Deacon Update. Diocese of Fall River Office for the Permanent Diaconate February Bishop to Offer Conference Session and Mass at Convocation 2018

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1 Deacon Update Diocese of Fall River Office for the Permanent Diaconate February 2018 Bishop to Offer Conference Session and Mass at Convocation 2018 Bishop Edgar da Cunha will be joining us for Convocation 2018, scheduled for April 14, 2018 at Holy Name of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. The Bishop will offer the first Conference session of the day, followed by the celebration of Mass. It is important that every deacon in the diocese attend our annual Convocation. This is a perfect opportunity to share time together and with our Bishop. While we are not requiring attendance, we hope that each deacon realizes how important this gathering is. The surveys were very clear that gatherings of this type are important to all of us! Please make every effort to attend. The day will begin with prayer. There will be three conferences during the day. Bishop Edgar will lead the first one. Fr Warren Savage of the Diocese of Springfield will lead the final two conferences. We will also share a meal, and the day will conclude with prayer. We look forward to hearing from our Bishop and if you did not have an opportunity to attend the NADD Region 1 Assembly in Newport in November, and hear Fr Warren speak, you don t want to miss the Convocation. Registration is now open on our website. See you at the Convocation! Lenten Health Diet and exercise the formula for a healthy heart given by a caring physician. Not a bad formula to adopt as we enter the journey of Lent. Our diet might include fasting from all the sweet things we enjoy but those savory treats might include more than sugary delights. The delicacies of enjoyment come in so many forms. The luxuries of our time, resources, and how we spend those precious treasures, can create a diet rich in self -indulgence. We might ponder the needs of so many who have struggled this past year. The cry of Job has been heralded loud and clear. So many, even in our local communities, are not dieting but are in fact staving! Can our diets reflect our solidarity with those in need and perhaps even lead to our contribution to filling their empty baskets? Exercise is also part of a heart healthy regiment. Walking, running, biking! Great recommendations that I ponder as I exercise my resistance training technique by rolling over for that extra thirty minutes of shuteye in the a.m.! Walking to a place of worship for daily mass, running into the arms of the Lord in prayer and reflection, biking into the neighborhood soup kitchen are cardio enriching. Prayer, fasting and almsgiving are the prescription written by the divine physician to insure a healthy heart of compassion. May we heed the advice of Jesus the good physician and stay heart healthy this Lent? In the promise of Christ's love, Fr. Bob Oliveira

2 Diocese of Fall River Office for the Permanent Diaconate Upcoming Events/Meetings Attleboro/Taunton Deanery Meeting - Saturday, February 10, 2018 Lent Study Day - February 24, 2018 Deacon Convocation 2018 April 14, 2018 Institution to the Order of Acolyte June 19, 2018 Couples Retreat - August 24-26, 2018 Cape Cod Deanery Gathering Deacons of the Cape Cod Deanery gathered together on January 19 for the first deanery meeting in many months. Kevin Kiley, Diocesan Chancellor and CFO, was the guest speaker. A discussion took place following his presentation and those present were grateful that Kevin took the time to answer all of their questions. A pot luck dinner followed offering an opportunity for fellowship. At the meeting, it was decided that a deanery meeting would take place every other month. Congratulations to the Cape Cod deacons for their interest in gathering as a community on a regular basis, and to Deacons Dave Boucher, Brendan Brides, William Hays and Bruce Baxter for their efforts in bringing the meeting to fruition, and to the parish of Corpus Christi for their hospitality! Check the fallriverdeacons.com webpage for the next gathering date! Deacon Council Meets Members of the deacon council gathered last week to begin the strategic planning process for the Office of the Permanent Diaconate. Utilizing the data collected in the recent deacon survey, members of the council reviewed the information and began to identify the good things that are happening in the diocese. In the next phase, the council members began to look at the issues that faced deacons and the diaconate in the Diocese of Fall River. Of those issues identified, the list was prioritized. During the next session, we will identify the needs of deacons and the diaconate in the diocese. Those will also be prioritized. In the third session, we will begin to brainstorm ideas/ programs/plans to respond to the needs and issues. The process we are undergoing in the Office of the Permanent Diaconate is similar to that which parishes and other ministries in the diocese are undergoing, with a strategic plan for the next five years being the end result. Once completed, the plan will be presented to the Bishop for his input and evaluation. The vision for the diaconate in the Diocese of Fall River lies with our Bishop. The council is working to help lay out a plan so that that vision may be Diocese of Fall River Office for the Permanent Diaconate Couples Retreat Parks St. Duxbury, MA August 24-26, 2018 Registration now open Limit 30 couples Register at frpermanentdiaconate.com

