Deacon Daniel Acquard finds what was missing while setting sail for priesthood

Note: Archbishop William E. Lori will ordain eight men to the priesthood June 24 at 10 a.m. at the Cathedral of Mary Our Queen in Homeland. The following is a profile of one of those future priests. New profiles of the other new priests will be added to the Catholic Review site daily from June 15 to June 22. Click here to read them. 

As a fourth-year seminarian, Deacon Daniel Acquard finds himself drawn to the “unique stories” of those to whom he ministers.

His distinctive experiences working in the homebound ministry at St. Mary in Hagerstown is quite fitting, since Acquard has his own unique story for his calling to the priesthood.

Although his parents, Geraldine and Charlie, made sure he received all of the sacraments and was raised Catholic, he said he didn’t grow up in a “particularly religious family” and rarely attended Mass as a youngster. 

After watching the movie “Jesus of Nazareth,” as a 14-year-old, he said he suddenly felt something was missing in his life. He asked his parents to start taking him to church regularly, and with some guidance from his pastor at St. Francis of Assisi in Fulton, the late Father Dennis Diehl, he got more involved in parish life. 

After more inspiration from former vocations directors Father T. Austin Murphy Jr. and Father Michael DeAscanis, he entered St. John Paul II Seminary in Washington, D.C., for his undergraduate degree. He recently completed four more years of seminary as well as his pastoral work at Mount St. Mary’s University in Emmitsburg. He served pastoral years at St. John the Evangelist in Severna Park and St. Mary in Hagerstown, where he said Father Ernest Cibelli has had a huge impact on his formation.

The Howard County native is a former competitive swimmer and an avid golfer who has an athlete’s passion for his ministry.

“I trust in God, and I have a zeal for this ministry,” said Deacon Acquard, who competed for the Reservoir High School golf team and plays at Hobbits Glen Golf Course in Columbia with his father whenever he has an opportunity.

He said his desire to help people is what drew him to the priesthood.

“I want to help people get to heaven,” said Deacon Acquard, 27, who has a twin brother, Brian, who is a designer in Florida. “That’s what it’s all about, saving souls. There’s a lot of sin in the world and we need priests to teach us about the church and administer the sacraments.”

Deacon Acquard, who also has a 28-year-old brother, Matthew, said his favorite part about his vocation is meeting and serving parishioners as well as the simple joys of a beautiful liturgy.

“I just love the reverence and beauty of worshiping the Lord,” he said. “It’s a real gift to be able to participate in a beautiful liturgy. I really enjoy preaching and feel I have a gift for it.”

Deacon Acquard would like to serve in other ways as well. He is a member of the U.S. Naval Reserve and hopes to become a Navy chaplain. He attended chaplain candidacy school and has set his sights on possibly attending officer development school.

For now, though, he is eagerly awaiting graduation from Mount St. Mary’s, his ordination and first assignment to a parish in the Archdiocese of Baltimore.

“I feel grateful to God for getting me to this point, and for giving me this opportunity that isn’t given to everyone,” he said.

Email Gerry Jackson at gjackson@CatholicReview.org

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