On the move: Deacon couple retires after 20 years of growing seeds of diaconate vocation

June 14, 2022

For about 20 years, Deacon Ron and Tammy Myers have led the formation of candidates considering a vocation to the permanent diaconate.

They spent two weekends every month for 11 months of the year in Missouri or Iowa with the latest class of candidates, then a week of summer school, time on retreats, completing paperwork and all that goes into accompanying couples on the formation journey.

With 10 grandchildren, two great-grandchildren and the realization that it was time to refocus on family, they’re stepping down. 

Deacon Myers “had been just about every Protestant faith” when he met Tammy at their work. She invited him to go to Sacred Heart Catholic Church with her, she served as his sponsor, he became Catholic and they married.

“I just had this feeling that I was at home,” he said when they sat near the tabernacle in church for the first time. “I was here. I belonged. I didn’t understand why, it was so serene, quiet and relaxed. I was at peace.”

After some time, Deacon Myers felt called to be a permanent deacon and was ordained in 2001.

About that time, there were new guidelines from the U.S. bishops on diaconate formation and Bishop Joseph Charron, C.PP.S. was having the Des Moines Diocese’s program reviewed. Deacon Myers served on the committee, saw the job description for the coordinator of the revised program, applied and got the job.

He and Tammy set up a core team of deacon couples that provide the support for those in formation.
“It’s the lifeblood of the formation,” he said.

As co-leaders of the diaconate formation process, Deacon Myers said he and Tammy were inspired “to see couples who thought they were totally immersed and in touch with their faith develop and flower into a whole new, broader, stronger relationship with God and each other and with those around them.”

“It helped me grow, too,” he said. “It was good for our relationship, also.”

It’s been a gift to accompany couples through the formation process, Tammy said. 

Each member of the team brings different experiences to the table, which can help those experiencing formation.
“I think every woman and every man has such an individual journey in the formation process,” she said. It was a blessing to see “how you’re able to let go and let God work, how you can trust and take that larger leap of faith.”