3 Deacon Update We are happy to publish community news. Please submit your news items, requests for prayers, etc to Jackie Collins at the Office for the Permanent Diaconate at 121 Mt Pleasant St., New Bedford, MA If we have missed posting an event please notify us so that we may update our records and will publish in the next edition. Prayers are requested for: Lorraine Cipriano Eugene Sasseville Retirements: Deacon: Anthony R. Surozenski, Retirement as Deacon Director Diocese of Worcester with continued service at Parish: St. Pius X S. Yarmouth Brian Dunn 4 Ernest Gendron 8 Ralph Guerra 9 C. Michael Hickey 10 Joseph Medeiros 21 Maurice Ouellette 1 Lawrence St. Onge 28 David Pierce 20 Richard Zeich 1 Michael Zonghetti 22 In Memoriam: Please keep in your prayers... Reverend David Andrade Deacon James Paul Leavitt developed and shared with our deacons. It is a long process, but one that we hope will set a clear path for the future of the diaconate in the diocese. Deacon Council representatives are: Paul Levesque and Gary John, New Bedford/Fall River Deanery, Bob Craig and Gary Porter, Attleboro/Taunton Deanery and David Boucher and John Foley of the Cape Cod Deanery. Calling All Deacons - Share your Ministry Story We'd like to feature articles by our deacons in this newsletter each month. If you would like to share a brief reflection or description of a particular ministry that you are involved in, please let us know and we'll set aside some space for you. Admission Process - 10th Diaconate Class - Spring 2019 His Excellency, the Most Reverend Edgar M. da Cunha, Bishop of Fall River, has authorized the formation of a new class for the formation of Permanent Deacons beginning in the spring of For the 10th Diaconate Class, scheduled to begin the Aspirancy phase in the spring of 2019, are invited to submit a preliminary application. In the months ahead, information sessions will be held. The final and formal application process will begin in the fall of 2018 for those that wish to be admitted to the 10th diaconate class beginning in the spring of The preliminary application may be found on the website. Deacon Lent 2018 Study Day Living Lent through the Service of Eucharist & Charity with Fr Jack Oliveira Saturday, February 24, 2018 Holy Name of the Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish 121 Mt Pleasant Street New Bedford, MA :00 am - 2:00 pm For Deacons and Candidates Register Today! Office for the Permanent Diaconate Father Robert Oliveira - frboboliveira@frpermanentdiaconate.com Deacon Frank Lucca - deaconfranklucca@frpermanentdiaconate.com Diocesan Directors Jackie Collins - office@frpermanentdiaconate.com Administrative Assistant 121 Mt Pleasant Street New Bedford, MA Ph: (508) E: frpermanentdiaconate@verizon.net Fax:

4 Presentation on the Diaconate Requesting that all Deacons make parish presentations 2018 is the 50th anniversary of the approval by Blessed Pope Paul VI in 1968 giving bishops of the United States permission to renew the permanent diaconate as an active, permanent order of ministry. During the months ahead we will be asking our deacons to make presentations at Masses in their parish about the diaconate. In addition, we will be asking you to announce a new class for the formation of permanent deacons in the Spring of We have developed two talk outlines that may be given in your parishes. Feel free to utilize either that you believe will work best in your parish. So, please take some time to discuss this with your pastor, requesting that he give you the opportunity to speak during Masses in March/April to begin spreading the word about our next class and help educate our parishioners on the diaconate and on the 50th anniversary! For those parishes without deacons, we will be asking deacons from nearby parishes to make the presentations when possible. We will reach out to all pastors shortly, so that they are all aware that this request will be coming their way. So many of our parishioners do not understand the role of the deacon. This is a perfect opportunity to get the word out. More importantly, this is an opportunity to let those, who may be considering a vocation to the diaconate, know that the next class will begin Aspirancy in April We are looking for consistency in our message and request that the same announcements be read by all deacons. We have provided two announcements that may be used for reaching out to men who may having a calling to enter into the Class of Please select the one that work best in your parish. Thank you for your assistance, Deacon Frank Lucca Father Bob Oliveira iocesan Co-Directors

