Home / News & Publications / Michigan Catholic News / 2008 / Deacon Lee Eric Acervo
Deacon Lee Eric Acervo
to be ordained for the Archdiocese of Detroit
Published May 9, 2008
Age: 34
Parents' names and hometown: Rudy and Marlene Acervo, Sterling Heights
Education: Simonds Elementary, Madison Heights; John Page Middle School, Madison Heights; Lamphere High School, Madison Heights; University of Michigan-Dearborn (undergraduate); University of Detroit Mercy (graduate); Sacred Heart Major Seminary.
Parish(es) where you grew up and current home parish: Growing up, my family and I were members of St. Vincent Ferrer Parish in Madison Heights. My home parish for the last several years has been SS. Cyril and Methodius in Sterling Heights.
Masses of Thanksgiving (both where and when):
• SS. Cyril and Methodius Church, Sterling Heights
10 a.m. Sunday, May 11
• Our Lady on the River Parish's at Holy Cross Catholic Church, Marine City
5:30 p.m. Saturday, May 17
• Our Lady on the River Parish's St. Catherine of Alexandria Church, Algonac
11:30 a.m. Sunday, May 18
• St. Frances Cabrini Church, Allen Park
5 p.m. Saturday, May 24
Briefly describe your route to the priesthood (when you first began to think you might have a vocation, who — or what — were pivotal influences on you as you discerned your vocation?):
My route to the priesthood began when I started to become aware of how much God had blessed me throughout my life, which would never have occurred to me without prayer. Something inspired me to want to do something for God in return, but I didn't know what. I began to pray very simply: "Lord, what do you want me to do?" and all I could think of was wanting to introduce God to people so that they too could be aware of His love for them. That's when I really started to think about the priesthood as the way to which God was calling me. My parents' faith and love have always been great examples for me, and it was they who always encouraged me to pray to know God's will. Two priests at my home parish, Fr. Ben Kosnác and Fr. Valerian Rykowski, also helped me through their words and their example.
Having decided you had a vocation, did you ever have second thoughts about it? How did you resolve any doubts or fears?
I can't say that I ever had any serious doubts during my time in the seminary. There were certainly times when I doubted my worthiness or my own abilities, but I always felt that I was where I was called to be. Whenever I struggled with any sense of unworthiness, it always helped me to meditate on the fact that none of us is worthy of the priesthood on our own, but if God calls me to the priesthood, He will give me the grace to be faithful in fulfilling that ministry.
What are the greatest challenges you see facing the Church? Where do you see the greatest hope?
The greatest challenge facing the Church today is the very culture that surrounds her. It's a culture that is generally antagonistic or at least indifferent toward the Church. So many people have fallen away from the Church, not because they hate the Church, but because it is so easy to give in to the culture. God and His Church have become irrelevant to people today, and so the challenge is basically to reintroduce God to people, showing them that He truly loves them and calls them to a life of holiness.
Christ promised that He would always be with us. He's our greatest hope. I also see hope in the many faithful people of God. I see in them a desire for God, even if they may not be able to articulate it. It's that desire that motivates me and my classmates to be faithful in our calling to be shepherds of God's people.
What are your hopes for your priestly ministry?
Blessed Teresa of Calcutta is famous for saying that God does not expect us to be successful – only faithful. So my hope is for the grace to always be faithful. My hope is that I will always be so in love with Christ that I will be able to reflect His love to others. It's not enough to know that God loves us on an intellectual level ("God love me because He has to love me"). We have to realize and experience interiorly that yes, God does love me, and allow that love to drive everything that we do. I hope that through my priestly ministry, people will be able to encounter God's love for them.
What about your priestly ministry do you anticipate will be the most rewarding?
I think that just being a priest will be rewarding in itself. I look forward to being able to be a bridge between God and His people – bringing His love to His people and offering prayers and sacrifices to Him from His people. I look forward to helping people throughout their lives to love God and to grow in their relationship with Him.
Lee Acervo | Charles Altermatt | Clint McDonell | Sama Muma | Mark Prill
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