Becoming a Catholic Deacon with Deacons Luke Oestman & Ashley Lesser | Episode 2

The Cassandra Blanco Podcast

Deacon Luke Oestman is Director of Priest Accompaniment for FOCUS (Fellowship of Catholic University Students) and is a permanent Deacon for the Archdiocese of Denver. He hold a Bachelors in Biology from Franciscan University of Steubenville and a Masters of Theology from the Augustine Institute. He currently works as a missionary and a farmer, living in Colorado (USA) with his wife, Angela, and their 10 kids.
Deacon Ashley Lessard is a homeschool father of five children as well as a Catholic Deacon. As a graduate of Simon Fraser University, he holds a Bachelors of Science in Computing Science. Prior to moving to Colorado, Ashley spent 12 years working for Microsoft. Ashley, his wife Megan, and their five children live in Littleton, Colorado (USA).
Deacon Luke & I know each other from serving together as FOCUS Missionaries at the University of Denver in Colorado (USA). Deacon Ashley is Deacon Luke's good friend.
Timestamps:
0:00- Introduction
0:28- Short Biographies of Deacons Luke & Ashley
1:51- Deacon Luke’s Early Life
3:27- Going to World Youth Day in 2000
4:03- Praying at St. Francis of Assisi’s grave
5:05- Deacon Ashley’s Early Life, Born in Canada
7:41- Leaving the Catholic Faith in Teenage Years
7:49- Always Searching for Deeper Purpose and Meaning
8:10- Becoming Interested in Philosophy
8:15- Coming Back to Catholic Faith
9:07- Deacon Luke’s Encounter with Christ was a Seed of Faith
9:51- Wanting More out of Life
10:03- Encountering Franciscan Friars
11:01- God, What Do You Want For Me?
12:47- Friend Who Helped Deacon Luke Grow
13:58- Acts 18, Taking Nazarite Vow
14:52- Deep Personal Relationship with Jesus
16:09- How Philosophy Lead to Theology for Deacon Ashley
17:51- Coming Back to the Catholic Faith
19:18- Deacon Ashley's Wife's Journey Back to Catholic Faith
20:56- First Time Thinking About Diaconate
22:01- Going All in With God
22:47- Most Significant Faith Moments in Front of Blessed Sacrament
23:19- Reconsidering Diaconate Again
25:43- How Deacon Luke's & Deacon Ashley's Journey to Faith Were Different
26:52- Deacon Luke Becomes Director of Religious Education
28:42- Getting Married, First Child
29:23- Graduate Degree in Theology
30:00- Becoming a FOCUS Missionary
31:55- Call to Diaconate
36:41- Deacon Ashley on Wife’s Importance on Journey to Diaconate
41:21- Family Not Practicing Faith
42:41- Advice to Married Couples/Husbands
45:11- Deacons Luke & Ashley Advice to Parents
54:42- How to Pass on Catholic Faith to Children
56:19- What is a Deacon?
1:01:59- Being a Witness as a Deacon in the World
1:05:22- Sacraments as a Deacon
1:07:55- Deacon Ashley’s Advice to those thinking about become a Catholic/Deacon
1:10:26- Deacon Luke’s Advice on Discernment
1:14:15- Outro
Music by Oleksii Holubiev