The Servant Fall 2016 Newsletter for the Permanent Deacon Community Community Events August 6 with our Archbishop Pray for our Inquirers and Candidates in Formation Deacon Jim Bauhs 149 members of the Diaconate Community came together with our Archbishop at St. Peter s in Mendota on August 6 for Holy Mass, presentation, discussion and lunch. This was the largest gathering of our community in recent history! Deacon John Belian led the presentation of introducing Archbishop Hebda to his diaconate community. The simple introduction invited Inside this issue: the members to stand as their ministry was called out such as Hospital, Corrections, Parish, Marriage, Social Justice and Wives and Widows. Special thanks to our event organizer and Emcee Deacon George Nugent and the Fr. Stephen Hoffman, Pastor, and the staff at St. Peter s. Community 1 Widow s Lunch - September 22 Opportunity & Deacon Council 2 Pastoral Support 3 Formation 4 Director Update 5 Community Weekend 6 Calendar 7 Editor s Corner Contacts 8 The St. Paul Seminary was the location where 16 widows of deacons were honored at Mass in St. Mary s Chapel and hosted with a delicious lunch and social gathering. This has become a special anticipated annual event coordinated by the Deacon Council, Institute for Deacon Formation and the Office of the Director of the Diaconate.
Page 2 Deacon Ministries Publicity Opportunity Deacon Dick Roy Fellow deacons, in an effort to help our entire faith community, both lay and clergy, become more aware of the breadth and unusual variety of services deacons of our Archdiocese have provided through the years, an effort is beginning to make these services both known and appreciated. The Catholic Spirit intends to initiate a series of articles that will focus on the wide array of community services, especially those that are unusual, unexpected, or sorely needed. The purpose of the effort is to, not simply focus on the deacon himself (and wife, if involved), but mainly to inform the public about the wide breadth of services deacons are accomplishing for the community. It is hoped that this will educate and help the community understand the limitless nature of diaconate service and, perhaps, open doors to new opportunities for all deacons. Hopefully this will also be a very positive selling point for the men of the community who may be considering a call to service in the church. The truth is, there is no limit to what we can do! What is being asked of each of you is to contact Deacon Gregg Sroder and describe the deacon and services provided that would be of interest. This could be about yourself or about a deacon known to you involved in an interesting or difficult ministry. Your only real work would be to inform Deacon Gregg of the individual deacon and the interesting or valued services provided. The council and the Catholic Spirit will do the rest. For information, again please contact: Deacon Gregg Sroder deacongregg@usfamily.net Deacon Council Update Deacon Jim Bauhs Greetings from your Deacon Council. Fall is here! The Deacon Council continues to operate in our Interim Mode. The great news is that we are able to continue our work without interruption. As always all members of the Deacon Community are welcome at our meetings. If you have any topics that you would like the council to cover please send them to me. "The cross reminds us that there is no true love without suffering, there is no gift of life without pain," Benedict XVI
Pastoral Support for the Ordained Diaconate Page 3 Susan Amos Palmer We are called to serve one another and to walk humbly with God. As the Diaconate Community s Pastoral Council (DCPC) reaches out to the deacons and their wives, particularly within the retired diaconate community, we are starting something new. We are asking you, the community members, to provide an emergency contact name and phone number. This can be a family member or friend whom you are confident will know where you are in the event we reach out to you and do not reach you. This has already proven invaluable when a community member fell, ended up in the hospital and wasn t reachable. The emergency contact was called. We learned from the family member what was happening to their parent and where the community member was now going to be living. Many of our elders are transitioning to assisted living and care centers. It is easy to lose people since we only mail once or twice a year. Of course that reminds me of another request we have of the community. When you do move or decide to drop your phone landline and exclusively use a