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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  • Ward Off Grief and Put Away Trouble

    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. Ward off grief from your heart and put away trouble from your presence… (Ecclesiastes 11:10) WARD OFF GRIEF and PUT…

  • Who Do the Crowds Say that I Am?

    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. Once when Jesus was praying in solitude, and the disciples were with him, he asked them, “Who do the crowds…

  • Vanity

    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.  “Vanity of vanities!  All things are vanity!” (Ecclesiastes 1:2) VANITY: In many religions, vanity is considered a form of self-idolatry.…

  • Take Nothing

    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 said to them, “Take nothing for the journey…” (Luke 9:1-6) TAKE NOTHING: After the rejection in Nazareth by his own…

  • Homily: What Does Believing Look Like?

    If interested, the following is a homily I delivered BACK IN 2014 on the same readings we have today: Proverbs 21:1-6, 10-13 and Luke 8:19-21. Have you ever wondered what it would have been like to be a part of the inner circle of Jesus? To be among His chosen and to hang on His…

  • How to Live

    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. “…live in a manner worthy of the calling you have received.” (Ephesians 4:1-7) HOW TO LIVE: Paul’s letter to the…

  • Homily: Being Intentional

    Twenty-fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time Readings: Isaiah 55:6-9 / Philippians 1:20-27 / Matthew 20:1-16 I am not preaching today, but if interested, the following is a homily I delivered BACK IN 2023 on the same readings we have today: The portion of the Mass we are participating in right now is called the Liturgy of…

  • The Seed

    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 answered, ‘Knowledge of the mysteries of the Kingdom of God has been granted to you; but to the rest,…

  • Fullness of Joy

    Each day, I reflect upon a word or 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. Today, I am using the words of our Responsorial Psalm: Lord, when your glory appears, my joy will be full. (from…

  • I am the Least

    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. For I am the least of the Apostles, not fit to be called an Apostle… (1 Corinthians 15:1-11) I AM THE LEAST:…