Deacons’ Council Minutes
September 15, 2004
Present: Deacons Donoghue, Bulpett,
Crimmins, Hardcastle, Hickey, Messina, Shanahan, Whipple, and Wildes
Deacon Frank Tremblay was also present
for the meeting.
Absent: Deacons Canova*, Delaney*,
Goldy, Guerrini, Menz*, Morel, Ryan*, and Santosuosso
* Deacons Delaney and Ryan had informed
the Director that they would be unable to attend. Deacons Canova and Menz understand
that their service ended after they completed two years on the Council.
___________________________________________________________________________
Preliminaries.
Before the meeting formally started,
Deacon Donoghue called the attention of those present to three books and passed
a copy of each around for them to view:
- Deacons and the Church, Owen Cummings,
Paulist Press
- 101 Questions and Answers on Deacons, Bill
Ditewig, Paulist Press
- Called to Serve: A Spirituality for Deacons, Phyllis
Zagano, Liguori Publications
He felt that they would be useful not only for deacons
personally but also as resources in recruiting potential candidates.
1. Opening Prayer.
Deacon Donoghue began the meeting at 7:10 p.m. He referred to today’s memorial
of Our Lady of Sorrows and noted that her sorrows were those of one who loves.
One only avoids sorrow by avoiding involvement. He concluded with the prayer
for the Memorial from the Liturgy of the Hours and the opening of Mass.
2. Mentoring Newly Ordained.
Deacon Messina stated that he was concerned
about deacons who find themselves assigned in difficult situations. He noted
that the draft Directory calls for a three-year program of ongoing formation
for newly ordained deacons and distributed copies of an article titled “Mentoring
Newly Ordained Permanent Deacons,” adapted by Deacon Thomas C. Welch from an
article by Rev. Raymond J. Webb in the Spring, 1999, issue of Seminary Journal.
He said that there are 14 candidates
to be ordained next Saturday, and in response to a previous request there are
17 volunteers to serve as mentors for them. The mentoring is expected to follow
a simple approach: to “be there for them.” The mentors should be in contact
with their neophytes monthly. After three or four months they will meet with
Deacon Messina to define the program as it will go forward. A letter outlining
these procedures will be mailed to the mentors in a day or two.
Deacon Bulpett recalled the Emmaus Program,
in which the Diaconate participated shortly after his ordination, as serving
a similar purpose. Deacon Messina noted that in the early days there were also
fraternities, some of which have kept going while others faded. Some fraternities
were based on ordination class and others on area of residence. Deacon Hickey
agreed that both the Emmaus program and fraternities sustained many deacons
by enabling them to avoid feeling alone.
Deacon Messina stated that he and the
rest of the office are available to deacons. Deacon Wildes observed that as
Associate Director he had felt he was a minister to ministers. He added that
spiritual directors can also be helpful.
Deacon Tremblay inquired whether recently
ordained deacons would be appropriate mentors. Deacon Messina replied that
a certain amount of experience as a deacon is needed.
Deacon Tremblay then asked if mentors
would have helped in cases of difficulty for newly ordained deacons in earlier
years. Deacon Messina answered, “Absolutely.”
Deacon Shanahan arrived at this point.
3. Parish Closings: Deacons Affected.
A list was provided identifying each
deacon assigned to a parish which has been designated to close. The list includes
the names and locations of the closing parishes and the telephone numbers and,
where available, the e-mail addresses of the deacons.
Deacon Donoghue remarked that most deacons
have been helpful in regard to the closings; a few have not. He also felt that
some things have not been well handled by the archdiocese, e.g., with respect
to welcoming parishes.
Deacon Hardcastle suggested that deacons
should be reassigned where they are wanted. Deacons Donoghue and Messina said
that in many cases they are going to the parishes that the people are going
to, but in other cases the new parish is not a good fit.
Deacon Shanahan asked about the redrawing
of parish lines. Deacon Donoghue said the Kathleen Heck in her presentations
shows people what the new lines are.
Several deacons commented that instances
where two parishes were closed and a new one erected were problematic.
