On Friday, May 1, the Diocese of Duluth celebrated its 32nd ordination of permanent deacons at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Rosary. During the Mass of Ordination, held at 5 p.m., six men received the sacrament of holy orders — marking the largest group of permanent deacons ordained at one time in the history of the diocese. It was a Spirit-filled moment of joy and thanksgiving for the local Church, as families, clergy and faithful gathered to witness these men formally respond to God’s call to serve.

In speaking with each of the newly ordained deacons, a shared theme emerged: a deep and abiding call to service. This call lies at the heart of the diaconal vocation, rooted in humility, charity and a willingness to serve the people of God. Many of the men pointed to the diocesan vocations prayer as a meaningful presence throughout their discernment, along with a pattern of continually offering their “yes” to the Lord’s ongoing invitations.

Now, we invite you to meet each of the six newly ordained permanent deacons who will begin serving the Church in the Diocese of Duluth.

Zach Bennett
Wife: Nikki
Children: Gemma, Nora, Leo, Freddie
Home Parish: St. James (Duluth)
Occupation: Biology instructor at Lake Superior College in Duluth

Zach and his wife, Nikki, met while working as counselors at a diocesan camp for high school students. Nikki, who served with NET Ministries after high school, has always carried a strong heart for service, and Zach’s call to the diaconate fits naturally into the family’s long-standing spirit of ministry. Zach shared that attending monthly diaconate formation together helped their marriage grow stronger, as learning and praying side by side proved deeply nurturing.

Looking back, Zach sees his vocation as the result of many small “yeses” over time. In high school, he once spoke with his pastor about possible religious life and, with a grin, recalls saying, “Who are the ones that can get married … the deacons? Yeah, maybe that.” He later spent one semester in seminary alongside his best friend, Father Ben Hadrich. Zach jokes, “I think God called me just to get Ben into the seminary — and then said, ‘Good job, now see you later.’” After leaving seminary, Zach became a youth minister at St. Michael’s in Duluth, where his love for serving others continued to grow.

Years later, the director of the diaconate program at the time, Deacon John Weiske, told him, “In 10 years, you and I need to have a conversation. You’re going to be a great deacon.” The defining moment came later when Father Richard Kunst offered an invitation, telling Zach, “I’ve known you for 20 years. You have a vocation, and I want you to consider the diaconate.”

Zach points to the diocesan vocations prayer as pivotal in his discernment, especially the call for courage to say yes and follow God. Praying those words sincerely gave him both confidence and consolation, knowing the Church was praying for vocations like his.

As a deacon, Zach looks forward to supporting priests through service, preaching and teaching, particularly in OCIA, while trusting God to use his gifts where they are most needed. Outside ministry, Zach enjoys bow hunting with fellow candidate David Gunnarson, mountain biking and spending time on his sailboat.

David Gunnarson
Wife: Theresa (Teri)
Children: Clayton, Samuel, Stella, Annika
Home Parish: Cathedral of Our Lady of the Rosary (Duluth)
Occupation: Director of campus ministries at St. Scholastica

David Gunnarson laughs when he reflects on where God has led him. Recently ordained a Catholic deacon, David now serves as director of campus ministries at the College of St. Scholastica and resides at the monastery — paths he never imagined for himself. Raised outside the Catholic faith, and married to Teri, who grew up Catholic, David once admits he did not even know what a deacon was, let alone that he might become one.

David entered the Catholic Church in 1998 after an invitation from his mother-in-law changed everything. She encouraged him to attend a lecture by a priest in St. Paul. Captivated by Scripture explained through history and language, David left thinking, “Why doesn’t everyone know this?” He eagerly returned for more lectures, only later realizing he had unknowingly been participating in RCIA. He completed the process and was received into the Church, setting the foundation for a deep and lasting faith.

In later years, after facing personal challenges, David’s relationship with Jesus grew even stronger. He became increasingly involved in parish life, often through simple invitations — teaching religious education, leading prayer ministries and working with confirmation students. He describes these moments as “a lot of little yeses.”

One Mass, centered on the Gospel of the mustard seed, crystallized his discernment. Feeling he had very little to offer yet trusting God nonetheless, David scheduled a meeting with the diaconate director the very next day. Drawn to a ministry of service, his path toward the diaconate became clear.

