St. Mary Cathedral Church has named a permanent deacon, the first for the church. The Rev. Jim Long will help preach, conduct baptisms and witness marriages, said the Rev. Tom Kiefer.

The role has become necessary as the Cape Girardeau church grows and now exceeds 1,000 families, Kiefer said. "The assignment at this point in time is weekend assistance," he said.

Long will continue his full-time job as a veterans service officer with the Missouri Veterans Commission. He now works primarily out of a Cape Girardeau office; previously he was based in Kennett, Mo. He and his wife, Liz, moved to the area about two months ago from Dexter, Mo., for work-related reasons.

After becoming ordained in 2005, Long served as a permanent deacon at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Dexter.

"I've been fairly active in the church for most of my life. You really don't decide to become a deacon. You are called by the church," he said.

A permanent deacon differs from a transitional deacon in that a transitional deacon typically progresses to priesthood and must be unmarried. The church has had a transitional deacon in the past but never a permanent deacon who remains in the position.

Long entered the deacon formation program in 1999 and attended Kenrick-Glennon Seminary in St. Louis for five and a half years, driving there two times a week and one weekend a month. He and his wife have two adult daughters.

"There are only two things I can't do: I can't hear confession, and I can't say Mass by myself," he said. Besides weddings and baptisms, he is looking forward to helping with "religious education for both children and adults."

lbavolek@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 123