Dayton Wednesday May 1, 2013 St. Helen, Dayton Smith Building. Cincinnati Wednesday May 8, 2013 St. Saviour Church Undercroft

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1 MEMO To: Deacon Community From: Barry Mersmann Subject: Monthly Updates Date: January, 2013 REGIONAL MEETINGS All Deacons, deacon candidates, wives and widows are encouraged to attend! The times are 6:00 for dinner and 7:00 8:30 p.m. for the meetings (6:30 for dinner and 7:30 9:00 p.m. for the meetings at Maria Stein). Please plan on coming and sharing your thoughts. We will begin with Evening Prayer; please bring your Book of Christian Prayer or Liturgy of the Hours with you. The dates and locations for these meetings are: Dayton Wednesday May 1, 2013 St. Helen, Dayton Smith Building Cincinnati Wednesday May 8, 2013 St. Saviour Church Undercroft North Tuesday May 21, 2013 Spiritual Center of Maria Stein REQUEST FOR A DEACON Fr. George Kunkel, Pastor of St. Vincent Ferrer Parish in Kenwood, would like to have a deacon assigned to the parish who could provide sacramental assistance as needed (Baptisms, Weddings, Wakes & Funerals). Participation in the Bereavement ministry and visiting the sick of the parish are also desired, as is training of servers and preaching at weekend Masses on a rotation. Assisting with Baptismal and Marriage preparation would also be helpful. If you feel you may be able to help and are willing to be assigned to St. Vincent Ferrer Parish and would like to investigate the possibility of this assignment, please contact: Fr. George Kunkel at (513) or gkunkel@isoc.net CONTINUING FORMATION ANNUAL REPORT The Continuing Formation Annual Report is again included with this Memo. Please complete it and mail it to the Office of the Diaconate. It is necessary for all deacons who are not listed as being in Senior Status or on a leave of absence to complete the Annual Report and return it by January 31. The Continuing Formation requirements can be found on pages of the Permanent Deacon Handbook. When I receive a request for a Letter of Good Standing, I am required to check the deacon s file to be sure he is indeed up-to-date with the Continuing Formation requirements of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati. The PDF version of this form can be found on the Diaconate Office web page. Thank you in advance for your cooperation. DEACON INFORMATION MEETINGS A couple of Information Meetings are scheduled for See attached for additional information. 1

2 2018 NATIONAL DIACONATE CONGRESS ANNOUNCED From the NADD (National Association of Diaconate Directors): The first public announcement of the 2018 National Diaconate Congress celebrating the 50th anniversary of the restored diaconate appears as a full-page ad in the November 2012 issue of Deacon Digest. Developed by the NADD 2018 Committee and paid-for from funds given to NADD by CCLV to initiate this celebration, the ad announces the theme, location and encourages deacons to register on a special website created to support this event. Christ the Servant: Yesterday, Today, Forever is the theme for the 2018 Congress. Accepting the invitation of the Most Reverend Gregory M. Aymond, Archbishop of New Orleans, the celebration will be held in New Orleans, Louisiana on July 22-28, There are many details yet to be addressed! A major goal of this ad is to obtain names and contact information so that we can develop our own mailing list for future correspondence. The ad invites deacons, wives and friends of the diaconate (bishops, priests, and candidates also) to go and register on the dedicated website: Registering on the site is our way to capture the names and addresses from interested persons so that we have a database to share news and to eventually market the program. DIRECTORY UPDATE Margaret Barum s new contact information is: 70 Greenup St., Apt. 218 Covington, KY Dorothy Brockmann s new contact information is: 3766 Benhill Dr. Cincinnati, OH PLEASE REMEMBER IN YOUR PRAYERS Deacon Greg Cecere and his family. Greg went to an Urgent Care Facility on November 29 with severe abdominal pains and then to the emergency room at Soin Medical Center. He was diagnosed with gall bladder inflammation. Greg is scheduled for gall bladder surgery on December 10 at Sycamore Hospital. Greg s gall bladder surgery went well. He hoped to return to work by the end of the week. Deacon Ray and Mary Kroger s son Tony, following 6 months of hospital & surgery, is now healthy again. According to Ray, Your prayers gave us the strength to let go and let God take control. Deacon Bill Petrie and his family. Bill s daughter Missy Hunckler passed away on December 10 after a long battle with cancer. She leaves her husband, 3 children and 4 grandchildren. Deacon Candidate Chris and Joanie Rauch and their family. Chris brother Bill was diagnosed with Stage 4 bladder cancer the first week of December and was told that he has 2 months to a year to live. Please keep Bill and his extended family in your prayers during this very challenging time. On December 18 I received great news from Chris Rauch concerning his brother Bill who had been diagnosed with terminal bladder cancer. Bill s prognosis has changed from terminal within a year to probably treatable following a consultation with an expert on bladder cancer from UC Medical Center. Chris thanks you for your prayers! Deacon Aspirant Hans and Dory Schade and their family. Hans has been diagnosed with Stage IV cancer. The next step for Hans is putting in a port-o-cath through which the chemo will be administered. That will happen on Friday (12/21) and his first treatment will be on Dec 26th. Frequency and other details will all be discussed on the 26th. We continue to be in good spirits and try to live by the doctor's advice of taking things one week at a time. We continue to be comforted by the prayers and support of so many family and friends, and take strength from the reading the guestbook daily. Hans Schade Deacon Mark and Mary Tom Westendorf and their family. Mary Tom underwent knee replacement surgery on December 10 at Christ Hospital. Thanks for the cards and prayers. Mary Tom's surgery went well - no complications. She is home recovering. Thanks. Sincerely, Mark And anyone who is suffering who is not noted above and of whom I am unaware. May they know that we will include them and their needs in our prayers. 2

