Reflection on 25 Years as a Deacon
As I thought about my experiences as a deacon, the very first thought
that I had was "where have all those years gone to so quickly?"
The time has passed quickly but with so many positive experiences. I
have served in the same parish, St. Mary's, Holliston, for my entire
diaconal life, with the same pastor, Father William J. Haley. My primary
ministry in the parish has been marriage preparation and marriage enrichment.
I have also facilitated divorced and separated groups, provided adult
education and served on the RCIA team.
The highlight of my ministry has been to work with my wife, Mary Alice,
who served the Archdiocese for twelve years as the Director of the Family
Life Office. I was her volunteer extraordinaire as she described me
to others. It was an opportunity to serve the people of the Archdiocese
and for us to grow spiritually closer to each other and God. Working
together in each other's ministry we developed a unique role depending
on whose primary ministry it was. She was on some occasions the deacon's
wife while at other times I was the director's husband. It worked out
very well for each of us as we supported each other's ministries.
These 25 years in the parish and overlapping 12 years volunteering
with the family life office have brought me into contact with many wonderful
people who mostly gave me more than I gave them. It has been a spiritual
journey as I have developed a deeper relationship with God, mainly as
He has shown Himself to me through others. The 23 year journey (we retired
2 years ago to a support role) through marriage preparation, working
with a wonderful team of loyal friends, enhanced our marriage and caused
us to constantly examine the health of the relationship. Our friends
and team members were and still are our support, inspiration and example.
We continue to be involved with the marriage preparation team at St.
Mary's by providing them with evenings of spiritual and marriage enrichment.
The most moving events of my diaconal service have come in sacramental
service to family, friends and parishioners, having baptized five of
my grandchildren along with many other parishioners' and friends' children
and grandchildren, and having witnessed the weddings of my two sons,
a niece and numerous parishioners. I have also been honored to preach
at funerals, mainly for family and friends. All these experiences within
our family, our circle of friends and the parish family have been and
continue to be deeply spiritual moments and humbling experiences.
The journey continues on and through faith I will follow the path the
Lord leads me down. I look forward to continuing to build my relationship
with God and with my wife as we journey together. If I had it to do
over again, I would do the same as I have done. God, marriage, diaconate
and life are good!
Martin Breinlinger '76
 New
Associate Director
The Office of the Permanent Diaconate is pleased to announce Cardinal
Law's appointment of Deacon Joseph M. Messina '77 as Associate Director
effective August 1st 2001.
Deacon Joe's focus will be the care and support of deacons, with a
particular emphasis on personnel matters. The Associate Director will
address such post ordination concerns as:
- Policy and procedural development for various aspects of diaconal
life.
- Assignment/reassignment of deacons.
- Support structures for deacons and their families.
With practically a quarter century as an ordained deacon, Joe brings
a wealth of experience to this new assignment, including serving as
Director of the Stewardship Appeal for Cardinal Medeiros. He also served
as Director of Finance for the Archdiocese of Boston. In 1993, Joe earned
his second Master's Degree from Boston College. This degree was in Pastoral
Ministry and Spirituality. Since then Joe has served the Office of the
Permanent Diaconate as Spiritual Director, member and president of both
the Deacon's Council and the Diaconate Advisory Board.
Joe and his wife Gerry will be married 42 years in November. They have
5 children and 11 grandchildren and they live in Westwood. Deacon Joe
has served at: Our Lady of Victories Parish in Boston; St. Timothy's
Parish in Norwood; and presently at St. Margaret Mary Parish in Westwood.
 From
the Director
Four newly ordained deacons, Eduardo Mora, Nelson Hidalgo, Jose Nelson,
and Silvio Menendez have begun their assignments in parishes of the
Archdiocese. They are four of 276 men who have been ordained since 1976.
Although many parishes have experienced deacons over the years, many
others have not. Around ordination time, questions concerning deacons
and their role in the church circulate and find their way to the Office
of the Permanent Diaconate. Usually these questions are concerned with
the "function" of a deacon. As long as the Diaconate is viewed
as a set of "functions," then the ministry, or essence, of
the Diaconate will never be truly understood.
In business, the functional approach is called pragmatism. In a presentation
to deacons in Rome on the occasion of the great Jubilee Year 2000, Archbishop
Gonzáles Nieves of San Juan, our own "Bishop Roberto,"
addressed the pragmatic approach of examining the role of deacons when
he stated, "…we are faced with a mystery, not a business deal".
Thus, of primary importance is not what the deacon does, but rather,
who the deacon is.
The ordination rite affirms the deacon's functions, but even more,
it affirms the mystery of the permanent diaconal essence. "By the
imposition of the Bishop's hands and the specific prayer of consecration,
the deacon receives a particular configuration to Christ," states
Pope John Paul II in his address to the plenary assembly of the Congregation
of the Clergy in 1995. He continues, "By virtue of the sacrament
received, an indelible spiritual character is impressed upon him, which
marks the deacon permanently, explicitly, and precisely, as a minister
of Christ… this is defined by the spirit of service."
Deacons Eduardo, Nelson, José, and Silvio came out of the Cathedral
on September 8, 2001, very different from when they entered. Please
remember them, as well as all deacons who strive to live out this very
special vocation, in your prayers.
Deacon Leo Donoghue, '92
Ecumenism
In June at St. Williams Hall the 5th "Summer Institute For Parish
Ministers" convened with the theme, One God And Father Of All.
