Church Member Spotlight: Deacon Michael Shuflat
When you spend even a few minutes talking with Deacon Michael Shuflat, one thing becomes clear—his life has always been rooted in service. From serving as a United States Marine to spending 25 years as a Fire Captain in Elizabeth, and now serving the Church as a permanent deacon, he has continually answered God's call wherever it has led him.
Deacon Michael and his wife and daughter moved to the Forked River area in 1999 and quickly became part of the St. Pius X family. What began as serving as a lector eventually led him to become a Eucharistic Minister, but he continued to feel that God was calling him to something more.
"I felt the Lord was trying to tell me He wanted me to do something," Deacon Michael shares. "I started as a lector, then became a Eucharistic Minister, and I still felt the Lord wanted more from me." That persistent call ultimately led him to the diaconate.
Today, Deacon Michael serves in many ways throughout the parish. He assists with funerals and baptisms, will begin helping with OCIA this year, and is always willing to lend a hand with Religious Education and Youth Ministry whenever needed. Whether serving at the altar or quietly helping behind the scenes, he approaches every ministry with a servant's heart.
One of the most meaningful moments of his journey was his ordination and celebrating his first Thanksgiving Mass as a deacon. "It was an extraordinarily moving moment filled with the Holy Spirit's guidance," he recalls. As he reflects on nearly two years of ordained ministry, those memories continue to strengthen his commitment to serving Christ and His Church.
Like many faith journeys, the road was not without challenges. In the time leading up to his ordination, Deacon Michael experienced one of the most difficult periods of his life. He believes the obstacles he, his family, and his friends faced were attempts to keep him from following God's plan. Through unwavering faith and the power of prayer, he persevered.
Those experiences have taught him an important lesson: God is always in control. Through his ministry, he has come to better understand God's presence in everyday life and the importance of trusting Him completely.
One ministry that has become especially meaningful to Deacon Michael is the Jersey Shore Deacons Podcast, where he partners with Deacon Rob and Deacon Rick from St. Mary's Parish. Together, they record and share conversations about everyday spirituality, the Holy Spirit, Lenten journeys, and practical ways to grow in the Catholic faith.
The podcast was created with a simple but powerful mission: to reach people beyond the walls of the church.
"We want to get over the wall," Deacon Michael explains. "The younger generation is looking for something to believe in and to better understand our Catholic faith. There are so many things we don't learn until we're older. If young people could discover those truths earlier in life, they could build a much closer relationship with Christ."
Looking back, he often reflects that if he had known in his twenties what he knows now about God, his life would have been very different. Through the podcast, he hopes to help others begin that journey sooner.
The conversations are designed to show the beauty of Catholic life while making the faith approachable in today's digital world. More than anything, Deacon Michael hopes listeners discover that the Church is much more than a building.
"The Church is a place of love, worship, and people who are walking together in faith," he says. "We want people to experience that in a way that's accessible,right at their fingertips."
Beyond his many ministries, Deacon Michael enjoys fishing, fixing and tinkering with just about anything, and spending time with his beautiful family. Although many parishioners know him as a deacon, fewer realize that a lifetime of serving others prepared him for this calling long before his ordination.
Whether preaching from the ambo, serving at the altar, helping with parish ministries, or speaking through a microphone on the Jersey Shore Deacons Podcast, Deacon Michael continues to answer God's call with humility, faith, and a servant's heart,inviting others to grow closer to Christ every step of the way.
Be sure to click the link below to listen to the next Jersey Shore Deacons Podcast, premiering this weekend. We hope you'll tune in and be inspired!
