Permanent Deacon Community

The Servant
Summer 2012
Newsletter for the
Permanent Deacon Community
Deacon Council Update
T
he
Son of man
did not come
to be served
but to serve
Deacon Rich Heineman
Greetings from your Deacon Council. I pray
that, as we enter into summer and into
Ordinary Time, you are all able to maintain
balance in your lives for all that you are
called to do.
As a Council, we are working on a number of projects that concern
our diaconate community. We will be working through the summer on a number of
issues including the structure of the Council itself. Based on the proposed Deacon
Council constitution, the representation on the Council will be qualified in a
different manner than it has been in the past. Pursuant to this, we will be looking to
add additional deacons to the Council previous to elections in September.
Matthew 20:28 If you have a desire to serve your diaconate community in this way, please contact
Inside this issue:
Deacon Council
1
Wives' Column
2
Clergy Services
2
Corrections
Ministry
3
Prayer
3
Archdiocesan
Finance Council
4
Thanks
4
Formation
5
Calendar
7
Fortnight for
Freedom
7
Catholic Relief
8
Community
9
Editor’s Corner
10
Contacts
10
me directly and let’s talk (612-588-0715 [email protected]). We will need
to construct a working Council prior to elections in September and, after elections,
submit the names of the proposed Council to the Archbishop for approval and
appointment.
I have heard the comment that ‘…the Deacon Council doesn’t do anything…’. This
could not be further from the truth. We, as a group, have an amazing opportunity to
create something strong and viable within the Council and the community…consider
being part of it.
"The cross
reminds us that
there is no true
love without
suffering, there
is no gift of
life without
pain,"
Benedict XVI
Page 2
Wive’s Column - Widows - Treasures of the Church
Cheryl Broich
Widows are treasures of the church. They are mentioned over 70 times in in the New
Testament. Deacons were commissioned to take care of the widows (and the orphans).
How many deacons reach out to the widows in their parishes today?
There is a way they can! Last year the Archdiocese reached out to widows for the first
time in the form of a "Day of Reflection" with a nationally known speaker, Johnnette
Bankovick. 200 widows came!! The widows were so touched that the church was doing
this for them. Many feel forgotten and alone but this day is especially for them.
July 14, 2012 will be the second outreach to widows with Sally Robb as the presenter. I
ask that Deacons and their wives reach out to the widows in their parish and tell them
about this opportunity, or mail them a brochure. Deacons are invited to participate in the
8am mass at Our Lady of Grace, Edina, which begins the day.
Widows of Deacons, I invite you to come to this event and, if you feel
called, I invite you to join me in reaching out to widows of our
Archdiocese, and in our parishes.
I can be reached at: (952.831-2656) or [email protected]
Cheryl Broich
Office Of Clergy Services
Deacon John Vomastek
Periodically I will receive a call from a deacon asking for a “letter of suitability” to be
provided to an outside diocese where the deacon will be witnessing a wedding or performing
a baptism or other sacraments. Please keep in mind the following points:
1. First and foremost try to be pro-active. When you know that you will need a letter,
don’t wait. Certainly there are exceptions. You don’t have a great deal of lead time
when it comes to a funeral.
2. Provide as much information as possible. What is the date? If you are witnessing a
marriage, what are the names of the couple? What is the exact name of the Church
that the ceremony will take place at and, of course, what is the name of the diocese?
3. Please provide complete information as to where the letter is to be sent, contact person, address etc.
4. Send this information to the attention of:
Jennifer Hasselberger
Chancellor for Canonical Affairs
Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis
226 Summit Avenue
Saint Paul, MN 55102
- or email: [email protected]
Keep in mind that the letter will be generated out of the Office of Canonical Affairs and the more information
that you can provide up front the smoother the process to get your letter done and in the mail.
As always, if you have any questions, please feel free to call.
Page 3
Corrections Ministry
Deacon Tim Zinda
Effective June 1st, the Archbishop has appointed me “Coordinator
of Corrections for the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis.”
I look forward to ensuring that the spiritual needs of those
imprisoned are met. This means making sure that we have
chaplain coverage of all correctional facilities in the twelve
counties of the Archdiocese. Our service to this imprisoned
community is to provide the sacraments, spiritual direction and
guidance. We also need to recruit priests and deacons to offer mass and communion
services.
My hope is to empower the existing chaplains, to seek out others to serve in this
ministry, and to provide materials such as bibles, daily reflection booklets and other
materials as needed. We have a specific need for Spanish speaking chaplains who
can communicate with the growing number of Hispanic people. I will survey this
ministry so that we know who is serving at what facility and where opportunities
still remain.