Deacon Bulpett felt that the archdiocese
was not handling the closings well. For example, inventories were taken during
Masses.
Deacon Shanahan noted that the people
are poorly formed in ecclesiology. Deacon Whipple added that there is poor
communication from the archdiocese to the people.
Deacon Donoghue said that while it is
important to let people vent, it is not easy to do so.
4. Class of 2008.
Deacon Donoghue reported that 17 of 43 applicants had been accepted as
aspirants for the Class of 2008. He had distributed a list of their names,
their wives’ names, — all are married — their telephone numbers, and their
addresses. He noted that the average age of this class was fairly young (but
did not present a precise figure).
5. Formation Team: Rev. Chris Kirwan.
Fr. Chris Kirwan will work with the Spanish-language
program. Deacon Donoghue noted that, contrary to his and others’ expectations
that the need for a Spanish language program would be fading away as more Hispanics
became familiar with English, in fact Hispanic immigration is continuing and
it is new immigrants who are applicants. So the aspirancy year for Spanish-speaking
applicants will be in Spanish. There will be an ESL component in order to mainstream
the Hispanic candidates in the later years. As with the diocese, the goal here
is immersion and unity, rather than continued separation.
Deacon Hickey recalled that during his
formation even when both groups were on break at the same time, each group
kept generally separate from the other, which he considers regrettable.
6. Bicentennial Ideas?
Deacon Donoghue stated that there had
been some responses to the recent request for suggestions. He would like to
redo the Emmaus program or something similar. The archdiocesan bicentennial
will probably be a year of prayer in some way. In addition to these, possibly
we could create a network of archdiocesan ministries of charity which would
make it possible, when people come forward with a need, to refer them to a
deacon in the area who could assist them in finding a way to fill the need.
Deacon Messina added that the idea would
not be to have, for example, a diaconate food bank, but for the diaconate to
be a resource to provide referrals to those who can provide assistance. For
example, deacons could be a resource for food drives. Deacon Donoghue mentioned
Project Bread, which will take donations to the food pantry which the donor
designates. Deacon Messina gave the further example of the work of Deacon John
McDonough in collecting such necessities as blankets and rice.
Deacon Wildes observed that a lot is
going on of which we are currently unaware, as was the case with Deacon Frank
Mandosa’s involvement with the Arlington Food Bank.
Deacon Messina noted that the hope was
to have something that would be regional or diocesan wide. Deacon Donoghue
added that something like a food network would have the advantage of raising
awareness of the diaconate as a charitable ministry. Deacon Messina mentioned
that because of the service nature of diaconate, some dioceses do not assign
deacons to parishes.
7. Deacon Convocation.
Deacon Donoghue announced that May 7,
2005, is the date of the convocation. He is working with Fr. Jim Mahoney, the
Director of Clergy Ongoing Support. When the question of location arose, Fr.
Mahoney said, “Have it in a hotel.” Bill Ditewig has agreed to speak, and Archbishop
Seán is scheduled to come. The convocation is intended to include time for
a continuing education component and for us to come together and celebrate
who we are. It will also be an occasion to recognize the major anniversary
classes and deceased members of the diaconate community; and as such it replaces
the Mass for the deceased and the luncheon for the anniversary classes.
8. Open Discussion.
Deacon Tremblay he had three concerns which had arisen over the
past year.
First, he wondered if the Deacons’ Council functioned like the Presbyteral
Council, and, if not, should it do so or should there be such a body? This
question arose because his spiritual director suggested that he write the bishop
regarding the other two concerns. It seems to Deacon Tremblay that there should
be an official sounding board through which the diaconate can communicate with
the archbishop.
Several deacons indicated that the two bodies do not function alike. Deacon
Donoghue added that it would, however, be consistent with the Archbishop’s
agenda for the Deacons’ Council to function like the Presbyteral Council.
[Note: The presbyteral council is called for, and its role is set forth,
by the Code of Canon Law. Canon Law does not require a deacons’ council; its
existence and functions seem to be at the discretion of the diocesan bishop,
who is, therefore, free to give the council the role he wishes it to have. — J.E.W.]
