Meet transitional deacon candidate Michael Lamy

May 6, 2020

Twelve men will be ordained May 16 as transitional deacons, six for New Orleans

On May 16, 12 men will be ordained as transitional deacons – the final step before ordination to the priesthood next year – at a 10 a.m. Mass celebrated by Archbishop Gregory Aymond at St. Louis Cathedral. Six of the transitional deacons will be ordained for the Archdiocese of New Orleans; the remaining six will be ordained for other dioceses in the U.S. and Africa. The Clarion Herald asked the diaconate candidates for the Archdiocese of New Orleans to reflect on their service, particularly in light of the coronavirus pandemic. They also were asked to reflect on the reasons they selected the person who will vest them with their deacon’s dalmatic during the Ordination Mass. The Mass will be broadcast live on WLAE-TV and live-streamed at nolacatholic.org.

Michael Lamy

Age: 34
Home parish: St. Catherine of Siena, Metairie
Diaconate internship: St. Ann Parish, Metairie

Who will vest you and why did you select him?

I chose Deacon John Yike (soon to be Father John Yike) because he has been a source of encouragement for me throughout my time in seminary. He and I faced similar challenges at times. That said, his focus on God’s will as well as his positive attitude and sense of humor were all welcome aids in maintaining peace and a proper perspective throughout my time in seminary.

What has your seminary discernment been like?

I don’t like to gloss over the fact that discernment can be difficult. God has called me through his church to be a minister to his people, and being formed into that man has had a lot of growing pains associated with it. Without God’s grace, as well as the prayers and support of countless people, I know I wouldn’t have made it to this point.

However, from the time that I first experienced the call to discern priesthood until now, I’ve had the blessing of consistently being affirmed in my vocation interiorly as well as through those who speak on behalf of the Lord and his church despite the challenges along the way.

How challenging have the last two months been since the seminary went into lockdown? Do you have any thoughts about how the world may have changed?

It has been very challenging. Although we enacted strict protocols, which greatly limited our interaction with those outside the seminary in order to do our part in flattening the curve, we have not been exempt from the distress caused by the global pandemic. Sadly, there have been those here who have lost loved ones during this time due to the pandemic or other factors.

For their part, the faculty, staff and priests have done an excellent job in helping the seminarians adjust to the new “normal” we find ourselves in. The priests here have provided a faithful witness to their vocations, to Christ and to calling on us as men discerning priesthood to take on the role of intercessor for those suffering members of the Body of Christ and to stay faithful to our responsibilities.

There are a couple of things I think may be changing due to the pandemic. One is that we are becoming more aware of our need for others. This is a very good thing provided we take that lesson to heart and put aside our differences more often for the sake of our true common good. Related to that for those who are able to understand what is happening, it would surprise me if this pandemic hasn’t caused them to ask questions about the meaning of their lives.

My hope and prayer is that one of the fruits of the Lord allowing this to occur is that more people will turn to him and his church in order to understand and live out that meaning – that we are created to be in relationship with him and one another, striving with the help of his grace to become the men and women (the saints!) he is calling us to be.

What are you most looking forward to in your ministry as a deacon, knowing there still may be some restrictions on the size of the parish congregation for weeks or months?

I think my answer to this question would be the same no matter the circumstances: I look forward to working with my pastor, Father Billy O’Riordan, and his parochial vicar, Father Vincent Nguyen, as well as the rest of those involved in parish ministry at St. Ann in order to discern the Lord’s will in ministering to the parishioners during my time there. I desire to be the deacon God wants me to be for his people.