Midvale — Deacon Stan Stott, who serves at St. Therese of the Child Jesus Catholic Church, will celebrate 50 years as a permanent deacon.
The origins of the permanent diaconate trace back to the Early Church, when Saint Stephen and six companions were selected for ministry, according to the Book of Acts. Although the role in faded in the Catholic Church over time, Pope Paul VI revived it as an ordained order through his 1967 motu proprio Sacrum Diaconatus Ordinem, fulfilling the vision outlined in the Second Vatican Council's Lumen Gentium. 
Called to serve through prayer, preaching and outreach, permanent deacons assist during Mass, administer sacraments such as baptisms and weddings, conduct funeral rites, comfort the sick, and lead local charitable efforts.
Inspired by Pope Paul VIX’s call, Bishop Joseph L. Federal, sixth Bishop of the Diocese of SaltDeacon Stan Stott, shown processing from St. Therese of the Child Jesus Parish’s Little Rock Church in this undated photo, has been a deacon for 50 years.         IC file photos Lake City, launched the diocese’s inaugural diaconate formation program in 1974.
Of the class ordained in 1976, Deacons Stott, Mansueto Flaim and Lowell Palm are the sole surviving members, with Deacon Stott, now 85, remaining the only one still in active service. 
A cradle Catholic, Deacon Stott grew up in Bingham Canyon. He married his seventh-grade sweetheart, Alice, and the couple, who had four children – two girls and two boys (one deceased) – made their home in Sandy. They now have nine grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren. Outside of his ministry, Deacon Stott is a retired computer programmer who worked for Univac for many years.
When he became a member of the diocese’s first diaconate class, he was in his early 30s with a young family. Initially, he was hesitant, but his friend Tranquilino "Tom" Otero (also a member of the class) encouraged him to apply.
"Tom and I had talked about it for a long time,” he said. “And so I wrote a letter explaining why I wanted to do this. And I just assumed it wasn't really an enthusiastic letter. And I thought, ‘Well, they'll probably reject it.’"
However, after a lengthy application and interview process, Deacon Stott was accepted, much to his surprise. "I felt good, but I felt apprehensive because I wasn't sure what was coming next,” he said about the program.
He went on to complete the four years of formation, and was ordained at age 35 by Bishop Federal.
In his first decade of service, he ministered in parishes across Salt Lake, American Fork, Provo and Sandy. During this time, he also helped local Catholics establish a chapel in American Fork.
When Deacon Stott was sent to work in that area, the local Catholic community had no formal church and was operating as a mission. To attend Mass, about 40 local families had to travel to Provo. A local parishioner, Pat Valerio, asked Deacon Stott for help in establishing a parish, revealing that he had already gathered an altar, tabernacle and pews upstairs in a local hall over a kitchen.
Deacon Stott brought Bishop Federal down to American Fork to see the makeshift chapel. Impressed by the community's devotion, the bishop granted permission for them to use the space.
Bishop Federal “was impressed. ... He says, 'Okay, I'll let this happen, but I'm going to hold you responsible,’” Deacon Stott said. “And, he says to me, 'if there's any desecration, it'd be your fault.'"
Things went so well that a year later, Bishop Federal assigned a priest and officially established a parish in American Fork, which is now St. Peter's.
For the past 40 years, Deacon Stott has served at St. Therese of the Child Jesus Parish in Midvale. Supported by his wife, Alice, he has served through baptisms, weddings, funerals and OCIA instruction. He remains active there in parish ministry today, serving alongside Fr. Gregario Rausseo, pastor.
In the early years, people’s expectations of the children of deacons were tough for his family, he said. “They'd come home and say, 'Hey, Dad, we're not saints.' ... The kids were always thinking they should be perfect and not make any mistakes. And in some respect, they sort of resented that."
Reflecting on his five decades of service, Deacon Stott is deeply grateful for the journey.
"I've met a lot of people, I've been able to help a lot of people, and I've been with a lot of people with funerals and weddings and baptisms, and it's been comforting to me to be able to help other people through their miseries," he said.
Deacon Stott advises any Catholic man seriously considering the diaconate to prepare for a meaningful journey.
"I would tell him that it's a lifelong commitment and at times can be very tiring and a lot of work. ... It's going to make a big change in your life," he said.
For himself and his wife, the diaconate has "just strengthened our life to be a whole part of this aOn the occasion of his 40th anniversary of ordination, Deacon Stan Stott was presented with a papal blessing during the morning Mass on Christmas Day, 2016. He is shown with wife, Alice; Father Jose Barera and Father Joseph Frez, then pastor and associate pastor, respectively, of St. Therese of the Child Jesus Parish.nd understanding the faith and all the instruction we went through,” he said. "It's just been very positive."
As for the future, Deacon Stott does not anticipate retiring anytime soon.
"At one of the deacon retreats, one of the deacons asked Bishop Solis, he says, 'When do deacons retire?' And the bishop said, 'When you die,'” Deacon Stott recalled. “So I haven't [retired] – I don't know if he was joking or not, but that was the answer."
St. Therese of the Child Jesus will celebrate the 50th anniversary of Deacon Stan Stott’s ordination with a Mass and reception on Wednesday, Oct. 28, at 6 p.m. at the church, 264 Lennox St., Midvale. All are invited.