Deacon Cohort Celebrates its 20th Anniversary

by Diocese of Des Moines | September 22, 2026

By Ann Pierson

On August 19, 2006, 12 men’s lives changed forever when then-Bishop Pates laid hands on them and ordained them as permanent deacons. Flash-forward 20 years later, and countless lives have been touched by the selflessness of their vocations.

These deacons are Tom Bradley, Kevin Heim, Randy Horn, Larry Kehoe, Darwin Kruse, Reiny Knuze, Frank Lopez, Dave Miller, Bill Richer, Sam Sullivan, Troy Thompson, and Quan Tong. After reaching out to all the deacons in the cohort, several shared their stories with the Catholic Mirror and passed on their wisdom for the future generations.

Tom Bradley

From Holy Trinity to St. Mary of Nazarth to All Saint’s, Deacon Bradley has served across Des Moines for 20 years.

A lifelong Catholic, Deacon Bradley’s prayer life intensified as his children entered their teenage years. During this time he dreamed he prostrated at the altar like a deacon. This prompted serious discernment in Deacon Bradley’s life, especially with talking with deacons and the pastor at his parish.

 “The feeling never went away,” Deacon Bradley said. So he put in his application and entered formation.

Since being ordained, Deacon Bradley has coordinated Christ Renews His Parish at Holy Trinity, organized Iowa Catholic Radio Men’s Conference, worked with individuals facing substance abuse, became a spiritual director, and currently serves as coordinator for the Diocese’s diaconate council.

Deacon Bradley suggests to those discerning the diaconate to “recognize the call and be open to it, and know that no one is ‘worthy’ of being a deacon – God calls.”

 “Trust, discern, pray,” Deacon Bradley said. “If God wants it to be, it will happen.”

Larry Kehoe

Growing up in Ireland with multiple uncles serving as priests, Deacon Kehoe of Christ the King Parish in Des Moines felt an unwritten expectation that he would become a priest. But he never felt the call, even after 7 of his 35 classmates went to seminary.

The next time a vocation presented itself was in his OCIA class he taught in Oklahoma. The participants thought he would be a good deacon. When he moved to Des Moines, those he taught at St. Augustin’s OCIA program said the same thing.

 “The call kept coming up again, and I accepted,” Deacon Kehoe said.

At his ordination day four years later, Deacon Kehoe recalled his uncles’ presence on the altar. “It felt like they were there,” he said. “I never felt like that before.”

Over the past 20 years, Deacon Kehoe wore many hats in the Christ the King community, including serving as a youth minister, teaching OCIA, bringing communion to the homebound, and working for pro-life causes, which has been especially dear to his heart.

He advises those who are considering the diaconate to pray, discern, and talk with a spiritual advisor.

 “It’s a big commitment, but it’s worth it in the end,” he said.         

Darwin Kruse

A lifelong parishioner of Corpus Christi in Council Bluffs, Deacon Kruse, recently retired, always helped out at his parish. Yet, he never considered the diaconate until a deacon at his parish asked him. The idea initially surprised him, but discerning it and turning to his wife and pastor for support planted a seed in his heart.

 “It was good to see that others had confidence in me,” he said.

Some of the duties he helped with include assisting with the parish youth group and helping to create the A Rise in Christ program. He also visited the homebound and helped with communion services. Ministering to the seniors was an amazing opportunity to build community and hear their stories.

Deacon Kruse said “I [initially] had a hard time walking through there… but I kept doing it, and I have such wonderful stories of the people I was involved with.”

Deacon Kruse advises those discerning to ask others to provide insight that they may miss themselves.

 “Pray about it,” he said. “Talk to your spouse, your parish priest… sometimes without the right information, we make the wrong decisions.”        

Reiny Knuze

Deacon Knuze and his family have been active members of St. Bernard in Osceola for almost four decades – and has been serving as a deacon for 20 years.

His calling came a year after going on a pilgrimage to the Holy Land. He received a letter and sent in the application.

Since being ordained, Deacon Knuze has served his community by helping with marriage prep, preaching homilies, being at daily Mass, visiting residents in nursing homes, and volunteering with prison ministry despite the 100 mile drive. Although partially retired, Deacon Knuze still helps with communion services or other ministries the priest calls him to.

He shares that if someone feels like they are being called to a vocation, they need to listen.

 “If God calls, call like you're answering your cell phone,” he said. “It may be the most important call of your life.”

Bill Richer

Deacon Richer, recently retired from St. Francis of Assisi in West Des Moines, had two lifelong dreams: to coach and be a teacher.

The first dream was fulfilled by coaching youth softball. The second dream eventually came to life through the Church.

“My wife became a faith formation director at the Basilica of St. John [in Des Moines], and she approached me and said ‘teach the confirmation class for me,’” Deacon Richer said.

Teaching the class eventually led him to become a high school youth minister – for over 25 years. This, along with the mentorship of priests and deacons, fed his curiosity and love for the Church, which led to the diaconate.

Since being ordained, Deacon Richer has helped out with various ministries, including assisting with liturgy, managing the parish’s emergency services fund, and running the grief-sharing program. His biggest joy was remaining a high school youth minister, teaching kids and leading them in service through annual mission trips.

Deacon Richer advises potential deacons to recognize the call and trust the Holy Spirit.

“I’ve had a great life in the diaconate, and I’ve been so blessed,” Deacon Richer said.

Quan Tong

Serving four different parishes before returning to his home parish of the Basilica of St. John, Deacon Tong’s service to the Church has reached across the Metro.

He joined the diaconate a decade after coming to America, wanting to work as God’s servant through the vocation. It was through the diaconate he could share in Christ’s work.

 “The only one we follow is Jesus, learn from Jesus, to imitate him,” Deacon Tong said.

Some of his duties as a deacon include visiting with families in the hospital, holding communion services, and ministering to the Vietnamese community. One of the homilies from his communion service inspired a man to become a fellow deacon, Deacon Tong said.

He says knowing if one is blessed with the call to become a deacon comes down to love.

“If you really love Christ, then you are ready to be a deacon,” Deacon Tong said. “The most important factor for living the ministry of my calling is spending time to stay close to the Blessed Sacrament and endeavor to come to daily Mass as much as possible!”