Michael Lane, 61, said after the death of his beloved wife, Tracy, he asked God what he wanted of him. “I told my children that ‘I’m your father, I could be a Father.’ Then the words that entered my head were, ‘No. A deacon.’” He talked with his pastor, Father Dan Haugan at Holy Spirit in St. Paul, then to a deacon, who encouraged him as a first step to sign up for the Archbishop Flynn Catechetical Institute at the Seminaries of St. Paul. Deacon Joe Michalak was introduced as a staff member, and later Lane learned that Deacon Michalak is the director of diaconate formation in the archdiocese. “Then I knew God had a sense of humor and wanted me to start down this path,” Lane said. As a deacon, he looks forward to serving the faithful with the sacraments and reaching out to those who are lost and want to know God more. Proclaiming the Gospel, serving at the Mass and helping people on the margins would be part of that service, he said. Having his adult children, Andrea, Austin and Alec, all work in service areas including helping people overcome chemical addictions, providing nutritional meals to people battling terminal diseases and taking care of children whose parents are working, already augment the mission of the Church and his own ministry, Lane said. The greatest need of the Church is being more intentional with the mission of Jesus, such as welcoming people on the margins and bringing the mysteries of the faith and beauty of the Mass “to a level that all can assent in mind and grow in spirit,” he said. Models for his ministry include his late wife and his grandmother, Carmel Harlan (Spano), “who was 100% Italian and 200% Catholic, and Deacon Joe Michalak.” Semi-retired, working part-time at St. John the Baptist in New Brighton, Lane said the most challenging part of his vocation has been himself. “Through a struggle in faith and being a prideful individual, I have been my own worst enemy,” he said. “To die to oneself and have Christ live in you is the best gift God can give and offers the most struggle.” Promoting vocations to the diaconate can include the Church continuing to hold diaconate inquiry sessions for people who might be interested, Lane said. Men considering the diaconate should pray about it, he said. “Let God direct you. If married, pray with your wife. Dialogue with other deacons and priests. Pray. And then pray some more. After that … pray!”