cell phone, please let us know. When you change your e-mail address, let us know. This is particularly important for the retired members as we can t necessarily call a parish to find you. You should let me know susanamospalmer@hotmail.com and Laurie Wohlers at the chancery wohlersl@archspm.org. Laurie handles the official diaconate database. She would also like to build out the database to include deacon wives e-mails and cell phones. This will be helpful when there is official communication from the Archdiocese or deacon community invitations going out and saves postage costs. If you chose not to share this information, we respect your decision. So I ll summarize: If you move, let us know your new mailing address (wohlersl@archspm.org); If you drop your phone landline, let us know your cell numbers (for deacon and wife, wohlersl@archspm.org); If you change your e-mail address, let us know so we can update records and keep communication going to you (wohlersl@archspm.org); and Provide an emergency contact (susanamospalmer@hotmail.com). We pray for you all, care about you and reach out to you. Prayer requests go out from time to time as families ask. We honor each person and only send out requests made by the deacon or deacon s wife, or their family, sharing as much or as little as the family desires. We are here for you and ask only that you reach back, letting us know what we can do and what prayers you need. We can pray and communicate the needs of our community, but we truly need you all to communicate with us. Peace, Susan Amos Palmer, Diaconate Community Pastoral Council, 612-412-4410. susanamospalmer@hotmail.com Diaconate Community Pastoral Council Members: Dn. David Ingwell, 651-225-1440 (C) aac@visi.com Dn. Jim McLaughlin, 952-881-7340 (H) bobbie.jim@mclaughlin.net Char Murphy, 952-935-7248 (H) jwcbmurphy@comcast.net Susan Amos Palmer, coordinator, 651-261-3125 (C) susanamospalmer@hotmail.com Judy Quayle, 651-633-0459 (H) tmquayle@usfamily.net Dn. Jerry Saladin, 952-607-9636 (C) jerrysaladin@charter.net 'Apart from the cross there is no other ladder by which we may get to heaven.' - St. Rose of Lima
Page 4 Institute for Diaconate Formation Deacon Joe Michalak Diaconate formation is alive and well in our Archdiocese. 10 men in Year III, were installed Acolytes by Bishop Sirba, on October 13. God willing they will be ordained in December 2017 Class of 2017 L to R; Ron Schmitz, Dan Brewer, Patrick Hirl, Alan Nicklaus, Jim Reinhardt, Mickey Redfearn, Gordon Bird, Paul Ravnikar, Don Tienter, John Cleveland 13 men are in their first year of formation and were admitted to Candidacy on October 25 presided by Bishop Cozzens. Their anticipated ordination date is December 2019. Class of 2019 Inquiry About 30 men are active in the Inquiry Process to be completed in spring 2017 for Aspirancy to begin August 2017. With an anticipated ordination date in December 2021. L to R; Joel Neisen, John Bauch, Kelly Leahy, Eric Evander, Bill Schroeder, John Allgaier, Rodney Walker, Chris Swanson, Mike Hulzebos, Mike Daly, Matt Damiani, Eric Cooley, Joe Utecht. 'We can obtain no reward without merit, and no merit without patience.' - St. Alphonsus Maria de Liguori
Page 5 Director s Update Deacon John Belian Dear Sisters and Brothers, Most of my effort as director has been focused on promoting our sense of community. After the spring 2015 listening sessions, I began to recognize three foundations of our community: our relationship with Jesus, our ministry to those we serve and our relationships with each other. Last August 6, when we introduced ourselves to Archbishop Hebda, the event committee suggested that we do so by standing as the ministries in which we were engaged were called. Many who were present said it had an impact on them. For me, it seemed as if the joy of our community blossomed in that room. It validated my belief that our sense of community will manifest itself if given an opportunity --- we only need to find a little room for the Holy Spirit to work within and among us. I saw that event as a good start to an effort in which we might intentionally look at the ministries of charity to which we are dedicated. Again, I believe it is one of the three foundations on which our community rests. So I proposed that we would develop an efficient process by which we, as a community, could enter into a dialogue with Archbishop Hebda to 1) describe more fully our charitable ministries, 2) share what we see as the needs of the people of the Archdiocese and 3) suggest ways by which we can help to fill those needs. It goes without