Second, Deacon Tremblay said that he had been asked to run the RCIA
program in his parish. He considers it a good program, but we aren’t doing
anything to get people into it. He wonders how we can evangelize. There is
at present no support mechanism in the archdiocese. Could there be a diocesan
data base which could provide material for a brochure, such as articles on
RCIA, and give guidance on how to evangelize in the parish or town.
Deacon Hardcastle said that his first focus was to bring back inactive Catholics.
He feels that it is important to be a doer rather than a talker — letting one’s
example attract others.
Deacon Hickey said that his parish has an Evangelization Committee, and there
is a “Welcome Home” sign on the church.
Deacon Whipple felt that in determining what can be done in a parish much
depends on the pastor and his attitude toward evangelizing activities
Deacon Tremblay wondered if the Archbishop is aware that the Office for Evangelization
was closed.
Deacon Donoghue commented that the mindset of deacons is significant. Deacon
Hardcastle replied that in many instances treading water is the mindset, rather
than establishing new programs.
Deacon Messina stated that the deacon is in a unique position at this point
to help stem the tide of defections from the Church, to keep folks from falling
away.
Deacon Wildes noted that over the years there has never been a large volume
of converts in his parish. He finds that success comes by asking people: there
was a non-Catholic wife of a Catholic who said she had never considered joining
the Church because “nobody ever asked” if she would consider it. Deacon Bulpett
reported a similar instance in which a Methodist husband of a Catholic had
been afraid of his sister’s reaction to his joining the Church.
Deacon Whipple recommended the book Creating the Evangelizing Parish by
DeSiano and Boyack, Paulist Press.
Third, Deacon Tremblay regretted the charging of tuition for deacon
candidates during formation. He noted that there is a scholarship fund for
seminarians and wondered why there is not one for deacons.
Deacon Hickey mentioned that the Milwaukee Archdiocese gives each deacon $300
on account with the diocese, to be spent on educational programs. He also remarked
that the Hartford Deacons’ Council works well; but it seems that in many places
there is fear of a labor union forming from a council.
Deacon Donoghue stated that the tuition provides $30,000 of income. The office
makes strenuous efforts to assure aspirants that if tuition is problematic,
it will not stand in the way of their possible vocation.
Returning to Deacon Tremblay’s first area of concern, Deacon Donoghue said
that there should be a vehicle for deacons to address the archbishop, and he
believes that Archbishop Seán also wants it.
On the second topic, Deacon Shanahan said that evangelization had been a concern
of his for many years. He called attention to the National Catholic Evangelization
Center and stressed that it is important to keep inviting people back. The
Pope’s encyclical on evangelization defined the term in such a way that it
includes everything believers do [apart from sin].
Deacon Wildes recalled that Cardinal Medeiros had a three-year evangelization
program and that Bishop Ruocco had put it that “Evangelization is making Jesus
better known.”
Deacon Bulpett asked if the election of new members of the council is still
going on. Deacon Donoghue replied that it is still in process.
Deacon Bulpett mentioned that the book, Eats, Shoots and Leaves, by
Lynne Truss, contains many references to the Bible, which was originally written
without punctuation: in some cases the modern translator’s choice of punctuation
can affect the meaning of a passage.
Deacon Hickey said that the NCDC meeting in Baltimore over the July 4 weekend
was very good but poorly attended. At their November meeting the bishops will
discuss whether to continue it. He also noted that the NDICE has moved its
meetings from Notre Dame to Cincinnati. It is a good organization, better known
in the Midwest than on the East Coast. There are also regional organizations
for continuing education in the Southwest.
9. Next Meeting.
The next meeting of the Council will be Wednesday, December 15.
Subsequent meetings for this year will be March 16, 2005, and June 15 – both
Wednesdays.
The meeting adjourned at 9:10.
Respectfully
submitted,
(Deacon)
John E. Whipple, Secretary
|
