Get to know Deacon Michael Hahn

Faithful? Check. Family man? Check. Quick to serve others? Check.

Serving on his parish mission team, made a few people eye Michael Hahn as an ideal deacon candidate. Deacon Hahn, 56, recalls 10 years ago, someone bringing up the subject at his home parish of Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Harris Hill.

“The first year I was involved (with the mission team), I had someone say, “Oh, maybe you’ll be a deacon.’ I totally blew that off and said, ‘That will never happen,’” he recalled. “The next year during mission week, somebody else said it. After I heard it the third year in a row, I said, ‘OK Lord, I’m not sure what you’re saying, but I will pray about it.’ As we often do, maybe not advisable, I said, ‘I would like a sign.’”

Within a month, his wife, Lauri, turned to him before Mass and said, “You would make a good deacon.” Deacon Hahn had never mentioned the idea to her.

He took that as a sign in 2015, but being slow on the uptake – his words – he put off entering diaconate formation until he discussed it thoroughly with Lauri … two years later. He began formation in 2019.

The education process, typically four years of seminary study, began with some self-reflection.

 “From the time I made the decision to the time I entered, there was definitely a process of unfolding, ‘What does this mean, Lord?’ Asking God, ‘I’m not sure what you’re calling me to here.’ So, it was definitely more observational education – what does a deacon do? Who is that guy on the altar? Who’s the guy who is involved in these ministries? So, my questioning around that became, maybe not focused, but definitely started to ask those questions internally, to God and others.”

Deacon Hahn and his ordination mates Deacon Anthony Vilardo and Deacon Michael Katilus, entered formation at Christ the King Seminary in East Aurora in September 2019. Returning to the classroom after decades leading an adult life came as a shock to the system. Hahn also described it as humbling.

“You question the things you know in life, the things you think you’re good at,” he said. “All of a sudden, you have to step back and say, ‘I have some things to learn.’”

He questioned if he was good enough, smart enough, strong enough and worthy enough for the role God wanted him to undertake.

“Of course, the answer is no to all those questions, but those things don’t matter,” he said. “If God is going to call you, he’s going to take care of you.”

The study process took a few unexpected turns. Christ the King Seminary closed in 2020, the same year that Covid hit the United States. This caused a switch to remote learning through St. Bernard’s School of Theology and Ministry in Rochester.

Having worked from home quite a bit in the tech field, remote learning was not a problem, but it still took a lesson in flexibility, as he missed his community.

Once he realized things would be different, he learned to roll with it.

“The challenge caused me to see the difference between how you can grow in faith and how something like Covid can destroy people’s faith. So, it actually strengthened me,” he said.

The main thing he learned was to trust in the Lord.

On their ordination day, each deacon receives a parish ministry and a ministry of charity.

“It’s a really tough question to say what are my goals. I’m hoping to do God’s will, but that’s so generic,” he said “The obvious one for a deacon is to serve.”

Another obvious answer to the common question of how to improve one’s faith life is through prayer.

“It always comes down to prayer. And I’ve received a good piece of advice many years ago from a priest who said it like this. You think you’re not praying correctly, but are you doing it? He said, if you’re praying just 10 minutes a day and saying, ‘Lord, I want to be with You. Can You help me?’ God will use that prayer and help you grow your spiritual life.”