Celebrating deacons: A reflection from the archives

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Deacon Mansueto “Max” Flaim

This article is the third of a series to celebrate the Jubilee Year of Hope by exploring the historical aspects of the jubilee theme “Pilgrims of Hope.” Deacons and their families from throughout the world gathered Feb. 21-23 in Rome for the Jubilee of Deacons.

Michael Courtney

Diocese of Salt Lake City Archivist

SALT LAKE CITY — The following article, originally published in the Intermountain Catholic on Dec. 9, 1977, is a reflection by Deacon Mansueto “Max” Flaim on his first year in diaconal ministry.

In this reprinting, some spelling corrections in the original have been made.

Deacon Flaim was a member of the Diocese of Salt Lake City’s first class of deacons. He was ordained on Dec. 26, 1976, at the Cathedral of the Madeleine by the Most Reverend Joseph L. Federal, sixth Bishop of the Diocese of Salt Lake City. Deacon Flaim worked at the Army Depot in Tooele as a computer specialist. He was first assigned to Holy Cross Hospital for liturgical service and Holy Cross and St. Mark’s Hospitals for pastoral services; he later served as a deacon at his home parish of Saint Marguerite Church, Tooele.

A Deacon Reflects

“It was worth it, breaking my legs just to meet you. I’d do it all again just for that.” Those words were spoken to me by one of the patients I had the opportunity to minister to during my first six months as an ordained deacon. I will never forget those words, especially because they came not from a little old lady with a rosary in her hand and a halo around her head, but from a man. He was a big, strong man who had a son in college and a wife to support. A man who had worked his entire life in the copper industry. A man who was a representative of average Mr. Catholic American. A man touched by God; touched by the Holy Spirit working thru my hands, my voice, my presence.

The six months I spend with my wife and daughter always beside me functioning as a deacon at Holy Cross Hospital and St. Mark’s Hospital are some of the most memorable and rewarding of my life.

The man with the broken legs is just one of scores of people who shared their suffering with me in my ministry, the ministry of Christ’s presence. The Gospels give us many accounts of Jesus the healer touching people, their lives, thru physical healing and thru spiritual healing. That is the Jesus I can be as a deacon. That is the Christ I try to be in my diaconal work, in the hospital as a member of a pastoral care team; in bringing communion to the sick; by listening to them; by holding their hands; by touching their face; by loving them.

My present assignment at St. Marguerite’s Parish in Tooele brings me back home again with my neighbors. This assignment presents a kaleidoscope of challenges and opportunities to be that Christ of the Gospel. The parish ministry will primarily call upon me to function as a parish leader and teacher by teaching CCD; by preaching the Sunday homily; by liturgical ministering; by baptismal catechesis and by baptizing.