Summer 2008 Pope Benedict XVI visits NY April 19, 2008

The Executive Committee, Council of Permanent Deacons Director(s) Rev. James Teti, Director of Selection & Formation Deacons John J. McKenna, Personnel Director Joseph L. Mantineo James Tobin Pope Benedict XVI Celebrates Mass Bergen Joe Yandoli-Chmn. at St. Patrick’s Cathedral for NY- Al McLaughlin NJ-CT Priests, Deacons and Essex Bill McDermott Tom Bulgia Consecrated Religious

y by Deacons Joe Mantineo-Al McLaughlin e e t HudsonTom Barrett Marcelo David s

a “DEACONS ON TV” at St. Patricks. In the r n e Union Joe Caporaso Dan O’Neill upper right hand o J c Hispanic Luis Lorza corner is John a w i e McKenna. Behind

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a DeacoNews Editors Joe is Earle w m e Ed Campanella SFO Connelly and r N e Michael York Thomas Smith behind him Joe P f

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c Departed, since 2005 John McKenna is o

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f Edward Botts Victor Reyes next to him is John f c

r Philip Salerno Aart Markenstein Hogan. This photo was taken off a TV O A Ann Giordano Daniel McCarron screen. The timing is at the beginning of Janet Besida Raymond Sanderson the entrance procession and every one is Arthur Cauceglia Billee Kiley watching the Pope who has just passed by, Therese Mistretta Alberto Gomez John McKenna is right on the aisle and Andres Diaz-Rojas Rita McKnight could have touched him. What a Ruth Rice William J Toth moment!!! From Joe Mantineo Richard G. Byrnes Phyliss Simonelli Al McLaughlin writes: Although I was so Marcella Marchese grateful to receive the news that I was one of the few lucky ones to receive a ticket to Please also remember in your prayers all participate in the Pope’s Mass at St the ill and convalescing members of our Patrick’s Cathedral in New York, I was Diaconate family. May the Spirit of God, wondering if this Papal Eucharistic the healer of souls, bring His healing grace celebration would be as moving and as and peace upon the ailing, their families, emotional as the one I attended at Giant and all who care and minister to them. Stadium in (continued on page 2) DeacoNews Summer 2008 http://mywebpages.comcast.net/edcampy/ Archdiocese of Newark Popes Visit, continued from page A little after 9:00 the Cathedral shook one…by Deacon Al McLaughlin… as we heard the crowd from outside our great archdiocese. Like the early voicing their love and approval for the Apostles who were eagerly awaiting Pope and suddenly the doors that were for that First Pentecost and the power keeping us in and everyone else out of the Spirit to move them and guide opened and there was our spiritual them, I was waiting for the opportunity leader standing within our midst. St. to see and hear the Vicar of Christ. I Patrick’s erupted with a thunderous vividly recalled how charismatic his ovation and all of us were consumed predecessor was and I was hoping that by the spirit and person of Benedict Benedict’s message was going to light XVI. He walked to the sanctuary and a fire within me and the rest of the turned and waved to all us as if to say faithful here in America. On Friday thank you but it was we who were night, I deliberately went to sleep early (photo by Deacon Paul Kliauga) because I knew the next day would begin before sunrise. There was so (photo by Deacon Paul Kliauga) much excitement and anticipation He told us how he would never have running through my veins that sleep imagined that one day he would be the never had a chance to do its job! Successor of Peter with his faults and transgressions and yet here he was (photo by Deacon Paul Kliauga) through the power of God. Here was the leader of the Catholic Church asking us to continue to pray for him because he was a sinner in need of prayers. That was pretty humbling for me because if the man in white is a sinner, is there any hope for me? I can honestly say that this day will go down as one of the best days in my life. Like the thousands of people who thanking him for not only coming to have been touched by this intellectual, our great country but for being the true spiritual and pastoral leader, this pope and faithful follower and exemplar of will always have a special place in my Jesus the Christ. He spoke from the By 6:00 am, 150 of us boarded busses memory and heart! heart and he challenged us to bring the and left for New York. As we moved closer to St. Patrick’s we saw Light of Christ back into our parishes, homes, communities and places of thousands of people lining up on the Formation News where we work. I felt as if he was streets in hopes of getting a quick By Fr. James Teti, Director glimpse of the Bishop of Rome. Their sending us out just like the next day’s First Reading recalled when the The men of the class of 2011 are faith alone was enough to charge all of Apostles ordained Stephen and the finishing up the second semester of us who were traveling on those busses! the first year of studies. They are When I arrive at my seat, I couldn’t other deacons and sent them out into the world. He reminded us of who we believe that I was only 7 rows from the concluding courses on Christology were “working” for and could there altar and would be able to see and the Gospels. In pastoral everything. I looked around and in this ever be a greater boss! His deep and formation they are working on gathering of over 2,000 people it reverent manor in celebrating the Mass proclamation and some elements of added so much to the sanctity of the didn’t matter if you wore a miter, a preaching. From June 20-22 they crown or a veil on your head; it didn’t day. Benedict’s gentle smile and will attend their annual retreat at St. matter if your stole hung down over loving waves seemed to have touched and communicated with each Mary's Abbey retreat center