Volume XVII
Number 3
August 1997

A Sign Of The Servant Church

One day in 1972, the Archbishop of Boston, Cardinal Medeiros, telephoned Rev. William C. (Bill) Burckhart. The Cardinal informed Fr. Bill that he wanted to institute a formation program for the permanent diaconate in the archdiocese and that further, he wanted Fr. Bill to be its new director. At that time all archdiocesan clergy were familiar with transitional deacons, men about to be ordained priests, but none had any personal experience with the order of permanent deacon, restored to the hierarchy by the Second Vatican Council.

"The phone call had come without warning and I didn't have any idea what the diaconate was about," said Fr. Bill, presently pastor at Saint Joseph's Parish in Belmont. He was venturing into unexplored territory with no map. Nonetheless, Fr. Bill responded with alacrity, quickly forming a consulting committee with (now) Bishop Robert Banks, Fr. Jim Haddad, and various religious and priests. Fr. Fred O'Brien agreed to coordinate the Hispanic candidates. Recruiting began.

"I was flabbergasted at the great people I met," said Fr. Bill, admiringly, of the rush of early applicants. "A few were in their thirties, most were in their fifties and sixties. Like now, they were fine, dedicated men. They already had long histories of involvement in the church, teaching CCD and things like that. They were coming out of the Charismatic Renewal and Cursillo movements, men who were constantly renewing themselves in programs such as the Master Teachers and others offered by the archdiocese.

Fr. Bill and his committee designed a plan for a three year diaconal formation program. The first class of forty men started in 1973 and was ordained in 1976. "We found out soon to open the program to wives," laughed Fr. Bill. "They are wonderful!" That early program has evolved into a four year program including a summer internship and reflection, and a year of spiritual development. "I'm still not sure that year of spiritual development is necessary," Fr. Bill mused. "The candidates come with a well formed, distinctive spirituality; a family, married spirituality."

Asked his vision for the future of the diaconate, Fr. Bill said, "For one thing, I am delighted there is now a deacon directing the program. My term was from 1972 to 1979. When I left, I was all for a deacon director.

Though called by God, the deacon himself defines his vocation. He is the sign of the servant church, whereas the priest is the sign of the cultic, worshipping church. There are lay people who do many of the same things deacons do, for example, service ministry. But ordination adds the vocational element, the `official sign' that the deacon is identified with Christ. Holy orders may deepen his call to service and signifies this man is willing to be identified as a sign of the servant pilgrim church."

At the conclusion of the interview, Fr. Bill was asked, given his `start from scratch' with Cardinal Medeiros' phone call and the program which has evolved to its present structure, what he felt was his particular contribution or legacy to the permanent diaconate in the archdiocese. With typical humility Fr. Bill replied, "I got more from them (wives and deacons) than I ever gave them."

Deacon Richard F. Radford, ‘88

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If you haven’t yet heard, you soon will be hearing more and more references to the new Millennium Even though New Year’s Eve 1999 will be the same as any other with a countdown of ticks on the clock and the dropping of a lighted ball in Times Square, this particular change of the calendar could be so much more. Pope John Paul II has called all Catholics to use the beginning of the Third Millennium as a time for an intense renewal of faith and The Holy Father has outlined a three year time of preparation that can help in this regard (see the Apostolic Letter Tertio Millennio Adveniente) . With this in mind, the Office of Spiritual Development has produced a multi-faceted series of programs titled PRAYER 2000 that is being offered now! All members of the diaconate community are invited and encouraged to participate in these fine programs.

In addition, as members and friends of the diaconate community who are preparing for the new millennium , some additional questions we might reflect upon are :

How will the lives of the poor be any different in the year 2000?

Is this the time for us to prepare for a Jubilee as expressed in Leviticus 25 ?

What new ways might the diaconate community be advocates for those who are considered insignificant in our world? society? neighborhood? parish? family?

The coming of the new millennium can be a wonderful opportunity for our Church. Let us make it so!

Leo Donoghue ’92

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The Archdiocese of Boston has been formally promoting Parish Stewardship since 1995. To date, however, less than 40 Boston parishes have fully embraced the Stewardship plan.

One of the reasons for the slow start is that many people are still unsure about what Stewardship really is what is needed to bring it to full flowering in parish life. Not surprisingly, many deacons are just as unsure of their own role in promoting Stewardship.

