Reverend Joseph E. Kurtz, D.D. Bishop | Archdiocese of Louisville

The Archdiocese of Louisville's Diaconal Ministry has announced new leadership and initiatives aimed at enhancing support for its community. Dr. DeKarlos Blackmon took over as the head of the ministry in January, following Deacon Dennis Nash, who had been director since 2016.

Blackmon praised his predecessor, saying, "Deacon Nash was 'an outstanding director,' someone I respect and have great esteem for. He’s been a great resource and someone to lean on. He’s the epitome of Christ the servant."

Working alongside Blackmon are Deacon Mark Preischel as associate director and Madeline Kincaid as secretary. Blackmon emphasized the importance of building up the diaconate community, stating, "The church is richer for diaconal ministry. Building up the diaconate community is really important to me."

To achieve this goal, several new initiatives are being developed:

1. **Fostering Community**: The ministry plans to create more opportunities for deacons and their families to gather beyond existing events like an annual assembly and retreats. Blackmon highlighted the importance of including widows in these gatherings, noting they should still be supported by the community.

2. **Project Stephen**: This initiative aims to engage men who feel called to the diaconate but missed enrollment in formation classes. It provides opportunities for them and their wives to interact with deacon couples during interim periods between classes.

Deacon Preischel shared his experience of missing out on a formation class, explaining that Project Stephen allows potential candidates "a chance to keep that call in the forefront" instead of waiting years.

3. **Multicultural Formation**: With increasing multiculturalism within the archdiocese, there is a push for diverse formation programs. A Spanish-speaking cohort began in June 2023 with five couples on track for ordination in 2028.

Preischel expressed his vision for expanding these efforts further by considering future formation classes in languages such as Vietnamese and French.

He stated, "I see this as an initiative we need to continue as our archdiocese becomes more multicultural." The Diaconal Ministry aims to adapt its practices accordingly.