3 PRAYER REQUEST UPDATES Please pray for Nathan Davis (grandson of Karen Brannon, Office Manager). Back in May, Nathan was at Children s for a minor procedure and it was determined that his airway (Laryngotracheal stenosis) was very narrow which would create difficulties (breathing and swallowing) as he grows. On Thursday, December 27, he will be scoped to see if his airway expanded during the last couple of months. Our prayer is that his airway expanded and he will have no need for surgery. If it has not expanded, he will have to undergo major reconstructive surgery which could include a Tracheotomy. Nathan underwent his procedure on December 27 and all went well. His airway expanded significantly and there will be no further follow-up. Thank you for all of your thoughts and prayers. Deacon Vic and Phyllis Hildebrand and their family. Vic s 82 year old brother Carl, who lives in Newcastle, Delaware, underwent triple bypass open heart surgery on November 29. He was weak and had been on dialysis for the past year. Vic s brother was awake, alert and making phone calls from his hospital room just 24 hours after his triple bypass surgery. The power of your prayer is amazing. Thank you, deacon community, for your prayers for my brother. Thank you, Lord, for your healing touch. Deacon Vic Hildebrand Deacon Bill Schaefer underwent knee surgery on November 12. Bill's surgery went well and he returned home on November 15. An infection developed during Thanksgiving week in Bill s operated leg, but not in the area of the knee replacement. The infection developed in his lower leg, foot and ankle. Bill seems to be responding to the latest antibiotics. Jean and Bill thank you for the cards and prayers. NECROLOGY January 4, 2008 Deacon Arthur Runnels Ordained 9/26/76 January 5, 1997 Juanita McCormick Mary Borgerding January 8, 1995 Deacon Paul Hagedorn Ordained 9/26/76 January 9, 1991 Martha Brunner January 12, 2007 Deacon Ray Blum Ordained 12/10/72 January 15, 1986 Deacon August Hehemann, Jr. Ordained 9/25/76 January 19, 2009 Deacon Robert Correale Ordained 9/26/98 January 20, 1983 Deacon Ervin Henderson, Jr. Ordained 7/3/82 January 24, 1972 Deacon Alphonses Herman Ordained 8/2/71 DEACON SAINTS January 10 St. Nicanor was one of the original seven deacons chosen by the Apostles. After the stoning of Stephen he went on a mission to the Gentiles. He was put to death on Cyprus during the persecution of Vesparian, about 67 A.D. January 13 St. Hermylus, a deacon in Singudunum (now Belgrade), was arrested along with his servant, Stratonicus, after being denounced to the authorities for being Christians. They were tortured and drowned in the Danube River in 315 A.D. Their bodies were recovered by Christians and enshrined outside the city. January 21 Sts. Augurius and Eulogius were arrested along with their Bishop St. Fructusus of Tarragona, then the capital of Spain, during the persecution of Valerian. When they refused worship to the pagan gods and confessed their Christian faith, they were fastened to stakes and burned alive in 259 A.D. January 22 St. Vincent, a Spanish deacon, was tortured to death for the faith at Valentia about 304 A.D. during the Diocletia persecution. St. Leo the Great is loud in his praise of St. Vincent and hymns of the Christian poet, Prudentius, were compose in his honor. January 23 St. Parmenas, another deacon chosen at the time of St. Stephan, preached the gospel in Asia Minor and was put to death at Philippi in Macedonia under the Emperor Trajan about 98 A.D. 3