in your shoulders or across your chest; individual person who had the honor Morristown. Msgr Timothy we were all one; all waiting to be Shugrue, former director of the nourished by the Successor of Peter of being there. At the end of the Mass before he gave us his blessing, he permanent diaconate in the and shortly after 9:00am time seems to thanked us for being there and praying Archdiocese of Newark, will be a have stood still! for him. keynote speaker. DeacoNews Summer 2008 http://mywebpages.comcast.net/edcampy/ Archdiocese of Newark A Tribute to the Celebrated Archdiocese of Newark to get The commissioning at the close of the involved in the National Black Mass is to go and make disciples. Rita Life of Rita McKnight Catholic Congress. She was the fire was in the disciple making business. that set our souls ablaze and propelled She prepared acolytes and altar Based on an our participation not only in the servers, Eucharistic Ministers. She article by National Black Catholic Congress but developed the ministry of hospitality Valerie D. as well in the annual parish workshops and bereavement to serve others truly Lewis-Mosley, for ministry in the African American adhering to Jesus' call to be of service. Christ the King Church Jersey Community. She was a prayer warrior even on her City She was the impetus in the youth own sick bed and she would call others and pray with them and for them. She participating in the Rites of Passage in worked as a support leader for others 2000 and 2001. Rita was the coordinator for the New Jersey battling breast cancer encouraging them every step of the way, even The life of Rita McKnight is also the Gathering of Black Catholic Women doing the breast cancer camp out and reflection of her life in Christ Jesus. that was held at Seton Hall University: walk when her own body was wracked Her steps were ordered in the Word of A call for the women to gather in God. Her faith walk was "Follow Me prayer and praise. with pain. She never stopped talking as I Follow Christ". So walk with me about Jesus. She challenged, as I take a short sojourn into the Rita was always there for those who confronted, and corrected all to walk celebrated life of Rita McKnight. were sick and in need of the Presbyter uprightly with the Lord. and prayer and anointing. She was an Christ the King parish of Jersey City, evangelist preparing the way of the Rita along with her husband Deacon Keith coordinated the evangelization New Jersey affectionately called her Lord. She was an evangelist carrying team of the parish of Christ the King. "the Deaconess". Just like Phoebe, she the message that help was on the way was on the road with Christ; teaching for those in need of help and that the She was instrumental in the 1998 revival led by Eat the Scroll Ministry. supporting, imploring, beseeching, and help was Jesus. carrying Christ to all who would She believed in the benefits of daily receive Him. Rita served as the The calls of condolences have come prayer through scripture – “lectio director for Rites of Christian from near and from far, Europe, divina”, liturgy of the hours and the Initiation for Adults. She carried Mexico, all across the United States, holy rosary; all which she did Christ to the sick and the infirmed as a Canada and from Africa and Asia. A faithfully everyday. She stood in Eucharistic Minister. universal response for one whose support of God's holy anointed and mission was universal for that is what ordained. She prepared other lay ministers to be it means to be truly Catholic. Rita was She was a liaison to the United States Extraordinary Ministers of Catholic in every sense of her being. Conference of Catholic Bishops. Rita Communion. She instructed couples in She was not what I call a supermarket Pre-Cana for the preparation of the Catholic like those who pick and chose has been acknowledged by her ministry with a Pontifical Citation. She sacrament of Matrimony, setting the which teachings of the church they was a good and faithful servant. Our example for sacramental marriage by will put into their shopping cart and the witness of her forty-one years as a which teachings and beliefs they will sister left no stone unturned when it devoted and virtuous wife to Deacon leave on the shelf. came to being a living stone for the Keith. cornerstone of her faith, Jesus. She My sister in Christ took on the full was just and righteous to the law of Rita studied with, supported and stood mantle of the One, True, Holy, God. beside her spouse Keith in his Catholic and Apostolic Church; the preparation as an ordained minister of First Christian Church of Jesus Christ In this walk of hers even in her suffering she stood upright. She was the Permanent Diaconate of the and she was not ashamed to preach with the full mantle of Christ, linking Catholic Church. Rita was always and teach the authentic unadulterated faithful to the ministry and to the scripture of Jesus Christ! It was like a her sufferings with that of Jesus. She did not complain, did not challenge mission of Jesus through the Diaconate fire burning in her bones! She could God, did not falter in faith but she kept and through her service to the National not help but to believe, to preach and Black Catholic Clergy Caucus. to teach. Her love was Jesus and He on walking with Christ. She did not waiver. She did not grow faint of heart was the center of her Life. Everything She was authentically Black and truly but soared up on eagles' wings. She she did was through him, with him and Catholic as proven by her witness in waited on the Lord. She PUSHed on; faith and her encouragement. She in him. She was a witness for Jesus Christ! that is she kept on Praying Until challenged the Black Catholics of the Something Happened. DeacoNews Summer 2008 http://mywebpages.comcast.net/edcampy/ Archdiocese of Newark