First of all, we should recognize that Stewardship, as outlined in the Bishops' Pastoral, seeks to renew a sense of shared responsibility among members of the Church for the mission of the Church. In earlier days, there was a deeper sense of identity and fellowship within the Church than there is today. In today's culture of individuality, many Catholics have a clear sense of individual vocation, but there is a certain lack of a shared, common vocation to support the work of the Church. The Pastoral letter makes it clear that we are to be stewards, not only of our individual vocations, but also of the common mission of the Church.

Secondly, Stewardship is about sharing those gifts which God has given to us: our time, talent and treasure, in support of the mission of the Church. The Pastoral says that 'A Christian Steward is one who receives God's gifts gratefully, cherishes and tends them in a responsible and accountable manner, shares them in justice and love with others, and returns them with increase to the Lord'. This is not an option for Catholics. It is at the center of Catholic life and an essential aspect of our calling as followers of Jesus. Although Stewardship is an ancient principle, spoken of by Jesus in the Gospels, it is nevertheless profoundly new, and calls us to look at ourselves and how we live out the mission of the Church with a fresh perspective. The core mission statement of the Church has two key elements: to spread the good news of the Gospel by bringing people to Jesus; and to care for the poor. The two imperatives - evangelization and charity - are the purpose of the Church.

So what role does the deacon play within the context of parish life? Our role is primarily to lead by example and to teach by a clear and challenging directness. Are you living a Stewardship model? Do you lead by the example and witness of your own life? If you do not tithe, how can you call others to do so? Tithe from your treasure and give unselfishly of your time and talent. Do your diaconal work with the poor and needy in a way that gives clear witness; and put your light on the lampstand for people to see. Tell the truth unashamedly - that the Lord calls us to be good and generous stewards of the gifts He has given us: our time, our talent and our treasure. And be prepared, as St. Paul says, to be poured out like a libation. If we, who are ordained servants, do not trust enough to give all to the Lord, how can we challenge others to do so? This is not the work of canonized saints, it is the work of ordinary people. We are not called to extraordinary valor, but simply the life of a Christian. If this seems extreme, or bold, so be it. It is what we are called to be.

Deacon Gerald P. Ryan, ‘94

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It’s just a thought

In the July/August 1997 issue of Deacon Digest, Rae Pistone has an article entitled "Diaconal Ministry Partners." (p. 24) In this article she asked Olga Garcia, a wife of a deacon to write about her role as a deacon's wife. As I read Olga's story, it reminded me of the partnership Cy and I entered into when we married and how that partnership has encompassed diaconal ministry. Like Olga, there are times when I don't see myself as doing anything related to Cy's ministry. But a few minutes spent on reviewing even the past week tells me otherwise.

Rae ends her article with the suggestion that wives of deacons "sit down some day soon and journal your story of how the Spirit has woven your marriage and diaconal ministry into a beautiful witness of blended sacramental grace.

I think today is a perfect day to do just that...., care to join me?

Carolyn S. O'Neil, ‘90

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Invitations were sent throughout the Archdiocese to "Come and See" this ministry called DIACONATE. They did come: some hesitatingly and others eagerly. Regional Facilitators, deacons and their wives came too, providing an important support for those who are seeking a knowledge and understanding of the diaconate ministry. The personal relationship of a deacon to a potential candidate is often the means through which the Lord attracts men to diaconate. Meetings were held in Woburn, South Weymouth, North Chelmsford, Dorchester, Bellingham, reaching about 125 persons in total.

Highlights of the meetings included:

the history of the diaconate from the early Church to its renewal in the contemporary Church

the requirements for admission along with an appreciation of the theological and pastoral studies in the formation process

the important role of the wife in the discernment process

the challenges and graces of a permanent and public commitment to ministry

After viewing the video, "Unity in the Work of Diakonia", the participants were given a break to socialize with each other. Following the break they had a chance to ask questions.

The seeds have been planted we await the harvest.

A special thanks to Bishop McNamara who participated in the session held in the Merrimack area and to Phil and Lilian Hardcastle, Patti and Joe Canova, Doris and Bob Dzuris, Jim Little, Sharon and Bert Guerin who made it all happen.

Deacon Richard Rocha, ‘83
Vocation Coordinator

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