“I don't fully understand, but I do appreciate and believe” | Deacon Mike Houghton

On this episode of the I AM HERE podcast, Dcn. Mike Houghton, a deacon of the Archdiocese of Detroit, husband, and father, shares his “slow burn” to deep devotion to the Eucharist. Listen as he describes the impact of his parents on his faith, the role of the Eucharist in his discernment of the diaconate, and his insights on Eucharistic revival. 

Show notes: 

(00:24) We meet Dcn. Mike Houghton, a deacon of the Archdiocese of Detroit, husband and father, to the podcast. He shares briefly about his family, his professional background, his journey to the diaconate, and about his work with UTG at Work, an apostolate of the Archdiocese of Detroit. 

(04:35) Dcn. Mike describes his “slow burn” of growth in his Catholic faith. He highlights how his parents instilled faith in him from a young age and his eventual interest in the priesthood, which evolved into his desire and call to the diaconate. 

(07:37) Fr. Mario asks Dcn. Mike about the role of the Eucharist in his discernment and he describes developing the habit of spending time in Eucharistic adoration beginning after college. 

(10:35) Dcn. Mike shares the impact that the words Jesus speaks at the Last Supper and how he grew to more deeply understand Jesus’ promise that he would not leave us orphans. He also shares how he likes to spend his time in prayer before the Blessed Sacrament. 

(13:32) Dcn. Mike shares some of the ways he has benefited from quietly listening to the Lord during times of Eucharistic adoration, particularly how that listening led him to explore the possibility of establishing UTG at Work in the Archdiocese of Detroit. 

(14:36) He describes how he has come to understand and experience the connection between Heaven and Earth made possible through the Eucharist. He describes an experience he had at a funeral that brought this reality into sharp focus. 

(15:33) Fr. Mario and Dcn. Mike discuss and share the unique perspectives that they have as clergy when they celebrate the Mass. 

(18:57) Dcn. Mike shares how he would encourage listeners to seek Eucharistic revival in their own hearts, highlighting the power of witnessing those who are new to the faith encountering Jesus in the Eucharist. He talks about his own perspective of them through his role in leading OCIA at his parish. 

(21:40) He also offers advice to parents, emphasizing the importance of modeling prayer and devotion for our children.