Deacon Andrew Messer Ordained May 17, 2025
On Saturday, May 17, 2025, Bishop Daniel E. Thomas ordained seminarian Andrew Messer to the transitional diaconate at Our Lady, Queen of the Most Holy Rosary Cathedral. With joy and gratitude, the Diocese of Toledo welcomes Deacon Messer as he enters his final stage of formation for the priesthood.
A native of Toledo and a member of St. Joan of Arc Parish, Deacon Messer didn’t always envision a life in ministry. Though raised with the sacraments, it wasn’t until his freshman year at the University of Toledo that he began attending Mass regularly. It was there—while studying Physics with a concentration in Astrophysics—that he first encountered the depth of God’s presence as Creator. Reading the Gospels for the first time set his heart on fire: “If I was going to dedicate my life to the stars,” he said, “why not go deeper still and hand it over to the maker of it all?”
Deacon Messer’s vocation was nurtured through personal loss, community support, and the quiet influence of faithful witnesses—including his grandmother, Joan Schmenk, who brought him to Mass in her final year of life. A pivotal conversation with Fr. Phil Smith led him to formally discern the priesthood.
His formation journey began at Sacred Heart Major Seminary in Detroit, and he currently continues his theological studies at the Pontifical North American College in Rome. Most recently, Deacon Messer spent his pastoral internship year in Norwalk.
“Life with Jesus is a great adventure!” Deacon Messer shared. “And He doesn’t stop forming us. Through everything that we experience in this messy life, I know He is in charge and always forming my heart to be more like His.”
As he steps into his new role of service as a deacon, he humbly asks for prayers—especially “that I be more and more a man after His own Heart.”
Please join us in praying for Deacon Andrew Messer as he prepares for ordination to the priesthood, God willing, in 2026!
Posted May 17, 2025 at 3:44 pm