Rev. Deacon Keith Carter

Deacon Keith Carter and his wife Maureen returned to St. Theresa Parish in 2007. They were married at St. Theresa in 1981 and have an adult son. Keith has been active in a long list of ministries at St. Theresa over the years including Knights of Columbus, CRHP, St. Vincent de Paul, Engaged Couple Preparation and Early Bird Tacos. He took on leadership roles in Bible Study, Baptism Preparation Classes, and Acolyte Ministry and has also served as a Lector and Eucharistic Minister. Maureen served by his side in many of these ministries.
Keith graduated from the University of Texas with a degree in computer science and is retired from IBM after more than 30 years of service.
Keith explained that a Bible study led by Father Justin Udomah and a Christ Renews His Parish (CRHP) retreat were “spiritual game changers that ignited a deeper relationship with Jesus Christ.” Those experiences, as well as the example of his father, a Methodist minister, led him to consider serving as a deacon.
In 2013, he met with Msgr. Bill Brooks, then pastor, who encouraged him to consider whether God was calling him to the diaconate. He sought the advice of family and friends, who also affirmed this direction in his life, and he is grateful for their ongoing support.
For Keith, the rewards of formation include a deepening of his relationships with God, his wife and his son, as well as the friendships he formed with his fellow candidates and their wives. An unexpected blessing was the opportunity to discuss what he was learning with his son, who offered insights from a different perspective.
Especially memorable was the time he and Maureen spent working with refugees in McAllen. Not only did he get a better understanding of their plight, Keith said, “I saw the body of Christ in action through the many volunteers of all ages and faiths *who loved and served their neighbors from Central America.”
Keith and Maureen are grateful to the many people who supported, encouraged and prayed for them. “We thank our family and friends, as well as Fr. Larry Covington, Fr. Hai, Fr. Neville, the deacons, staff, and parishioners at St. Theresa Parish for their prayers, encouragement, and support during the past five years of formation.  It definitely takes God and a village to form a deacon,” he said.
As a deacon, he looks forward to serving the parishioners of St. Theresa. He especially looks forward to baptisms! Keith will continue to serve those in need through his involvement in homebound and hospital ministries, and in social outreach ministries such as the St. Vincent de Paul Society and Community First Village.