At Left, Newly ordained Deacon Bill Boostrom breaks into a smile as he is greeted by Deacon Michael Mantz during his Nov. 14 ordination to the permanent diaconate by Bishop Edmond Carmody at Corpus Christi Cathedral.

Encouraged to go forth and touch the lives of others, Bill Boostrom was ordained a permanent deacon for the Diocese of Corpus Christi by Bishop Edmond Carmody in Corpus Christi Cathedral Nov. 14.

Fellow deacons, family and friends, including his wife, Sofia Boostrom, witnessed the ordination of Deacon Boostrom, who will be serving at his home parish of Holy Family in Taft.

The bishop said he prayed that in his ministry Deacon Boostrom will "influence the lives of many people."

He told the new deacon that "the expectations of those you serve will be great" and encouraged him to always reach out to others in kindness, compassion and love. He reminded Deacon Boostrom that "nobody left the practice of the Catholic faith because we are too kind."

Deacon Michael Mantz, Director for the Permanent Diaconate, said that with the addition of Deacon Boostrom the number of permanent deacons in the diocese is 85, with 69 serving in active ministry and 16 who are inactive or retired.

Deacon Mantz added that the present diaconate candidate class has 31 men that are currently in their second year of formation after completing an initial year of inquiry.

In an interview following the ordination, Deacon Boostrom said the road to the diaconate had not been an easy one but that many special people encouraged and supported him on the journey.

"I guess my attraction was that of God being like a magnet. It was a force always present, even if I did not see it, or fought it, that kept pulling me in His direction," said Boostrom, whose family was active in the parish of his youth, Sacred Heart, in Moline, Illinois.

Bill Boostrom was born in Moline on April 24, 1949, to Irene Madelyn DeGreve Boostrom and Merlyn "M.E." Boostrom. He has two older brothers and a younger sister.

His mother is 97 and his father is 94. "My mother is the oldest surviving member of the parish, and the longest active member of the parish, and they are the longest surviving married couple, married 72 years, in the parish," Deacon Boostrom added.

He said he first acted on a call to ministry when he attended minor seminaries in Wisconsin and Illinois.

"After six years of excellent education, I felt that it was not my true calling and not where I wanted to explore more expanded educational opportunities. I remember the vocation director remarking when I told him that I was leaving, that, if I left, I would never return. I told him then that I felt that I would return someday, but that I did not know when, how, or where. I did not recall that conversation until after I first entered formation."

Boostrom went on to pursue a career in the health care field and became a Physician Assistant in 1977. After starting a family he was again drawn to the church and was attending Holy Family Parish after moving to Taft in 1979. He was influenced by laypeople and clergy, including the late Father Ed Kircher, with whom he had many long talks about faith.

He eventually entered the diaconate program in 1998, but was sidetracked by the end of his 23-year marriage.

"I had to hit rock bottom and rebuild my life," said Boostrom, who said he did have the support of many good friends and he then became involved in the Grief Support Ministry of Singles in Christ.

"In a way, it was fortunate because I now have a faith life built upon a stronger foundation that has been tested and rebuilt. When I was in such pain, like I never thought possible, my prayer life really grew. Prayer became more personal, from the heart and the bottom of my soul. I found out what it was like to hurt so much and feel alone, that there is nothing left but God."

During this new phase in his life Boostrom also met Sofia Meave, who was involved in the Beginning Experince Retreat program.

They were married August 12, 2006, at Sacred Heart Parish in Moline, IL, the church that he attended in his youth.

"Even while we were dating, he was always reading about the history of the Church, or other books pertaining to the Bible," said Sofia Boostrom. "After I saw his library, I was amazed the love he has for wanting to know more of the Church and our faith." Together the couple agreed for Boostrom to re-enter the diaconate program, which had undergone restructuring.

He added that even in the hardships, he was never alone. "I have continued to have priests, religious, friends, and family with me the whole way. I have become involved in a deeper way with my parish and the diocese communities."

Bill and Sofia brought four children into their marriage. Robert Edward Boostrom, 26, is a teacher at St Madeleine Sophie Catholic Elementary School in Bellevue, WA. Helen Marie Boostrom, 25, works with Wildlife Safari in Winston, OR. Lora Denise Villarreal, 32, and Andrea Victoria Villarreal, 25, both are living and working in San Antonio. Sofia also had another daughter, daughter Eva Lyz Villarreal, who died in a motor vehicle accident at 21 while serving in the Air Force.

And as for the future, Deacon Boostrom has a hopeful expectancy. "I look forward with excited anticipation," he said. "The future is open. I may have had my plans, but God had different ones — and they were better."