5 Deacon Presentation Talk Version One My brothers and sisters, my name is Deacon and as you all know I am a deacon for the Diocese of Fall River. I was ordained in 19xx/20xx and I serve at (Church Name and location). want to thank Father/Msgr. for allowing me to speak to you for a few minutes this morning/evening. I am here is to announce that Bishop Edgar da Cunha has approved the formation of a new deacon class. The class that will be formed, after a period of discernment, will begin academic study in September 2019 and the ordination date will be May I would like to share a few important points about the ministry of deacon. We are clergy and through sacred Ordination the deacon becomes a herald of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. This "clerical state" occurs during ordination by the laying on of hands by the bishop, a tradition handed down from the Apostles. As a result of the sacramental grace received at that moment, the newly ordained deacons are empowered to effectively fulfill their ministry to serve the people uniquely in the service of liturgy, word, and charity. The deacon administers Baptism, he protects and distributes the Eucharist at Mass and brings Eucharist to the homebound, he witnesses marriages, he proclaims the gospel, he preaches and encourages the people, and he presides over prayer and officiates at funeral rites. I know that many men present here today may not be interested in pursuing this ministry and that's OK! However, there might be one or two who have had their interest level peaked and that's good! Because experience shows that for men whose calling is sincere and truly based on a desire to serve, the Holy Spirit provides the charism required to meet the demands of formation. A prayerful approach brings men into an increasingly beautiful experience throughout formation, Ordination and beyond. For those men who are married, the reception of Holy Orders has enhanced the sacrament of marriage that both he and his wife share. Progressing through the Rites of Candidacy, Lector, Acolyte and Ordination is a journey. A splendid, yet humbling journey, preparing the way for what Pope Paul II observed about the deacon: "You are meant to be living signs of the servanthood of Christ's Church". So where do we go from here? Additional details and a preliminary application is available on our website fallriverdeacons.com. An information meeting will be held in June 2018 and will be announced on the website and in the Anchor. The General Information meeting will delve even further into the process of becoming a deacon for the Diocese of Fall River. I will be available after Mass if anyone would like to discuss this with me. I would like to leave you with one thought. Do you know someone who you think would make a good deacon? If you do, tell him. That is what the Holy Spirit may want you to do to get his attention.\\ May God continue to guide each and every one of you as you prayerfully discern where God is calling you to serve His Church.

6 Deacon Presentation Talk Version Two Good morning/evening, As many of you know, I am Deacon. I was ordained in and have been assigned to this parish since. I am very excited to announce that the next Diaconate class will begin the process in the Spring of Today, I d like to spend a few minutes introducing the diaconate to all of you. Perhaps it is the first time you may have heard much of this. My hope is that for some of you, it may serve as a call to consider a vocation to the diaconate. the origin of deacons was recorded in the sixth chapter of the Acts of the Apostles. The Apostles told the people to select seven upstanding men filled with the Spirit and wisdom to help them in works of charity. After the men were selected, the Apostles prayed and laid hands on them. Among them was Stephen, a man filled with grace and power, who was soon to become the first Christian martyr. By the fifth century, deacons were doing little except performing liturgical functions. For over 1200 years, the diaconate was simply a step on the way toward priestly ordination. In 1957, Pope Pius XII spoke favorably about the possibility of restoring the permanent diaconate, but eventually concluded that the time is not yet ripe. The Second Vatican Council decided that the time was ripe and reinstated the permanent diaconate fifty years ago this year. In the Catholic hierarchy, the Pope is at the top, followed by cardinals, bishops, priests and deacons in that order. There are two types of deacons in the Catholic Church today: permanent deacons and transitional deacons. Only men can be deacons; it is an ordained position and only men can be ordained in the Catholic Church. Permanent deacons are ordained to the Catholic Church and have no intentions of becoming a priest. Deacons may be married or single. However, if they are not married at the time they are ordained, they cannot marry after and are expected to live a life of celibacy. Should a deacon s wife pass before he does, he is not permitted to remarry. If divorced, a deacon must receive an annulment from the church before he can be ordained. Transitional deacons are seminary students in the process of becoming ordained priests. They serve as deacons for one year and are then ordained by the bishop as priests. Both permanent and transitional deacons perform the same duties in the church. Deacons aid priests in their parish duties by visiting the sick, providing spiritual guidance in the community and acting as a servant of God. In addition, deacons can witness marriages, perform baptisms, preside over funeral and burial services outside of Mass, distribute Holy Communion and preach the homily (a sermon given after the Gospel of Mass). Deacons are also expected to pray the Liturgy of the Hours each day. These are the 150 Psalms and Scriptural readings from the Old and New Testament that every cleric is expected to pray daily. Deacons hold secular jobs to provide for themselves and their families. There are several requirements a deacon must meet. Deacons must be at least 35 years old and practicing, baptized members of the Roman Catholic Church. If baptized as an adult, a deacon must have belonged to the church for at least five years prior to being ordained.

