Dcn. Steve Craver

Hello Our Lady of Grace Parish, my wife, Lorene, and I are thrilled to begin our new journey as Our Lady of Grace parishioners on September 30th. I have been appointed as a Permanent Deacon, in service to Our Lady of Grace Parish. We have been members of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel parish until now. In 2019 we moved from Carmel to Cicero.

A little about us: Lorene and I will celebrate our 35th wedding anniversary on October 22nd. We have two grown sons, Scott and Spencer, and three grandchildren, Merryn, 9, Azalea, 7, and Linus, 5. I work as an aluminum broker in primary and scrap aluminum. Lorene worked for the  Carmel School District as a Special Education and Kindergarten Instructional Assistant (IA) for 16 years. 

In 2018, we started our Diaconate Formation after I completed the 3-year Ecclesial Lay Ministry Program (ELM), previously offered by our Diocese. The ELM program was created to respond to a call to holiness, renewal, ongoing conversion, and ecclesial leadership in ministry. Our classes were comprised of Catholic adults, and it was an integrative formation experience covering human, spiritual, intellectual, and pastoral elements. Evelyn Burton, Our Lady of Grace’s Director of Evangelization, signed my graduation certificate. 

Formation for the Permanent Diaconate is a 5-year program. Each year, Deacon Candidate’s had an internship program that coincided with our academic studies. In the final 3 years of Formation, my internships included Hospital Chaplaincy at St. Vincent Carmel, 86th ST., assisting in the RCIA programs at St. Patrick’s and St. Joan of Arc Parishes in Kokomo, and lastly, The Third Option. The Third Option is an ongoing skills-based group program to build better marriages. Each 14-session cycle covers a comprehensive set of tools useful for developing better understanding, sensitivity, and trust while learning more effective speaking and listening skills. The program is offered bi-annually. 

It's worth noting that the Diaconal Formation process includes the Candidate's wife if married. Permanent Deacons, while receiving the Grace of Holy Orders, receive the support of their wives while ministering in a Parish. 

We are VERY excited to start our ministry at Our Lady of Grace and look forward to getting to know you all.