4 ONGOING FORMATION OPPORTUNITIES **A WEEKEND AWAY TO REFOCUS ON YOUR MARRIAGE Designed for couples who have been married over five years (Spiritual Center of Maria Stein or Respect Life Office ) 2/1 (7:00 p.m.) 2/2 (7:00 p.m.) Spiritual Center of Maria Stain **MORNINGS OF SPIRITUALITY FOR WOMEN: THE MYSTICISM OF TEILHARD DE CHARDIN Barbara Leonard, OSF -- (Sr. Ruth Kettman, CSJ or 3/2/13 9:30 a.m. noon Mt. Notre Dame Spirituality Center, Cincinnati **MORNINGS OF SPIRITUALITY FOR WOMEN: DOROTHY DAY: FAITH IN ACTION Bill Lonneman (Sr. Ruth Kettman, CSJ or 5/4 9:30 a.m. noon Mt. Notre Dame Spirituality Center, Cincinnati NADD CONVENTION Deacon as Servant of the New Evangelization 4/9-12/2013 Albuquerque, New Mexico This will be the first time that this Convention is open to deacons who are not members of the National Association of Diaconate Directors. **PRAYING IN THE PRESENT MOMENT: RETREAT WITH JUDY MESCHER (Spiritual Center ) 4/5 7:00 p.m. Spiritual Center of Maria Stein FINDING GOD IN ALL THINGS WITH SR. WANDA SMITH, RSM (Spiritual Center ) 4/26 (7:00 p.m.) 4/27 (4:00 p.m.) Spiritual Center of Maria Stein **COUPLES RETREAT FOR THE CLASS OF 2010: Reflecting on the Experience of the First Three Years Kevin Prendergast & Team (Office of the Diaconate 5/4/13 9:00 a.m. 4:00 p.m. Bergamo Center, Dayton **NDICE /21-24/2013 Xavier University FEAST OF ST. LAWRENCE CELEBRATION 8/11/13 6:00 p.m. St. Peter, Huber Heights **ST. MEINRAD DEACON RETREAT /24-26, 2013 **MARIA STEIN DEACON RETREAT /18-20, 2013 ** Thanks to generous donations by members of the Deacon Community and their families to the DEACON MEMORIAL FUND, scholarships (full or partial) are available for these programs through the Office of the Diaconate. 4

5 WILLS AND MEMORIALS YOU MAY CONSIDER INCLUDING THE DEACON MEMORIAL FUND IN YOUR WILL OR MEMORIAL OFFERINGS. THE DEACON MEMORIAL FUND WAS ESTABLISHED TO AID MEMBERS OF THE DEACON COMMUNITY IN THE ARCHDIOCESE OF CINCINNATI THROUGH DIFFICULT TIMES AND IN THEIR ONGOING FORMATION (RETREATS AND CONTINUING EDUCATION). ANY DONATIONS TO THE DEACON MEMORIAL FUND ARE GREATLY APPRECIATED AND ARE TAX DEDUCTIBLE Checks can be made out to THE DEACON MEMORIAL FUND and sent to: Office of the Diaconate 100 E. Eighth St. Cincinnati, OH Office of the Diaconate Phone and , Ext If You Need Barry for an Emergency after Office Hours or on Weekends Home Phone Cell Phone

6 DIACONATE CONTINUING FORMATION ANNUAL REPORT Office of the Diaconate Archdiocese of Cincinnati NAME: Please complete and mail this form by January 31, 2013 to: Office of the Diaconate Archdiocese of Cincinnati 100 East Eighth Street Cincinnati, Ohio January 1, 2012 December 31, Retreat(s) attended during the year (dates and locations): 2. Day(s) of Recollection and other Spiritual Programs (dates and locations): 3. Spiritual Direction (frequency of meetings): 4. Continuing Education Courses/Seminars/Study Days, reading, etc. (Include title/description, dates, locations, clock hours, etc.): 6

7 Education Courses/Study Days: Seminars, conferences, etc: Books: 5. Number of Regional Meetings attended during the year: 6. Support Groups: a) Are you participating in a support? b) If yes, indicate frequency of attendance: 7. Do you want to be contacted by the Director of the Diaconate Office? 8. Comments: Signature: Date: 7

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9 WHO IS A DEACON? WHAT DOES A DEACON DO? WHY DO WE NEED DEACONS? You are cordially invited to a meeting of interested men (and wives) to learn more about the role of deacons in the Archdiocese of Cincinnati. If you have never attended an information meeting about the diaconate, this meeting will be very helpful as you consider a vocation to the diaconate or would just like to learn more about the ministry of deacons in the Archdiocese of Cincinnati. Besides discussing the role of deacons (and wives), the meetings will include information about the requirements for admission into the Deacon Formation Program. There will also be an explanation of the ongoing process of discernment to the diaconate and possible discernment methods. Finally, there will be time for you to ask any questions which are on your mind in order to help you to better understand the ministry of deacons. Sunday, February 10 LPMP & Diaconate -- Deacon Hal Belcher & Barry Mersmann St. Charles Center, Carthagena 2860 U.S. 127 Carthagena, OH Thursday, February 14 St. Charles Borromeo, Kettering Walsh Hall 4600 Ackerman Blvd. Kettering, OH If you plan on attending, please call Barry Mersmann, Director of the Office of the Diaconate, or Karen Brannon at the Office of the Diaconate ( ) or register by at deaconoffice@catholiccincinnati.org to let us know so we will be sure to have enough handouts. If you need directions, we will be glad to provide them. 9