Throughout formation, David was supported by his family and encouraged by mentors such as Deacon James Kirzeder, Bishop Peter Muhich, Deacon Dan Goshey, and Father Tony Wroblewski. Though he wrestled early with feelings of unworthiness, David came to see that God calls people where they are. As ordination approaches, he remains convinced that God heals the wounded — and then sends them to serve.

Chad Knudson
Wife: Ginny
Children: Theodore, Oliver, Helen
Home Parish: St. Francis (Brainerd)
Occupation: Entrepreneur

When Chad Knudson’s children were young, he and his wife Ginny enrolled them at St. Francis Catholic School. At the time, Chad wasn’t Catholic and wasn’t attending church at all. Still, the school became a second home. Chad volunteered, supported his children, and before long found himself serving on the school board. Faith wasn’t yet part of his life — but community was.

Ginny had always hoped Chad might one day consider the Catholic Church, but she learned early in their marriage not to rush him. 
It was something he needed to come to on his own and in his own time. That time arrived 17 years later.

In 2008, Chad entered RCIA, beginning a deeper exploration of the Catholic faith. He later said the process lit a fire in him for the Lord. In 2009, he was baptized by Father Tony Wroblewski. Almost immediately, he began serving at the altar — at daily Mass, funerals, wherever help was needed. The rhythm of the liturgy drew him in.

As Chad spent more time serving, a question began forming: Do I stay where I am, or do I take this further? 
He felt a growing desire to serve, especially by helping bring the Mass to others. Even the small tasks of altar service proved deeply fulfilling.

In 2020, with family and work life stable, Chad entered diaconate formation. The journey strengthened not only his faith but his marriage. Chad and Ginny poured themselves into formation, studies and ministry — teaching the beauty of natural family planning, mentoring couples and, through it all, growing even closer.

As ordination approached, sending out invitations made everything feel suddenly real. Chad is filled with excitement as he looks forward to serving on the altar as a deacon, preaching the word and bringing the Eucharist to the homebound — continuing a path that began years earlier with a simple desire to serve.

Joel Spaeth
Wife: Mara
Children: Daniel, Hope, Ellie
Home Parish: Holy Spirit (Virginia); Lumen Christi Mission Field
Occupation: Mineral manager (geologist)

Joel Spaeth’s path to the diaconate began long before formation ever became a reality. Even prior to marriage, he had discerned a call to the priesthood. When he and his wife, Mara, were married, Joel was honest about that pull to ministry, sharing that the diaconate might someday be part of their future together.

Seven years ago, as family life slowed and prayer deepened, Joel sensed that the time had come to act. Although he was asked to wait an additional year due to the lack of other candidates, the call never faded. Instead, the waiting became part of the formation itself — one grounded in prayer, trust and steady support from his family, especially Mara. Joel describes her as his greatest supporter, noting that the process strengthened their marriage and deepened their shared faith. Formation became something they lived together, helping them move beyond simply “meeting the minimums” of Catholic life toward a fuller spirit of service.

Service had always been part of who Joel was. As a longtime Scoutmaster, he learned how leadership and service could shape lives. The diaconate allowed him to transform that experience into explicitly faith-filled service.

Throughout his life, Joel remained active in parish ministries, always feeling at home in the Church. In prayer, he repeatedly asked the Holy Spirit whether the diaconate was truly God’s will. The answer came back: “Are my words not enough?”

As ordination approaches, Joel feels both unworthy and deeply joyful. He looks forward to serving at the altar, distributing the Eucharist, and bringing the sacraments to others. Though the responsibility feels daunting, he trusts that it is the Holy Spirit doing the work — and that his role is simply to be the conduit and get out of the way.

Raised in Ely, Joel finds God in the outdoors as well: hunting, fishing, camping and time in the Boundary Waters, where call and response seem especially clear.

Duane Stangler
Wife: Beth
Children: Annie, Renae, Teddy, Andrew
Home Parish: St. Augustine (Cohasset)/ St. Joseph (Grand Rapids)
Occupation: Electrical engineer

Duane Stangler’s path to the diaconate has been shaped by a search for truth and an openness to God’s voice. Over the years, he explored a variety of apologists in his pursuit of understanding. In time, he came to recognize that the truth he sought had always been present in the Catholic Church.