saying that we look to the Archbishop to guide us in how we are to serve the people of the Archdiocese, but I think that we owe him our sense of their needs. At the same time, it is important that we humbly show our servant hearts and our capacity to serve to our new Archbishop. I proposed this initiative without having a method in mind to accomplish it and I wish I could say I have one now. But I continue to consult with others and trust that a path will show itself. I am eager to hear your thoughts. A diaconal community is by definition a community that serves. Sociologists tell us that, among other things, a community is a group that is aimed at wider ends. So our faithful service, in itself, promotes our sense of community. In a practical sense, a community also develops through personal contact among its members. So I was gratified to see nearly fifty deacons together on June 18th at St. Charles Borromeo to hear Fr. Steven Hoffman introduce us to the Awareness Examen, an effective method to help us be more open to Christ s presence in our daily lives. On that same day, Bishop Cozzens counseled us on cultivating gratitude in our prayer. I was very encouraged that nearly a hundred and fifty of our community gathered on August 5th at St. Peter s to meet Archbishop Hebda. I was happy to see about eighty of us take advantage of being with Archbishop Hebda and Bishop Cozzens at last month s reception at the Archbishop s residence. I hope to see a strong showing at this month s Community Weekend. If you haven t already registered please do so today. I am honored to serve you. Please do share your thoughts with me and call on me if I can be helpful. John "Social justice cannot be attained by violence. Violence kills what it intends to create." - Pope John Paul II
Page 6 Shirts Available - $25/each We still have some extra shirts that are available for your purchase at our cost of $25/each. The shirts are made of a dri-weave fabric and wash and wear well. We have limited numbers in sizes from Small - XX-Large. If you are interested please contact Margene Bauhs @ Mombauhs@gmail.com P.S. We will have the remaining shirts available at the Community Weekend. "He who trusts himself is lost. He who trusts God can do all things." - St. Alphonsus Liguori
2016 Sept 16 Sept 27 Nov 13-15 Dec 10 2017 Jan 19-22 Apr 6 May 12 Jun 25-30 Aug 4-6 Aug 11-13 Aug 16-18 Dec 9 2018 To be Confirmed Jul 22-26, Widow Mass & Lunch - 11:35am St. Mary s Chapel - St. Paul Seminary Archbishop Open House - 1:30pm - 3:00pm Community Weekend - Buffalo, MN Candidates' Day of Reflection Formation Retreat - Marathon, WI Chrism Mass - Cathedral - TBD Community Dinner - TBD Summer Immersion Week - Abbey of the Hills Community Weekend - Buffalo, MN Wives Formation Retreat Men s Aspirancy Retreat Permanent Deacon Ordination - Cathedral National Diaconate Congress New Orleans, LA Page 7 Put these Community events on your calendar! Deacon Council Meetings See the Council Minutes For the dates & location All are Welcome "Those who love to be feared fear to be loved." - Saint Francis de Sales
"Technological society has succeeded in multiplying the opportunities for pleasure, but it has great difficulty in generating joy." Pope Paul VI Editor s Corner My apologies for the gap between newsletters. Sorry to say it has been a full year. If there is something that you would like to see, possibly even writing an article yourself PLEASE let me know. I can help you to prepare it. I am confident that our sisters and brothers in the community would appreciate your contribution. Thank you for your service and your support. Your brother in Christ. Page 8 Deacon Jim Bauhs It takes three to make love, not two: you, your spouse, and God. Without God people only succeed in bringing out the worst in one another. Lovers who have nothing else to do but love each other soon find there is nothing else. Without a central loyalty life is unfinished. Venerable Fulton J. Sheen Contact Information Deacon Director - Deacon John Belian belianj@ archspm.org 651-238-6965 Director of Institute for Diaconate Formation - Deacon Joe Michalak jtmichalak@stthomas.edu 651-962-6876 Director Of Parish and Clergy Services - Deacon Steve Maier maiers@archspm.org 651-291-4421 President of Deacon Council - Deacon Jim Bauhs Editor of Deacon Newsletter Deacon.Jim.Bauhs@gmail.com 952-388-9679 Diaconate Pastoral Support - Susan Amos Palmer, (available 24 x 7) susanamospalmer@hotmail.com 612-412-4410 "Love begins at home, and it is not how much we do... but how much love we put in that action." - Mother Teresa