From the Deacon's Desk

by Deacon Rick Wagner

Deacon Rick Wagner was ordained on June 23, 2012 and currently serves his home parish of St. Pius X in Indianapolis, IN. He has been married to his wife, Carol, for 43 years and they have 4 children and 10 grandchildren.

Deacon Rick has been involved in Catholic education for 40+ years and currently serves as President of St. Theodore Guerin High School, a workshop instructor for Saint Meinrad Seminary and School of Theology, and a retreat leader.

He has also authored three books: Remember What’s Important (2011), Fifty Homilies from the Deacon’s Desk (2016), and Fifty MORE Homilies from the Deacon’s Desk (2024).

Have a question or comment for Deacon Rick? Feel free to contact him at rwagner@spxparish.org

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  • Spoke with Authority

    Each day, I reflect upon a word or a phrase inspired by the readings of the day. I encourage you to do the same and perhaps incorporate that word or phrase into your daily prayer. He taught them on the sabbath, and they were astonished at his teaching because he spoke with authority. (Luke 4:31-37) SPOKE WITH…

  • Fulfilled in Our Hearing

    Each day, I reflect upon a word or a phrase inspired by the readings of the day. I encourage you to do the same and perhaps incorporate that word or phrase into your daily prayer. Rolling up the scroll, he handed it back to the attendant and sat down, and the eyes of all in the synagogue…

  • Homily: It Isn’t Easy, but It’s Simple

    Twenty-Second Sunday of Ordinary Time Readings: Jeremiah 20:7-9 / Romans 12:1-2 / Matthew 16:21-27 I am not preaching today, but if interested, here is a homily I delivered BACK in 2014 on the same readings we have today: When I am preparing to preach, I study the readings for the weekend several times, highlighting words and jotting…

  • God Chose the Foolish

    Each day, I reflect upon a word or a phrase inspired by the readings of the day. I encourage you to do the same and perhaps incorporate that word or phrase into your daily prayer. Consider your own calling, brothers and sisters. Not many of you were wise by human standards, not many were powerful… Rather, God chose…

  • The Message of the Cross

    Each day, I reflect upon a word or a phrase inspired by the readings of the day. I encourage you to do the same and perhaps incorporate that word or phrase into your daily prayer. The message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is…

  • Thanks to God

    Each day, I reflect upon a word or a phrase inspired by the readings of the day. I encourage you to do the same and perhaps incorporate that word or phrase into your daily prayer. “I give thanks to my God always …” (1 Corinthians 1:1-9) THANKS TO MY GOD: When we hear “give thanks to my…

  • Model for Others

    Each day, I reflect upon a word or a phrase inspired by the readings of the day. I encourage you to do the same and perhaps incorporate that word or phrase into your daily prayer. “…we wanted to present ourselves as a model for you, so that you might imitate us.” (2 Thessalonians 3:9) Paul sent a…

  • Encourage Your Heart and Strengthen It

    May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father,who has loved us and given us everlasting encouragementand good hope through his grace,encourage your heart and strengthen itin every good deed and word.  (2 Thessalonians 2:16-17) Need a good blessing to send your spouse off to work or your kids off to school each day? Try…

  • No Duplicity

    Feast of St. Bartholomew, Apostle Each day, I reflect upon a word or a phrase inspired by the readings of the day. I encourage you to do the same and perhaps incorporate that word or phrase into your daily prayer. Jesus saw Nathanael (Bartholomew) coming toward him and said of him, “Here is a true…

  • Homily: Universal Bank of God

    Twenty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time Readings: Isaiah 22:19-23 / Romans 11:33-36 / Matthew 16:13-20 I am not preaching today, but if interested, the following is a homily I delivered BACK IN 2020 on the same readings we have today: Back in the old days – before ATMs, drive-through service, and mobile apps – human beings…