I look forward to the challenge of putting this all together. I ask for your prayers for
those imprisoned, for all serving in this ministry and for your discernment of your
possible calling to this ministry. I can be reached at: [email protected]
May God continue to bless you and your ministry.
Deacon Tim Zinda
Prayer to St. Peregrine - Patron of Cancer Patients
Dear St. Peregrine,
I need your help. I feel so uncertain of my life right now. This
serious illness makes me long for a sign of God’s love. Help me to
imitate your enduring faith when you faced the ugliness of cancer
and surgery. Allow me to trust the Lord the way you did in this
moment of distress. I want to be cured, but right now I ask God for
the strength to bear the cross in my life. I see the power to proclaim
God’s presence in my life despite the hardship, anguish and fear I
now experience.
O, glorious St. Peregrine, be an inspiration to me and petitioner of
those needed graces from our loving God. Amen
A
nd the
king
will say to
them in reply,
‘Amen, I say
to you,
whatever you
did for one of
these least
brothers of
mine, you did
for me.’
Matthew 25:40
Page 4
To the Community
Archdiocesan Finance Council
Thank you sincerely for your
thoughtful kindness at a time when
it was deeply appreciated by the
family of Marie Stevenson.
To the Diaconate Community:
Thank you for the gift of flowers
and all of the prayers received at the
time of our mother’s death.
The Stevenson family
I wish to express my heart deep
gratitude to the members of the
diaconate community for their
support and prayers since
Carolyn's death. Knowing I have
your support and God's grace
resulting from your prayers has
truly helped during this difficult
time. Again, thank you and may
God bless you all abundantly.
Deacon Terry Moravec
Thank you for the messages and
prayers of support during my
recent bout of blood clots. My
recovery is progressing well.
May God Bless you.
Jim Bauhs
Deacon Bill Heiman
I was appointed by Archbishop John
Nienstedt to the Archdiocesan
Finance Council (AFC) in 2010 as
the permanent deacon member
representative of the AFC. My term
runs through 2015.
The purpose of the AFC is to be one
of a consultative council; similar in nature to the
Presbyteral Council. The AFC is required by the Code
of Canon Law for all dioceses, and as such was
established by the Archbishop for the purpose of
providing advice and consultation regarding important
acts of administration which may impact the financial
situation of the Archdiocese.
In addition, when required by canon law, we also
provide consultation and consent regarding acts of
extraordinary administration and the alienation of
ecclesiastical property (canons 1277 and 1292).
Finally, the AFC also reviews and approves the annual
budgets of income and expenditures for the
governance of the Archdiocese of St. Paul and
Minneapolis (Canon 493), as well as assisting the
Archbishop concerning such other matters as he may
designate from time to time.
In addition to the Deacon representative, the AFC is
composed of not less than 10 voting members from
our archdiocese, including a Priest representative (Fr.
John Ubel), 9 lay Catholic community representatives;
as well as the ex-officio membership of the Vicar
General/Moderator of the Curia and Chief Finance
Officer of the Archdiocese, . Archbishop John
Nienstedt, and Brian Wenger, (Chair of Briggs and
Morgan Professional Association) preside over the
Council.
If you have any questions about
the AFC feel free to contact me
at [email protected].
Bill
Page 5
Formation Director’s Update
Deacon Joe Michalak
Updates on The Institute for Diaconate Formation and on the National Scene
IDF Completes Aspirancy
Nine men and their wives have completed their aspirancy year and, upon review by the
Committee for Admissions and Scrutinies, have been recommended to be admitted as
Candidates in September. In addition to a great deal of spiritual and human formation in the
context of vocational discernment, the aspirancy year also includes a seven-session Catholic
Charities practicum over the course of two months. And there are two new major elements to
the aspirancy: individual virtue assessments with Prof. Gerald Rauch for the men (now also
being offered to the wives and to the Wives’ Formation Team beginning this summer), and participation in the
Sienna Institute’s “Called and Gifted” seminar to discern Holy Spirit-given individual charisms. The virtue
assessment is currently only offered to seminarians in Detroit and here in St. Paul-Mpls; we are the first
diaconate program in the United States to do the same. And we may be the first to offer the “Called and
Gifted.” The aspirants have called both “revolutionary” for their lives, and so we hope to offer these in due
course to deacons and wives as continuing formation.
NOTE: Admission to Candidacy will be with the 1st-year seminarians on Thursday, Sept. 27, at 7:00 pm.
