Deacon George Sanders is not even a priest yet and his schedule already sounds like that of a 20-year veteran.
Sanders, who was ordained a deacon March 3, has spent the past year finalizing his studies at St. Meinrad Seminary in Indiana and beginning his chaplaincy certification, first at University Hopsital and now at Baptist Medical Center in Little Rock.
Each week, he spends one day studying for his certification and works 30 hours at St. Vincent Infiirmary in Little Rock as a chaplain. Plus he dedicates his weekends as a deacon and administrator at St. Mary and St. Patrick churches in North Little Rock.
He makes a commute almost daily to his home in Hot Springs, adding many hours on the highway between Garland and Pulaski counties.
Sanders’ unique role in the Diocese of Little Rock adds another dimension to his ministry. He is married and wants to spend as much time as he can with Brenda, whom he married 30 years ago.
Sanders will be ordained a priest at 10 a.m., Saturday, Aug. 3 at Christ the King Church in Little Rock. He is among a small group of men who were ordained in other Christian denominations, converted to Catholicism and requested permission from the Vatican to be priests. Sanders’ initial request was made to Rome about nine years ago through then-Bishop J. Peter Sartain. Through a special provision, his petition to be ordained a priest was approved by Pope Benedict XVI Dec. 6, 2012.
Even though it has taken many more years and more seminary formation than he originally thought, Sanders said he has never doubted his calling.
“I was called to be a priest when I was 14 years old, while still in the Episcopal Church,” he said. “Of course my understanding of this call to the priesthood has matured as I came to know, love and embrace the Roman Catholic Church, but the essence of my sacerdotal vocation has never changed, weakened or faded over the last 40-plus years.”
After ordination, Sanders will continue his chaplaincy training while serving the two North Little Rock churches on the weekends.
His wife’s role in Sanders’ ministry is one area that most interests people. Brenda Sanders is a kindergarten teacher at St. Luke Episcopal School in Hot Springs and manages their home and garden in the country in Hot Springs.
“First, I would like to state the obvious, my wife does not have a vocation to the priesthood, I do,” he said. “That said, there is no one else that will be more affected by my vocation than Brenda. As my life changes, so will our life. She has been extremely generous throughout this whole process and has been willing to stand beside me as we have adapted our normal routines to allow me to pastor two parishes, work 30 hours at St Vincent’s and attend CPE classes to become a certified chaplain.”
Sanders, 57, said his wife and two adult sons understand that after the Aug. 3 ordination that his ministry will come first and they will have to adapt to his new roles.
“She knows that at any time I could be called out for sacramental ministry when someone is in danger of death, even when our family was enjoying necessary time together like on birthdays, or date nights or when company comes in,” he said.
He does not expect parishioners to treat his wife any different than anyone else.
“She will not have a plush seat up front for Mass or wear brocaded vestments,” he said. “She will not have any honorific title nor enjoy deference and respect for her position. Although, she will make all the same sacrifices and commitments of someone who will. Because of her love for Jesus and his Church, Brenda is sharing her husband with the diocese, a role that only she takes and one without which my priesthood would not be possible.”
Sanders said he does not want to be known as a “married priest” but a “priest who is married.”
“I will not be ordained a married priest. I will be ordained, God willing, just like all my brother priests that have come before me or will follow me,” he said. “I will be simply and fully a Catholic priest, although I happen to also be married. As is true with every priest, we bring different gifts, strengths, weaknesses, talents and experiences. One of the charisms that I bring is that I have seen life through the lens of a husband and father and much of my spirituality is informed by these roles.”
