by Kara Hansen
Special to The Leaven
Each deacon ordained in April has spent five years in formation and preparation. But for Chris Seago, the road was a little longer.
“Becoming a deacon is something I first thought about 10 or 15 years ago during spiritual direction,” he said. “I wanted to do more than I could at the time, but we didn’t have the diaconate here. So I waited and prayed and thought there would be an opportunity someday.
“It was something I wanted to do, but it was in God’s time.”
Since the ministry of a deacon is often not his only vocation — many deacons have wives and families, as well as jobs outside the church — Seago is envisioning a need for balance as his family goes through the transition of him taking on this new role.
“I tell my wife that I said yes to her before I said yes to the diaconate,” said Seago. “I think there is a humility in knowing I can’t be all things to all people and that if I can’t be there for my family, I can’t be there for the church either.”
Seago is particularly passionate about working with people who struggle with mental illness.
“I have always felt very called to work with people who are suffering and marginalized, especially those who are mentally ill,” he said.
He is also looking forward to the other areas of ministry in which the deacons will be serving.
“I’m excited about the idea of being a herald of the Gospel, which we all are, but deacons have a unique role with that,” said Seago. “It’s amazing and humbling that God has entrusted this work to me.”
Profile
Name: Christopher Seago Parish: Mater Dei, Topeka
Age: 52
Family members and ages: wife, Julia; daughters: Erica, 26; Marissa, 18
Occupation: Program Consultant II for the Department of Social and Rehabilitation Services (SRS). My job is to license and certify private psychiatric hospitals, psychiatric residential treatment facilities and residential care facilities.
Favorite food: lasagna What I’m looking forward to most about being a deacon: Helping serve the archbishop, the priests and the people of the archdiocese.
Something people might be surprised to learn about me: When I was little I loved to go out at night and catch spiders.
Favorite saint: St. Francis, because he was humble and he loved animals and all of God’s creation.
If I could visit a period of church history, it would be: the nativity of our Lord, since I would like to tell St. Joseph “thank you” for taking care of Mary and Jesus.
Favorite book (nonreligious): Anything that has to do with astronomy, especially the formation of galaxies and the early universe.
Hobby: astronomy
