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Fr. Michael Doyle Celebrates His Golden Jubilee
By Nancy DeBiasi
 Sunday, April 19 marks the 50th year of priesthood for Father Michael L. Doyle, OSM. His has been a life full of commitment, accomplishment, sacrifice, and change. I have come to learn that Fr. Mike is punctual, and believes meetings should have a message and purpose. He shows us this every Sunday as he gently guides us through the Scripture readings, Gospel, and topics of the day. With his wisdom and clarity, he sheds light on the Holy Scriptures to deliver his message, bringing a special moment of peace and joy into our lives.
Fr. Mike offers an interesting lifetime’s passage of education, military and civic service, human and faith-filled experiences; all stepping stones leading to the next, which eventually led him to Assumption Church. He was born in Chicago on May 24, 1938, entered the Order of Servants of Mary in 1956, and pronounced his first vows in 1958. He earned a bachelor’s degree and then an M.Ed. degree from Loyola University in Chicago.
After being ordained a priest on April 19, 1965, Fr. Mike taught at Mount Senario College in Ladysmith, WI and Catholic Theological Union in Chicago. He has served at Saint Domitilla Church, during which time he joined the Hillside, IL volunteer fire department. Fr. Mike has also been a Pastor at Annunciata Catholic Church and Prior of the Servite Community at Our Lady of Sorrows Monastery, both in Chicago, and a Pastor at Seven Holy Founders Parish in Afton, MO. He has also taught at the Chicago Fire Academy and entered active duty with the Air Force in February 1987. He served military parishes at Columbus AFB MS, Kirtland AFB in Albuquerque NM and Soesterberg AB in the Netherlands, retiring from the Air Force in June 1998 as a colonel.
On June 30, 2006, Fr. Mike was named the pastor of Assumption Church and retired from that position on June 30, 2009. He continues to have a full schedule while living in community at Assumption, where he serves Holy Mass, meets with young couples planning weddings, serves as Spiritual Assistant for The Mother Cabrini River North Council of the Knights of Columbus, and works with the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults sessions. He has served many years on the Board of Trustees of the Catholic Theological Union in Chicago and is currently a member of the Servite Fathers Provincial Finance Council.
Fr. Mike is the Spiritual Assistant of the Secular Order of the Servants of Mary (Servite Secular Order), which is a vocation of lay persons that seek God and work to minister God's love. Father leads us in prayer at our meetings, and guides us through all our ceremonies, charitable efforts, and events. We enjoy those moments when Father shares some of his many experiences with us. We were fortunate to hear him speak about his informal recollections and personal experiences with the introduction of Vatican II. Last winter, Father treated us to a photo presentation of his recent visit to the Holy Land. We are grateful for his insight and inspiration.
Fr. Mike was instrumental in suggesting a fellow Secular Servite member to consider training to become a Deacon of the Church. Dr. Kevin T. Zajdel, OSSM, has pursued this path, and is currently attending weekly formation sessions to be considered for the role of Deacon at Assumption Church. Last October, Fr. Mike concelebrated the Rite of Candidacy Mass at Mundelein Seminary for Kevin and his fellow Deacons-in-Training. God Bless you, Fr. Mike on 50 meaningful years of service!
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Called to Be a Decon: Kevin Zajdel
By Elizabeth Kabacinski
Founded in 1881, Assumption Catholic Church has never had a Permanent Deacon in ministry. That is about to change. Our good friend Kevin Zajdel is in his second of four years at the Institute of Diaconal Studies at the University Saint Mary of the Lake in Mundelein.
 Kevin explained why he feels called to serve as our deacon: “Assumption has been my spiritual home for well over ten years. Because the Assumption community is so important in my life, I said yes immediately when Fr. Doyle asked me to serve God, the Church, and the parish as a deacon. This is my chance to give back to the community that has nourished me over the years.”
Permanent deacons, like other ordained persons such as priests and bishops, have discerned a vocation in ministry. Unlike priests, permanent deacons often live a “complete lay life” in addition to their ministry. Many are married and most hold full-time jobs in the secular world or on staff at a parish, in addition to their ministry.
The formal formation program at the Institute of Diaconal Studies lasts four years. However, the amount of time a permanent deacon spends in formation can last much longer. While a man discerns his vocation in the diaconate, he spends as much time as h needs as an Inquirer. During this time, he develops a strong relationship with a sponsoring parish (in Kevin’s case, Assumption) and contemplates the effects that being ordained will have on his life.
The first year of the program is called “Aspirancy,” which references the idea that the man in question is aspiring to become a candidate in formation. The following three years are called “Candidacy.” As a second-year student, Kevin is a Candidate. Recently, Bishop Manz installed him to the ministry of lector, which is a major step in his journey to the diaconate.
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Seeking Nominations for the Pastoral Council
Between now and the end of April, nominations will be accepted for positions on Assumption’s Pastoral Council. There are three three-year terms and two one-year terms to be filled. You can nominate yourself or someone else and nomination forms will be available at all Masses and on-line at www.assumption-chgo.org. Those nominated will be invited to attend an informational meeting at 7 pm May 6 and a discernment meeting at 7 pm May 13. |