The idea of the diaconate was first planted years earlier, when a priest suggested that Duane might one day consider it. He brought the possibility to his family, who raised no objections, yet Duane couldn’t see the diaconate fitting in his life and set the idea aside. As time passed, his relationship with God continued to deepen, and he began to sense the Lord inviting him once again to consider ordained ministry.

In 2019, the invitation became clear. Duane often awoke at 2 a.m. with a single word on his mind: deacon. He describes this not as something he was pursuing, but as something God was asking of him. With each prompting, Duane continued to offer his “yes,” drawing ever closer to ordination — not by chasing the role, but by faithfully responding to God’s call.

When he brought the discernment to his family a second time, they were fully supportive. Unbeknownst to Duane, his daughters later shared that they had been praying for him to recognize and respond to this very call.

Looking ahead, Duane is especially drawn to helping bring the mystical realities of faith into everyday life — meeting people where they are and helping them grasp truth through lived experience. As ordination approaches, he feels the weight of responsibility, recalling the words, “To whom much is given, much is expected.” Still, he entrusts himself to God’s will, asking for the grace to serve faithfully.

Outside of ministry, Duane and his family enjoy peaceful time together outdoors, grounded in faith and gratitude for the journey they share.

Matt West
Wife: Brittany
Children: Conner, Madison, Parker, Evander, Alexander, Gianna
Home Parish: All Saints (Brainerd/Baxter)
Occupation: Electrical engineer

Matt West grew up with the diaconate woven into his everyday life. His father has been a permanent deacon in the Diocese of Fargo since Matt was 5 years old, and while not every deacon’s child follows the same path, watching his father serve the Church planted a steady, positive image of that vocation in Matt’s heart.

As a high school student, Matt felt drawn to the priesthood but also wondered whether God might be calling him toward marriage and a career in engineering. He remembers asking himself which road to take — and then, within a few months, he met Brittany and the question answered itself.

Years later, when Matt began sensing God nudging him toward the diaconate, he turned to prayer. He told his father he had bought a breviary and started praying the Liturgy of the Hours, hoping the rhythm of that life would help him discern the call. Over time, it simply felt right. God, he realized, was asking him to step forward. With a newborn at home, Matt hesitantly brought the idea to Brittany, half-expecting her to say no. Instead, she excitedly said, “Yes — let’s do this.”

Encouraged by the support of local deacons and moved especially by the diocesan vocation prayer, Matt experienced moments during Mass when the Holy Spirit seemed to flood his whole being. He describes it as an energy radiating throughout his body. From that moment on, he knew God was calling him to this vocation.

As ordination approaches, Matt looks forward to proclaiming the Gospel, serving at the altar and walking with others in their faith. Having seen the sacramental graces at work in his marriage, he is eager to discover how God will now shape his family through holy orders. His children have embraced the journey, happily calling him “Deacon Dad.” Nervous but joyful, Matt is ready. Trusting God to lead the way, he carries the joy of Christ wherever he goes — still smiling, because when you’re filled with the Holy Spirit, you can’t help it.

Stabilitas Grant Brings New Support for Rural Ministry in the Diocese of Duluth

St. John’s School of Theology and Seminary has received a $10 million grant from Lilly Endowment Inc. to launch Stabilitas: Renewing Rural Ministry, a major initiative supporting rural dioceses across the Midwest — including the Diocese of Duluth. The project will strengthen the formation of lay and diaconal ministers serving in rural communities, where leadership needs continue to grow.

For the Diocese of Duluth, Stabilitas will provide expanded access to theological education, practical ministry training, and ongoing formation for those serving in its parishes. The grant allows St. John’s to enhance its curriculum with new offerings focused on the realities of rural ministry, ensuring that leaders are equipped to serve with compassion and resilience. It will also establish a regional diaconal institute dedicated to supporting permanent deacons throughout their ministry.

A key benefit for partner dioceses is the opportunity to build long-term scholarship endowments, developed in collaboration with Catholic Extension Society. These endowments will help Duluth create sustainable funding for future lay and diaconal leaders who seek education and ongoing formation. As part of this effort, Lilly Endowment is offering a 2-to-1 match on funds raised — meaning every $125,000 raised can be matched with $250,000 in additional support. Those interested in supporting this matching opportunity are invited to contact Margaret Slawin at margaret.slawin@duluthcatholic.org.

Local Catholic leaders see this as a transformative investment in the future of rural parish life, offering renewed hope and stability for faith communities across northeastern Minnesota.