7 Talk 2 (continued): As mentioned deacons must satisfy certain marriage requirements. Deacons must meet education requirements, as well. They must have earned a high school diploma or GED. Deacons should be in good health and be able to dedicate time to the formation program, a five-year course of study for prospective deacons. If a man believes he has a call to this vocation, he should discuss the decision with God, his family and his pastor. He should pray for guidance to ensure the path is sanctioned and discuss the desire to join the diaconate with his family. If married, a deacon must receive the consent of his wife to proceed. Speaking with his pastor will help a man decide if the life of a cleric is right for him. Once a man has met these requirements, he may submit an application to the diocesan diaconate office through his pastor. There is a preliminary application online at the diocesan diaconate website fallriverdeacons.com. The pastor will send a letter of recommendation, confirming that the applicant is in good standing with the Church. The application process includes intensive screening. Prospective candidates can expect several rounds of interviews. If married, a candidate s wife will also be interviewed, as will any children the couple has still living at home. Applicants are required to submit to a psychological evaluation. Applicants must also submit a multitude of paperwork along with their applications which will be explained during the inquiry phase of the process. Once all the required documents have been submitted and the candidate and his wife have attended the intial aspirancy classes, the diocesan diaconate office, and aspirancy committee will review and come to a decision during the aspirancy period that precedes admission to the four year academic formation program. If the applicant is deemed ready by the committee, office and himself, the bishop will then make the final decision. I will be around after Mass today should anyone have questions. Please seriously consider if you are being called to the permanent diaconate. Thank you for your attention.

8 Convocation 2018 April 14, 2018 Holy Name of the Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish Center New Bedford 10 am - 3 pm Bishop Edgar da Cunha Fr Warren Savage Join us for Convocation 2018 to be held on April 14, 2018 at Holy Name of the Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish Center in New Bedford. All deacons and candidates are invited to attend.! Mass with Bishop da Cunha! Three Conferences! Lunch! Fellowship Register today at Celebrating 50 years of the Diaconate in the United States

9 Greetings! The chamber chorus Sine Nomine under the direction of Glenn Giuttari will present a concert at St. Mary s Cathedral in Fall River on Sunday, February 11 at 3 o clock. The program will feature music of the German Baroque with music of Pachelbel, Schutz, Telemann and Bach with period instruments. This is the 25 th Anniversary of the ensemble which was founded by Glenn and first performed at the Cathedral. Although there is a general admission charge for tickets ($20 for adults and $15 for seniors and students) I am pleased to tell you that Glenn has asked to me to offer complimentary tickets to clergy and religious of our diocese and ecumenical community who may enjoy attending the program. If you would like to accept this invitation, would you please your name to me at madeleinepgrace@gmail.com and a ticket will be reserved in your name at the door. Program is as follows: * Jauchzet ( double choir & ensemble) Pachelbel * Selig sind (choir with organ) Schütz TELEMANN: Trio sonata in a TWV 42: a4 for violin, recorder and cont Solo cantata Seele, lerne dich TWV 1:1258 ( soprano & recorder and continuo) * Laudate Jehovam - for choir and ensemble JS BACH: Schlummert ein ( soprano solo with strings) * Jesu Joy - inst and choir * Motet: Lobet den Herren with Baroque ensemble For more information, go to Sine Nomine website. Sincerely, Madeleine Grace Saturday, March 10, 2018 Doors open at 9 a.m. Ames Sports Complex Stonehill College 320 Washington Street, Easton, MA Register at ttp://

10 Come to New Orleans to become part of the 2018 National Diaconate Congress! Sunday, July :00 pm - Opening Mass and Keynote Address at St. Louis Cathedral (Jackson Square) Monday, July 23 through Wednesday, July 25 (Marriott New Orleans is the location of all remaining Congress programming) -- 8:00 am Mass and Lauds -- 9:00 am Break -- 9:30 am General Session -- 10:30 am Break -- 11:00 am General Session -- 12:00 noon Lunch Break -- 2:00 pm General Session -- 3:00 Break -- 3:30 Workshops Thursday, July :30 am Lauds (Note that Closing Mass is at 11:00 am) -- 9:00 am Break -- 9:30 am Closing Session -- 10:30 am Break -- 11:00 am Closing Mass Where: Marriott New Orleans, 555 Canal Street, New Orleans, LA; Archdiocese of New Orleans Who is invited? All bishops, priests, deacons, candidates, aspirants, their families and friends Cost: $250 per person. Wives and widows of deacons are just $99! All transportation, lodging, meals and entertainment are extra. Registration is open now on the deacon2018 homepage. The 2018 National Diaconate Congress is a celebration for the whole Church to mark the 50th anniversary of the renewal of the diaconate as a permanent ordained ministry of the Catholic Church. The Congress activities include Masses, Morning Prayer, multiple daily presentations, workshops, and fellowship. A schedule of speakers and workshops is now posted on the registration link deacon2018.org The 2018 Congress is planned by NADD with support of the USCCB Committee on Clergy, Consecrated Life and Vocations and the Archdiocese of New Orleans. Note: NADD reserves the right to deny attendance to anyone. More information and registration at deacon2018.org