Brought up in the Church since he was a little boy, Dcn. Gary Scott began volunteering as an altar server, lector and cantor. Born and raised in Globe, he credits his parents, Alan and Freda, his sister, Ann, as well as his grandparents and aunts for an enriching family life with faith at its core.
After graduation, Dcn. Scott pursued a career in real estate, working for the past 31 years as a real estate property manager in Maricopa County. In 1989, he married Penni, whom he described as the love of his life. The two of them carried their music ministry throughout the Diocese of Phoenix.
He and Penni were attending a First Thursday devotion at Resurrection Parish in Tempe in 2009, during the Year for Priests, when he felt a calling to ordained service.
“I then began my formation for the permanent diaconate,” Dcn. Scott said. “We all have many and varied charisms and I think that for whatever reason, God called me at this particular time because He wants whatever charisms I might have to be used to their fullest.”
Penni was a bit surprised that her husband felt called to the permanent diaconate as several deacons had suggested this vocation in the past, but he didn’t seem interested.
“We had a pastor at Resurrection, Fr. Joe McGaffin, who really supported vocations of all kinds, especially during the Year of the Priest,” she said. “At one of our special Masses, Gary felt that God was calling him to the diaconate. We both agreed that he had to follow that call and discern if it was what God wanted of him.”
Describing him as a natural leader, Penni said Dcn. Scott is a people person and relates to everyone.
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“He has a real gift for drawing out the best in people and motivating and inspiring them,” she said. “Plus, he is a man of prayer and definitely has a servant’s heart and a love for his ministry to the Church and for the people of God.”
Assigned to St. Maria Goretti Parish in Scottsdale, Dcn. Scott will be involved in baptism preparation and the Catholic Men’s Fellowship.
“My non-parochial assignments will be with the Native American Communities, Americare Hospice, helping with the Maricopa Medical Center and indigent burial, when I can,” he said. “I am looking forward to engaging people in the Sacraments, in particular when I baptize a child and bring them into the Body of Christ.”
Penni hopes to continue her music ministry, help with classes, pray for special intentions and offer feedback after Dcn. Scott’s Sunday homilies.
