grade teacher, Deacon Tom Cerar of Moorhead, has been one such model, as an educator and as a deacon. I have also been inspired by Deacon Jim Bauhs, Deacon Greg Miller, Deacon John Cleveland, Deacon Larry Lawinger and all of the deacons who work for the Institute for Diaconate Formation.
Q) What do you most hope to offer the Church through this vocation?
A) I hope to offer people help and encouragement to take closer steps towards heaven every day, and to never go alone!
Q) What has been the most challenging part of pursuing this vocation?
A) Formation has been like running a marathon, and it has been challenging to balance all of the formation work with family life and professional life. However, by integrating all components of formation with prayer, the goals were attainable.
Q) What can the Church do to inspire other men to answer the diaconate calling?
A) The Church can continue to pray for and encourage diaconate vocations. Also, I would encourage people to invite others to explore the idea of a diaconate vocation.
Q) What advice would you give another man discerning the diaconate?
A) The advice that I offer to those discerning the diaconate, I would say: Answer the call and see where it goes. If a door opens, go through it, and of course, pray always!
