September 11, 2026
Called to serve: Deacon Mike Wilson
B I S H O P R I C E O R DA I N S 5 M E N A S P E R M A N E N T D E A C O N S I N S T. M A R Y C AT H O L I C C H U R C H , J O P L I N , O N S AT. , J U LY 2 5 . T H I S I S T H E S E C O N D I N T H E S E R I E S …
The formation process took time to get moving. Joplin, MO COVID-19 was a major setback as it was for n Saturday, many things throughout July 25, 2026, the Church. As for the five men functionality of the were conferred Holy formation process, Orders and ordained it was amazing, yet by Bishop Edward M. exhausting. There were Rice as permanent many gold nuggets of deacons for the information that helped Diocese of Springfieldfill the voids within Cape Girardeau. One my understanding of of the newly-ordained our faith, teachings, is Deacon Mike and evangelization Wilson, who serves in processes. Sacred Heart Parish, Our cohort was Webb City. assigned to Conception For Deacon Abbey and Seminary, Wilson, his journey east of Maryville, to ordained ministry MO, which required was shaped by a lengthy travel time. long process. From The hardest part was his conversion to DEACON MIKE WILSON ORDAINED JULY 25 — Deacon Mike Wilson, who will serve Sacred Heart not the academics; it Catholicism in 1992 Parish, Webb City, was ordained as a permanent deacon in St. Mary Catholic Church, in Joplin, by The was learning to juggle to a life-changing Most Rev. Edward M. Rice, on Saturday morning, July 25, in the presence of his wife, LeAnn Wilson, family life, career, experience during (Photo by Brian Landreth/The Mirror) area clergy, and many joyful faithful. current ministry Eucharistic adoration duties, study time, hobbies, etc. There in 2017, Deacon Wilson gradually God spoke to me through various events were many decisions and sacrifices that recognized God’s invitation to serve the and people over time, most of which I had to be made. To me, the academics Church. As an ordained deacon, he brings ignored or just didn’t listen well. Our were sometimes easy and sometimes his passion for Eucharistic devotion, awesome God woke me up in 2017 at challenging and I thoroughly enjoyed our youth ministry and helping others deepen the Steubenville Mid-America Youth classes in Theology, Canon Law, and Old their faith to his new ministry in the Conference in Springfield during Testament Literature. Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau. Adoration through a vision. It may sound The thing I miss the most about the The Mirror recently talked with weird to some but Christ in the Blessed time spent in formation is the prayer time Deacon Wilson and his wife, LeAnn, about Sacrament told me to write the letter with the monks of the abbey and with my the recent ordination. to Bishop Rice [expressing my desire to newly-ordained brothers. Learning the ins become a Deacon]. I wrote that letter and outs of chanting Psalms and prayers When did you discern your calling? because this was the first time in my is something I will always cherish. It was I joined the Church through full initiation Catholic life that I truly understood the overwhelming to see so many men in one in April of 1992, and I went through the mystery of the Eucharist. place loving the Lord at the same time. motions just like every other Catholic Getting away from the world one weekend that I knew until around 2013. My What was the formation process like a month is not so bad either. discernment took place over probably for you? Any highlights to share? Continued on page 3... the last decade and beyond. I believe
Vol. LXII, No. 11
One Church, East to West: Loving Jesus, Serving Jesus, Sharing Jesus
DIOCESE OF SPRINGFIELD—CAPE GIRARDEAU, MISSOURI
By Paula Wright
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From LeAnn Wilson...
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hat are your memories from the ordination? The overwhelming attendance of so many of our close friends locally and from around the diocese (including the Cape Girardeau area), the laying of hands and seeing my husband prostrate on the floor really touched my heart. I will never forget the joy I had when I was able to hand Fr. Chaz [Dunn] the stole and dalmatic in which he vested Mike after the prayers of ordination. We were able to exchange a long hug at that moment which really choked me up: I was very proud. The next issue of The Mirror will be September 25, 2026. Sign up to receive the diocesan newspaper via Email in digital format: Contact Debbie Thompson at (417) 866-0841, or Email: dthompson@dioscg.org.
How did you prepare for this new calling for your husband? What was your discernment process as you prepared for this new family vocation? The first thing I did was start looking
for new bookshelves to house all the materials we were buying and being given, this is still a work in progress. I don’t feel like I really had to discern myself as we were already living and working in ministry. This just seemed like the next step in our calling from God and adjustments were made as he progressed in formation. Some of those adjustments were scheduling family birthdays and our anniversary celebrations around formation weekends and study time. We were fortunate that the wives were welcome at the abbey during the formation weekends. I will never forget the surprise anniversary blessing and birthday we were able to surprise each other with at the abbey— Mike’s birthday is the day after our anniversary. What are you looking forward to most as your husband becomes a deacon? I am looking forward to seeing how
he uses his creativity in homilies and working in areas of pastoral care and sacraments for the parish and community. In what parish or other Church activities are you involved? I am currently involved in the parish choir, youth ministry, and confirmation preparation, PCCW, and I serve at Mass as an Extraordinary Minister. I also serve as a women’s Cursillo team member. What ministries are of interest to you? Youth, shut-ins, those away from the faith... prison ministry? My husband and I are currently involved in youth ministry and confirmation preparation. I would love to somehow start up a young adult ministry for those who are post-confirmation and assist Mike in working with families for funeral planning and visiting those who are hospitalized. ©TM