At this forum attended by Priests, Deacons, Religious and lay ministers,
the background and current status of the Ecumenical movement were explored.
Our relationships as Roman Catholics to the Eastern Catholic, Eastern
Orthodox, Protestant, Jewish and other Non-Christian religions were
outlined and we were introduced to the wealth of resources available
to us.
One of our primary resources is the Archdiocesan Office of Ecumenical
and Interreligious Affairs, which provides liaison to other church groups
and religions, and sponsors lectures, workshops and seminars to make
the Boston Catholic Community aware of our responsibilities and opportunities
in this area. No less important, especially for deacons, is the advice
on Interfaith/Ecumenical Canonical Questions about Baptism and Marriage
available from the Chancery Office and the Tribunal.
There are also the many documents of the Second Vatican Council, Papal
Encyclicals and publications of the U.S. National Council Of Catholic
Bishops, which provide background and guidance for our relationships
with other churches and religions. There are three documents of particular
importance: Decree on Ecumenism November 21, 1964; Decree on the Catholic
Churches of the Eastern Rite November 21, 1964 and Declaration on the
Relation of the Church to Non-Christian Religions October 28, 1965.
These and other Vatican II documents are available on the Vatican website
www.vatican.va/.
In the Decree on Ecumenism we are reminded that change is necessary
in our theology, language and attitude. We need to experience interior
conversion, public and private prayer, familiarity with the outlook
of our separated brothers and sisters, formation with an eye towards
the point of view of others, and we need to bear witness together in
our common hope.
During the day of Prayer and Reflection which concluded the Institute,
Father Paul Ritt offered the following advice: Remember the primacy
of spiritual ecumenism; resist the easy compromises, the least common
denominators; be fully Catholic; run the marathon, not the sprint; communion
is a grace bestowed and received; ongoing formation is essential - a
little knowledge is a dangerous thing.
In conclusion here is a list also provided by Father Ritt: Qualities
for a Grassroots Ecumenist
- Listen with an open mind and heart.
- Speak the truth in love.
- Extend hospitality to the stranger.
- Take the initiative.
- Be patient.
- Remember the past.
- Live in the present.
- Hope in the future.
- Pray always.
- Keep Christ at the center.
Good qualities for a Deacon! Good qualities for a Christian!
Daniel E. McCarthy '90
Four Ordained Deacons on September 8, 2001
Silvio Menendez was born in 1952 in the beautiful province of La Vega,
in the Dominican Republic. He is the oldest of twelve, six boys and
six girls. His parents, Rafael Ernesto Y Maria Lourdes, brought him
up in a spirit of generous love and responsibility for such a large
family. After basic schooling he went on to college where he began studies
in the area of psychology and philosophy. In 1979, he married Maria
Luna and they have three children: Silvan José, Yilsa, and Aneudys.
He came to the United States in 1986. He has been helping at St. James
Parish in Haverhill. His long training for the Permanent Diaconate has
helped him realize the greatest goal for the rest of his life is to
serve God by loving his wife and children and the parish community with
all his heart.
José Nelson Agudelo was born in 1954 in Manizales, Colombia.
His parents, José y Rosalba gave life to five other children.
José Nelson immigrated to the United States in 1985. With his
wife Gilma and Katherine, their daughter, they have been actively involved
in the St. James Parish in Haverhill. He has been working for the same
company since his arrival and is very happy to have accepted the call
to serve the Church as a permanent deacon.
Nelson Hidalgo was born in 1960 in the Dominican Republic and immigrated
to the United States when he was twenty-two. He worked at a grocery
store in Queens, New York, where he met Ana, his wife. They moved to
Massachusetts a few years later and they now live in Lynn with their
five children: Cecilia, Maria, Eva, Gladys and Nelsida. An experienced
store manager, Nelson is the owner of Family Market where his wife also
works. The couple and their children are actively involved in the parish
of St. Joseph.
Eduardo Mora born in 1953 in Guayaquil, Ecuador, came to Boston twenty
eight years ago with the idea of finishing an education he had began
in his homeland, but he met Ana, his wife, and decided to stay here.
He completed his studies in electrical engineering at Wentworth Technological
Institute and now works at Teradyne Inc. They have four children: Jesenia,
Eduardo Jr., Favian Y Veronica. For many years he has been involved
in the charismatic prayer group at St. Mary's in Cambridge, and also,
with his wife, in the Pre-Cana program and Cursillo.
Do you know someone interested in becoming a deacon?
The Office of the Permanent Diaconate is now accepting applications
for candidates to enter the formation process in September 2002.
Any man interested in applying should check with his pastor, and
call the Office of the Permanent Diaconate at 617-746-5648 to
request an application.
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Diaconate FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)
- What age does a man have to be to apply for the diaconate?
- Between 31 & 60!
- Does a man need to be referred by his pastor or a priest?
- Yes!
- How long is the Formation Program?
- After acceptance into the program, it is 4 years in length.
- Do wives attend classes with their husbands?
- During the first year, wives are required to attend all sessions
with their husbands as well as a couples retreat. During years two,
three and four, wives are invited to attend all classes but not mandated.
They must, however, attend monthly meetings with other wives as well
as an annual retreat with their husbands. Wives are certainly involved
in the formation process!
Please pray for vocations to the Permanent Diaconate!
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