Dcn Mark Weiner

Watching the funeral Mass of Saint Pope John Paul II on April 8, 2005, Mark Weiner came to the realization that he was called to do something in the church, but he wasn’t clear on exactly what he was being called to do.

Deacon Weiner then increased his volunteer work at his parish, St. Rose in New Lexington. But it wasn’t enough, so Deacon Weiner and his wife, Patricia, decided to become Eucharistic Ministers. He is also a lector and member of the festival committee. He and Patricia, who have been married for 26 years, have three children: Matthew, 25; Nicholas, 22 and Alaina, 14.

“Something was telling me that it just wasn’t enough,” he said. “Then I was at a Mass and saw a deacon on the altar. It was after that Mass that I really started thinking about being a deacon. I spoke with our pastor about it and he gave me some information.” Deacon Weiner started classes but struggled academically and decided to walk away. “I thought it was just too much for me,” he said. “I didn’t go to class the next week. I was done. I decided to go to adoration one evening on my way home from work and as I knelt down I started to pray, ‘Jesus, I am yours and I’ll do whatever you ask of me.’ I left with my answer and went back to class the next week.”

When he was officially called to candidacy, Deacon Weiner was working in a job that required a lot of mandatory overtime and he felt unsure of receiving support from his supervisors. This led to his current position with the Perry County Consortium of Catholic Parishes. In his position, Deacon Weiner ministers to the homebound and those in hospitals and nursing facilities, holds baptismal meetings and assists with sacrament preparation for children.

Deacon Weiner said visiting the homebound has been enlightening for him. “They’re so thankful and appreciative of me when I sit and visit with them but they are the blessing,” he said. “I am the one that gets to learn from the wisdom of our elderly parishioners. I am nothing but a vessel that God is using the spread the good news. I thank God for using me but at the end of the day I am dust. I think that it is very important to keep that in mind. I come to serve, not to be served.”