National Directory Institute, June 24-29, Columbus, Ohio
Since 2005, the National Association of Diaconate Directors (NADD) has collaborated with the Pontifical
College Josephinum and the USCCB Committee on Clergy, Consecrated Life, and Vocations (CCLV) to
conduct an institute aimed at implementing the US Bishops’ National Directory on diaconate life and
formation. I’ve had the privilege of serving on the design committee for this National Directory Institute and
as faculty. This year, our Archdiocese is sending four men to the Institute. One requirement of the Institute is
successful completion of a year-long project to benefit or advance some aspect of one’s own diocese’s
diaconate formation program or community. Jim Bauhs will put forth a communications and PR model, both
for formation and within the community. Russ Kocemba will work on our vocations and inquiry and
application process. Larry Lawinger will aim at implementing the deacon mentor program. John Vomastek
will continue to refine the assignment process. Please support these men as they generously seek to serve us.
National Conferences—and Conference Coming to US in 2015!!!
Two years ago the NADD adopted a new approach to its annual conference whereby the Board of Directors
and a new Conference Committee would take greater ownership in pastorally guiding and practically
implementing the themes of the conference in light of wider Church initiatives, thus taking the main onus off a
local diocesan host committee. April’s 2012 conference “Verbum Domini: The Deacon as Servant of the
Word” aimed at renewing our grasp of what it means for the deacon to be a bearer of the Word; speakers
included Dr. Peter Williamson of Sacred Heart Seminary in Detroit, Dr. Scott Hahn, Professor Gerald Rauch,
Dr. Ed Hogan (now working with Archbishop Carlson in St. Louis), and yours truly. Next year’s conference
will take its lead from the upcoming synod on the New Evangelization: “The Deacon as Servant of the New
Evangelization.” Keynotes are Fr. Robert Barron and Dr. Ralph Martin. 2014 will be in Atlanta, theme yet to
be determined. And, happily, Archbishop Nienstedt has invited NADD to come to St. Paul-Mpls for the
April 2015 national conference. I currently serve as a theological consultant to the NADD committee, but
for 2015 will have to shift focus to implementing the conference as a whole in cooperation with the NADD
leadership. Our regional directors (Minnesota and the Dakotas) have already agreed to assist and to make
April 2015 also a regional deacons’ conference open to all deacons and wives. Thank you to Archbishop
Nienstedt and to the NADD for making this possible.
(Continued on page 6)
Page 6
Formation Director’s Update - continued
Deacon Joe Michalak
(Continued from page 5)
2018 National Diaconate Congress: The 50th Anniversary of Restoration of Diaconate
The US bishops have called for a national congress in July 2018 to celebrate the restoration of the permanent
diaconate in the United States in 1968 and to look forward to wherever it is that the Lord will lead us. The
NADD is charged with implementing the congress, and we anticipate that it will be the culmination of a
several-year-long study on the diaconate and will be accompanied by an academic symposium and other
events. The congress itself is open to all deacons and will be held in New Orleans, famous for its hospitality.
It’s not too early to mark your calendars…
First Permanent Deacons Ordained in Ireland
I recently had the privilege of preaching the pre-ordination retreat to the first men to be ordained permanent
deacons in all of Ireland(!). Not only was it a great honor, but it was an eye-opener as to the state of the
Church in Ireland: a suffering and wounded Church, yet not without profound hope. Eight men were
ordained, and numerous others are “in the pipeline.” All, of course, are trailblazers and will have their own
path of suffering. It also became readily apparent that our deacons and these men would get on terrifically
together—God-willing we will have an international exchange which will, of course, include an ample supply
of Guinness.
Deacon Joe assists Archbishop Diarmuid Martin of Dublin
The first permanent deacons in Irish history
Reminder! To Apply to the Institute for Diaconate Formation:
If you know anyone who is even remotely interested in applying to diaconate formation for 2013, get them
started NOW: they need to be registered in the Archbishop Harry J. Flynn Catechetical Institute for this
September, and they need to attend the next round of Diaconate Inquiry Sessions in October.
Contact Patty McQuillan at 651-962-6891 or [email protected]
2012 Diaconate Community Calendar
Page 7
June 21 - July 4 Fortnight for Freedom, See below
June 24-29
National Directory Institute, Columbus, Ohio
July 14
Widows-Day of Reflection - 8:00 am Mass Our Lady of Grace - Edina - See pg 2
Jul. 29 - Aug. 3 Aspirancy Immersion Week: Catholic Culture and the New Evangelization:
Immersion week at TBD (Open to ordained deacons until full)
Aug. 29 - Wed. Institute for Diaconate Formation Orientation to Candidacy 2012-2013
Sep. 8 - Sat.
