Name: Mike McGinty
Age: 62
Spouse: Jean
Home parish: St. Vincent de Paul in Brooklyn Park
Residence: Maple Grove
Profession: Head of school at Our Lady of Grace in Edina
Children: Jamie Teigen (38), Maria (37), Jack (29), Rosie (25), Bernadette (23), Mary (18)
Birthplace: Minneapolis
Q) What inspired you to pursue the diaconate?
A) A combination of spiritual, personal and vocational factors coupled with a love for the Church and a promise to God in a Eucharistic adoration chapel. For years, I was a weekly Saturday midnight adoration adorer and often my prayer in the chapel revolved around asking God for something. One night, instead of asking for something, I promised God I would do what he wanted, whatever it was, no matter what — just please make it obvious. Shortly after, the call to the diaconate that I buried was reborn and got stronger and stronger. I resisted for years until I could no longer ignore this call.
Q) What made you certain this was your call?
A) The call to the diaconate for me was discerned and confirmed through prayer, Eucharistic adoration, reflection, spiritual direction, encouragement from individuals over many years and, despite my attempts to ignore the call, it never went away. After attending a diaconate discernment day with my wife, I felt compelled to follow that call and let the Holy Spirit decide if it was meant to be. My wife has been very supportive of my call. Without her support it would not be possible.
Q) What aspect of diaconate ministry are you most looking forward to?
A) Participation in the mission of the Church, contributing to its outreach, growth and overall spiritual well-being while being at the service of others.
Q) What areas of ministry are you especially interested in?
A) The areas of education, family and youth are some of the ministries that interest me, but I am most interested in serving areas of ministry where the Holy Spirit best sees me using my God-given gifts to bring Christ to others.
Q) Where do you see the greatest needs in the local Church?
A) Religious affiliation and attendance have been on a rapid decline in the 21st century. A great need in the local Church exists to engage the fallen away and re-engage the inactive once more with the Gospel of Jesus Christ and love for the Church.
Q) What part of your formation has been the most rewarding?
A) Walking through this journey with my wife and brother deacon candidates and seeing the fruit of the formation in everyone. We all have different gifts and charisms to offer, and witnessing the growth and development of everyone spiritually and intellectually has been a beautiful thing.
Q) Who has been a model for your ministry?
A) So many people have been a model for my ministry. Many clergy, especially the deacons and laypersons who have participated in our formation, friends, family and others past and present who radiate the love of Christ through their actions, writings or service.
Q) What do you most hope to offer the Church through this vocation?
A) I offer myself as a humble servant without any interest other than serving. I put myself in the hands of God to guide me, enlighten me and make me a faithful servant in the Lord’s vineyard.
Q) What has been the most challenging part of pursuing this vocation?
A) Balancing the demands of family, work and formation is a challenge, especially at the start, but throughout formation you learn to trust the process and by the grace of God figure out how to balance all the demands.
Q) What can the Church do to inspire other men to answer the diaconate calling?
A) The Church can help inspire men to the diaconate by helping them understand what a deacon is. Current deacons serve as great role models, and they can help men discern whether the Holy Spirit is calling them to this vocation. The very first person who asked me if I ever thought of being a deacon (26 years ago) was a deacon. He planted the seed and started my discernment.
Q) What advice would you give another man discerning the diaconate?
A) Prioritize prayer in your discernment process and cultivate a strong spiritual life through regular participation in the sacraments, especially the Eucharist and reconciliation. Take time to learn about the diaconate, its history and its role in the Church. Have open and honest conversations with your family, especially your spouse if applicable. Last, remember that discernment is a process, and it’s okay if it takes time. Trust that God is leading you and stay open to the movements of the Holy Spirit in your life.
