Name: Frank Pavlick
Age: 57
Spouse: Joan
Home parish: St. Jude of the Lake in Mahtomedi
Residence: Mahtomedi
Profession: Director of faith formation and mission at St. Jude of the Lake
Children: Emily (34), Allison (33), Ryan (19), Logan (18)
Birthplace: St. Paul
Q) What inspired you to pursue the diaconate?
A) Fifteen years ago, my parish priest challenged us to use the gifts we’ve been given to serve the Church. At that time, I wasn’t doing anything for the Church, and it inspired me to get involved. I started out as a sacristan, and it snowballed into lighting a fire for my faith. Within a couple of years, people around the parish as well as our new pastor encouraged me to look into the diaconate.
Q) What made you certain this was your call?
A) Prayer and discernment. I wanted to pursue this several years ago, but my wife didn’t think it was the right time for us because our kids were so young. Years later, after returning from a Demontreville retreat (where I felt a strong call to the diaconate and didn’t mention it to my wife), my wife and I were at adoration together, and she turned to me and said, “I think you should look at the diaconate again.” There were many other signs than this confirming in my heart that this was the path God wanted me to pursue.
Q) What aspect of diaconate ministry are you most looking forward to?
A) I’m looking forward to serving at the altar and ministering to people.
Q) What areas of ministry are you especially interested in?
A) I feel a special call to working with the elderly (nursing homes/senior care) as well as those who are suffering — hospital ministry.
Q) What role will your family play in your new ministry?
A) My family has always understood that we are called to serve and help lead each other to heaven, but I’m not certain whether that means they will play a role in my ministry or whether God is calling them elsewhere.
Q) Where do you see the greatest needs in the local Church?
A) I think the greatest need of our local Church is to strengthen the family. St. John Paul II called the family the domestic Church. We need to continue to find ways to strengthen that, and I think that begins with fathers — teaching them that their vocation is to lead their family.
Q) What part of your formation has been the most rewarding?
A) The human formation aspect has been most rewarding; it not only strengthened my marriage, but it also helped me see Christ in everyone — realizing that we are all wounded in some way due to the fall of man, but that we are all beloved children of God.
Q) Who has been a model for your ministry?
A) There are several, and I’m sure I’m missing some, but to name a few: Deacon Joe Michalak, Deacon Mike Nevin, Deacon John Vomastek, Deacon Mike Martin, Deacon (Stephen) Najarian and Deacon Bob Bisciglia.
Q) What do you most hope to offer the Church through this vocation?
A) I hope to give back everything Christ has given me — my experiences, my gifts and charisms, and the love he has shown me.
Q) What has been the most challenging part of pursuing this vocation?
A) The most challenging part was learning to detach from “my personal time.” We had class for full days every other Saturday and Tuesday evenings for the last four years as well as three retreats a year.
Q) What can the Church do to inspire other men to answer the diaconate calling?
A) Encourage men to be more active in parish life — join men’s groups, go to the annual men’s conference — basically, get involved.
Q) What advice would you give another man discerning the diaconate?
A) If you have an interest, I would speak to another deacon. That’s what I did. He gave me insight into what the life of a deacon entails as well as a description of the entire formation process. He also was able to have his wife contact my wife to answer any questions or concerns.
