Ordination of Josiah Hanson and Blane Schriock to the Transitional Diaconate

Bishop Scott Bullock
Ordination to the Transitional Diaconate of Josiah Hanson and Blane Schriock
Cathedral of Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Rapid City 
May 30, 2026

On behalf of the entire Church of the Diocese of Rapid City, welcome to all who have come to form a powerful community of prayer for these two men — that Holy Spirit will pour out rich gifts upon them making them deacons and make them strong deacons. We need strong deacons. 

I want to take a moment in particular to acknowledge and welcome the families of Josiah and Blane, especially parents who are here today. I was meditating on the enumerable, uncountable ways that you have loved these men to this moment. Small and large, generous sacrificial love that has prepared them to be as loving as they are being right now, and to give their lives in service of God’s people. Thank you for your beautiful acts of love throughout the years.

In Jesus’ meeting with Saint Peter that we just heard proclaimed, Jesus has come to a moment filled with anxiety. At first, he seems to merely be coaxing Peter to be more loving of him. It seemed like all that Jesus was doing was simply giving Peter a chance to make up for what he did before. Three acts of confession of his love after three acts of denial that we know well. But it seems to me there’s a whole lot more going on there. That’s why I say that Jesus is anxious, because you see of course Jesus has given Peter an essential role in our lives and all the lives of Christians. He’s asked him to be that rock upon which he will build the Church, and yet the rock got unsteady, didn’t it? It began to waver in fear. 

And so, Jesus seeing that and knowing what he expects of the rock, he’s anxious. He’s anxious for Peter’s love. So, we have this magnificent dialogue that goes on between Peter and Jesus. Our English translation makes it clear that Jesus wants Peter’s love. But going even deeper into the biblical text we can see that it’s more than we at first can see. As many might know two different biblical words for love are in the middle of that dialogue between Jesus and Peter. We all know that when we speak of love we speak of it in different terms depending upon the nature of the love, right? And so, in this case the two words toggling back and forth are a love like Christ’s — a sacrificial love — and then secondly the love of friends or brothers. So, if you’ll be patient with me for just a moment, I’m going to translate it a little bit. Not an official translation, but I think it gets to the heart of the matter.

It goes this way — Jesus asks Peter, “Do you love me with a sacrificial love?”

To which Peter replies, “I’m fond of you.” 

Alarming! Jesus wants more. So, he says it again. “Peter, do you love me with a sacrificial love?”

To which Peter replies, “I’m fond of you.” 

You can almost sense Jesus’ anxiety and his frustration when he says, “Peter you’re just fond of me?”

To which Peter says, “Yes I’m fond of you.”

Jesus wants it all. He wants the full depth of Peter’s love. He wants Peter to lay down his life like he did. He wants Peter to give it all. So, in many ways Jesus, who is the perfect embodiment of love, wants Peter to love with that love for others. We can see that because the responses to the questions is what? “Feed my lambs. Feed my sheep.” 

Peter is thinking about generations to come. Peter’s thinking about you, and me, and you. Jesus can see that down the centuries, and he needs the rock to have the divine love to love everyone with great sacrifice. With a Christ like love, for the flock cannot receive what they need not a half human love but a divine love. That’s what Jesus needs for his people that he can see with divine fore vision. And people don’t need some kind of virtual love. Our Holy Father just acknowledged that humanity is that vessel through which we can bear God’s love to the world. He needs these men right here to be his instruments of God’s love and that’s why he’s called them. 

Deacons-to-be, Blane and Josiah, Jesus is anxious for your love. His love is pouring through you. He already sees the people you will serve. He’s anxious for them too. He needs you Josiah, you Blane, to love like he does. The questions to Peter are the same questions to you — do you love me? And not with some kind of halfhearted lukewarm love, but  as we understand love, a love that wills the good of those who will serve with all your lives. We need everything. We need your whole lives. It seems to me when we are cautious about giving our whole lives it’s when fear creeps, isn’t it? That’s what happened to Peter. He was fearful and he couldn’t love. 

So as we all gathered to pray for these men, let’s in a particular way pray for freedom from fear because what is happening today is the Lord is saying, “I choose you, and I will give you my divine love which my people are dying for till they receive it. So I invite you, go all in.

Surgite Eamus!