Institute for Diaconate Formation Candidacy 2012-2013 classes begin
Sep 27 - Thu
Admission to Candidacy with seminarians at St Mary’s Chapel - SPS - 7:00pm
Oct. 23-24
Region VIII Directors’ Meetings, TBD
Oct. 3, 10, 17
Oct. 20
Diaconate Inquiry Session #1,2 & 3, Wednesday - 6:30-9:00 pm
#4 Saturday - 8:00 am - noon - St. Paul Seminary, Brady Education Center
Note: Inquirers should attend ALL FOUR sessions, with wives
Save
These
Nov 4 - Sun
Archbishop’s Open House
Nov. 9-11
Community Weekend, Buffalo
- 1:30pm
Dates
Late Breaking News—Blue Cloud Abbey to Close August 5, 2012
Blue Cloud Abbey is a special and sacred place to many Deacons and faithful in the Midwest. It is with
sadness that I share the news of the closing of the Abbey. Please check their website for more information.
Fortnight for Freedom Events in the Archdiocese
The U.S. Bishop’s Ad Hoc Committee on Religious Liberty has announced an upcoming Fortnight for
Freedom which will take place in dioceses throughout the United States June 21-July 4th. This Fortnight will
focus on our first, most cherished freedom: religious liberty. The bishops have asked that this two week period
be a time for prayer, study, catechesis and public action regarding the important issue of religious freedom. In
the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis, there are three events scheduled during the Fortnight to provide
Catholics and interested Americans the opportunity for formation on this critical issue, including current and
potential threats to religious liberty in United States. Find one below that works for you.
June 21: “Religious Liberty, Our Most Cherished Freedom,”
7-9 p.m. at Nativity of our Lord Parish in St. Paul.
June 27: Deceits and Conceits: “The False Conflict of Religious Freedom with Women’s Liberty,”
7-9 p.m. at the University of St. Thomas.
June 28: “Religious Liberty, Conscience Rights and Participation of Faith Communities in the Public
Square,” 8:30 a.m. - 5 p.m. at the University of St. Thomas School of Law. The final event is a
Continuing Legal Education Seminar for lawyers but is open to non-lawyers for a cost of $20,
which includes lunch.
More information about these events can be found on the Archdiocesan website or
the Minnesota Catholic Conference website. Hope to see you there!
Page 8
Deacon sees ‘overwhelming need’ in Ethiopia
Deacon Bill Heiman
It has been said that Ethiopians’ tolerance for suffering
would amaze even the hardest of hearts.
This saying was never more vivid to me than this past
June, when I had the opportunity to travel with 11 fellow
deacons and priests as a global fellow to Catholic Relief
Services aid sites throughout Ethiopia.
After traveling for nearly 20 hours, the first thing that
struck me as I left the Addis Ababa airport is that Ethiopia
is truly one of the world’s most populated countries. The
number of people is staggering. People are everywhere.
Seemingly everyone congregates around the airport —
arriving businessmen, returning mothers and children,
international aid workers, and 12 deacons and priests who
totally stood out as “ferenge” (foreigners).
A child in the village of Legedini, Dire Dawa, Eastern
As we cleared an intense security ring around the airport
Ethiopia, clings to her mother as they wait their turn to draw
complex, there were more porters and vendors than I have clean water from the village’s central water point.
ever experienced clamoring for my business.
Deacon Bill Heiman / For The Catholic Spirit
A businessman from the first class section of my flight
walked out to meet his SUV ride and another person from the economy class section was met by his donkey
cart ride at the same time we met our local CRS representatives.
Immediately we were all besieged by people begging for food, work or money. Never had I felt more
overwhelmed and distant from a place I was visiting than I did that evening.
And yet, as the CRS staff member greeted us with a hearty “salaam” (peace), there was a calming presence
that we were there for a greater purpose — to learn how to love and serve God through our ministry to all of
these people.
It occurred to each one of us that as overwhelmed as we felt by the number of people, the people who lived
there were overwhelmed much more by the lack of basic needs of food, shelter and clothing.
It became clear to us as CRS global fellows we were charged with somehow taking all of these events in and
then coming home to share that message with our fellow Catholics.