That something was being received Alleluia Alleluia Alleluia. All Praise and Glory Be to God in the name of Practical Homiletics into the arms of Glory. Even in by Deacon Mike York suffering and death she was faithful to Jesus! Rest in Peace my sister until we meet again. Amen God, church, faith, family and friends. This article will tell my secrets in She served God to her last breath, creating and delivering great praising Him by her witness. A Deacon Couple homilies…and I am going to share all She believed in prayer, she prayed by Jean Andrews of them. Now that I have your attention…the reality is that all my unceasingly. She never stopped There was something awesomely secrets are not mine at all, but the calling on the sweet name of Jesus. special about them that caught me and Even in her sickness she came held me in wonder of what made them compilation of many priests and faithfully to Mass daily praising God. beautifully holy. I looked at that pair deacons who willingly through direct communication or my observing and Like Anna the prophetess she could be of old grass stained sneakers, imitating them, revealed the essence found always in the temple praising permanently creased by the feet they God. This past Lent she formulated enclosed. Their heels were worn of delivering a “block-buster” homily, or at least trying my best to do so. weekly song and devotion for the unevenly so like an odometer Divine Mercy, teaching others about chronicling, registering the miles What I just described occurred over the unending mercy of God. She was a sometimes walked and sometimes run. the course of my entire life, not just in praying sister leaning on the I saw toes scuffed, one worn through the years of formation or after everlasting Arms. It was her body that which told tales of rocks and logs and ordination. Each of us has heard was sick and afflicted not her spirit broken pavements. thousands of homilies…maybe we and not her soul. didn’t pay attention or remember the My fingers touched a knotted lace, Rita even showed us how to die in now mended having yielded to a force content, but we sure observe delivery, technique, body language etc. We Christ. Her steps were ordered in the too strong, repaired caringly, quickly subconsciously assimilated what we word of God. The night that she as to not loose pace. Three tips of the passed into Glory I slipped off her aged grey laces were gone now baring thought was the best. As an example, rarely do I deliver a homily from the socks from her feet. I marveled at how raveled, frazzled ends while a portion ambo, but like to walk in front of the tiny her feet were. "So tiny a foot for of the fourth still clung to its own end, such giant footprints, footsteps so steadfastly struggling to cover what it congregation and be at their level, getting close and making eye contact. large that few would be able to fill once protected. them". The scripture says beautiful are I wouldn’t do it any other way. But, the feet that carry the word of God. The terry clothed insoles were that approach may not be for threadbare, perfumed by sweat with everyone… She was a mother and grandmother. A hints of dried blood from blistered feet mother whose greatest prayer was for they shod. Under-soles no longer Practical homiletics - I use the term not professing to say it’s original, but her son and grandchildren that they marked by clear patterned treads noted remember their faith for they knew quietly, really the pressure, the weight to reflect my experience. My exposure from whom you were taught! She on the feet with-in and the road taken. to prison ministry taught me that I presented her children to the temple of must deliver a very practical message, God encouraging them and raising Oh, Lord, let us two be like that old only one or two points that can be them in the ways of the Lord. pair of sneakers, belonging together, easily understood and immediately and one. Make us worthy to be worn applied. I always hope to not only The last months of her life she referred by You to go wherever You choose for give such, but to take away a practical to me and her angel when we came however long You choose. Slip your message from any homily. I must together to read daily scripture and to Divine Feet into us that we too can explain the theology in a way that pray. Little did she know that she was become wholly holy, a pair of old shows what it means in my life and the the wind beneath my wings, an sneakers. lives of those I am preaching too. example of true discipleship a virtuous What this says to me – a homily can’t women and good and faithful servant. Very Important be taken “off the shelf”, it’s got to be Always praying and always praising original. While it may comprehend If you change your e-mail address and "My being proclaims the Greatness of the same explanation of the Scriptures, the Lord, My Spirit Finds Joy, In God wish to continue to receive it does so always with the My Savior.” Let us follow her as she DeacoNews and other diaconate congregation in mind – how does it related e-mails, send follows Christ. For she truly loved the apply to them? Finally, every homily [email protected] your new e- Lord and the Name of Jesus was is entrusted to Mary, to be guided by sweetness to her lips! mail address. Please  her Spirit, the Holy Spirit!