CRS provides life-saving aid
We learned that CRS has been working in Ethiopia since 1958. It is one of CRS’ largest country programs,
with 123 employees. In fact, CRS Ethiopia implements program activities in nine of Ethiopia’s 10 regions,
directly benefiting more than 589,000 Ethiopians without regard to religion or ethnicity.
We also learned that our visit would be severely complicated by the impending famine that Ethiopia was
facing. By working closely with local partners, including the Ethiopian Catholic Church, CRS leverages a
powerful network across the country that supports service delivery in both urban and rural areas. Key program
areas include water and sanitation, emergency preparedness, recovery and agriculture initiatives.
Keeping those goals in mind, we traveled to the far eastern region of Ethiopia (closet to Eretria and Somalia)
to learn how those programs created opportunities.
In the lowlands area of Dire Dawa, we saw firsthand young men learning a new trade — bee-keeping — to
help provide for their families and communities.
We also learned how important it was to a farmer and his village to receive an ox to help with tilling the rocky
soil (with a piece of metal attached to a broken tree branch serving as the plow).
We also visited the highlands area to observe a clean-water project.
Once women spent 80 percent of their day struggling to provide clean water for their families, but now they
(Continued on page 9)
Page 9
(Continued from page 8)
have a pipeline that brings mountain spring water to their village. In support of our brothers
and sisters in East Africa, we Catholics need to pray, learn, share the stories of those in need,
advocate on behalf of those who have no voice, and give of our gifts.
Deacon Bill Heiman works for Catholic Senior Services. He also serves at St. Mark and St.
Mary in Shakopee, St. Mary of the Purification in Marystown, and Shakopee Area Catholic
School and Faith Formation.
About Ethiopia
Ethiopia is landlocked in the Horn of Africa. The country is home to a dense population of 76 million people.
Its population is predicted to more than double by 2050.
This population growth spurt will move Ethiopia from the 15th most populous country in the world to the
ninth.
More than 75 percent of the population lives on less than $2 per day, and GDP per capita is just over $1,000.
Life expectancy at birth is an average of 56 years.
© Copyright 2012. Catholic Spirit. All rights reserved.
How good and how pleasant it is, when brothers - dwell together as one!
Hebrew - !‫ כאשר אחד האחים השבט יחד‬,‫ מה טוב ומה נעים הוא‬Psalm 133:1
Deacon Jim Bauhs
120+ Brothers and sisters in Christ gathered as one
community in a most pleasant evening of prayer,
worship to God, sacred music, wonderful food and
great fellowship. If a picture is worth a thousand
words and sung prayer counts double then it is easy
to understand that words cannot adequately convey
how beautiful and moving was the beginning of the
evening. Gathered in the beautiful St. Mary’s
Chapel Auxiliary Bishop Lee Piché presided at evening prayer with music led
by a schola from the Rose Ensemble.
God blessed our gathering with gorgeous weather and fantastic food served in
the Binz Refectory. Bishop Piché tested the assembly with our Hebrew
understanding basing his remarks on Psalm 133 (see title). He reiterated the
unwavering support from the Archbishop and himself of the Deacon community.
Deacon Rich Heineman presented an update on the activities
of the Deacon Council. The community received a brief report
from Deacon Joe Michalak on the Institute for Deacon
Formation, our current Aspirant class, God willing soon to be
Candidate class, and upcoming formation
opportunities. See his article on page 5 and
the calendar of events. Special thanks to
Patty McQuillan for her great job organizing
the evening and to the staff at Binz for a
great meal! We look forward to seeing you
at the Community weekend in November as
well as next year’s Community Dinner.
(May 10, 2013)
Religious
Page 10
Editor’s Corner
Liberty -
Deacon Jim Bauhs
Please, Please, Please send me your feedback on this newsletter.
I also welcome your ideas on future topics and articles.
What is of interest to you is very likely of interest to others.
Our Most
Next Publication - September 2012
Cherished
Your brother in Christ.
Freedom
Jim
USCCB
Contact Information

Diaconate Pastoral Support (available 24 x 7) - Penny Scherkenbach
[email protected]
651-398-4534

Director Of Clergy Services – Deacon John Vomastek
[email protected]
651-291-4428

Director of Institute for Diaconate Formation (IDF) – Deacon Joe Michalak
[email protected]
651-962-6876

Assistant to Director of IDF - Patty McQuillan
[email protected]
651-962-6891

President of Deacon Council – Deacon Rich Heineman
[email protected]
612-588-0715

Editor Deacon Newsletter – Deacon Jim Bauhs
[email protected]
952-388-9679