Annual the Deacon Buyer's Guide

November/December 2020 Answers to Buyers guide Ecumenical Vol. 3, No. 3 unanswered prayer PAGE 21 mission PAGE 14 PAGE 59 TheDeacon Humility Season of

As God emptied himself into human nature, deacons must be similarly kenotic PAGE 18

$6.95 U.S. www.the-deacon.com GREAT BOOKS & FILMS ON FATIMA u FATIMA FOR TODAY e Urgent Marian Message of Hope Fr. Andrew Apostoli, CFR In this authoritative, up to date book,NEW! Fr. Apostoli, foremost Fatima expert, carefully analyzes the Marian apparitions, requests, and amazing miraclesFATIMA that took place in Fatima, and clears up lingering questions about their meaning. He challenges the reader to hear anew the call of Our Lady to p100rayer Questions and sacri and ce Answers in rep aboutaration the for sin and for the conversion of the world. 16 pages of photos.Marian Apparitions — Paul Senz he Blessed Virgin appeared six times Produced by the lmmakers of the acclaimed e 13th Day, this powerful documentary combines ATOP . . . Sewnin So1917 cover,to three $18.95shepherd FINDINGchildren in FATIMA — T experts to tell the whole story of Our Lady of Fatima. archival footage,the dramatic tiny village reenactments, of Fatima, Portugal.and original einterviews with Fatima FFFAM . . . 90 mins, $14.95 story and message of these apparitions have gripped the imagination of people all over the world, including simple believers, FATIMA FOR TODAY theologians, skeptics, scientists and popes. e Urgent Marian Message of Hope is book presents 100 of the most common FATIMA MYSTERIES questions, with detailed answers, to explore Fr. Andrew Apostoli, CFR the context of these apparitions and why the Mary's Message to the Modern Age n this authoritative, up to date book, requests of Our Lady are so important today Grzegorz Gorny and Janusz Rosikon IFr. Apostoli, foremost Fatima expert, lavishly illustrated, over-sized volume carefully analyzes the Marian apparitions, for the Church and the world. with glorious photographs and insights requests, and amazing miracles that took FHQAP . . . Sewn So cover, $14.95 Aon the whole story of the apparitions of Our place in Fatima, and clears up linger- Lady of Fatima in 1917, perhaps the most ing questions about their meaning. He NEW! important private revelations in Church challenges the reader to hear anew the history. A unique work on Fatima that pres- call of Our Lady to prayer and sacri ce in ents the bigger story in pictures and detailed reparation for sin and for the conversion of text of the historical events before, during the world. 16 pages of photos and a er Mary’s appearances. It underscores FATOP . . . Sewn So cover, $18.95 the serious nature of Our Lady’s requests for prayer and sacri ce for the conversion of the world and salvation of souls, probing the mysteries of Fatima and their continued relevance for our modern age. FATMH . . . 8 x 10 Hardcover, 400 pages, $34.95 "A masterpiece! e most comprehensive DVD FATIMA book ever on the Fatima apparitions.” he major new feature lm tells the — Fr. Donald Calloway, Author, dramatic true story of the apparitions Champions of the Rosary Tin 1917 of the Mother of God to three shepherd children in Fatima, Portugal. It DVD portrays the great challenges the children THE 13TH DAY encountered with family, government, and Stylistically beautiful and technically innovative, this acclaimed the Church to convince them of Our Lady’s movie on Fatima uses state-of-the-art digital effects to create appearances, and her urgent message to the stunning images of the visions and the nal miracle of the sun world for prayer, penance and conversion, that have never before been fully realized on screen. concluding with the spectacular Miracle of 13DM . . . 85 mins, $19.95 the Sun witnessed by over 70,000 people. DVD Endorsed by the Vatican and Fatima Shrine, FINDING FATIMA with original song by Andrea Bocelli. Produced by the lmmakers of the acclaimed e 13th Day, this powerful documentary FATIMM. . . DVD, 113 mins, $22.95 combines archival footage, dramatic reenactments, and original interviews with Fatima experts to tell the whole story of Our Lady of Fatima. FFAM. . . 90 mins. $14.95 www.ignatius.com

P.O. Box 1339, Ft. Collins, CO 80522 1-800-651-1531 GREAT BOOKS & FILMS DEACON TO DEACON ON FATIMA u FATIMA FOR TODAY e Urgent Marian Message of Hope By Deacon Dominic Cerrato Fr. Andrew Apostoli, CFR In this authoritative, up to date book,NEW! Fr. Apostoli, foremost Fatima expert, carefully analyzes the Marian apparitions, requests, and amazing miraclesFATIMA that took place in Fatima, and clears up lingering questions about their meaning. He challenges the reader to hear anew the call Challenging Long-Held Beliefs of Our Lady to p100rayer Questions and sacri and ce Answers in rep aboutaration the for sin and for the conversion of the world. 16 pages of photos.Marian Apparitions — Paul Senz he Blessed Virgin appeared six times Some assertions should be subjected to scrutiny Produced by the lmmakers of the acclaimed e 13th Day, this powerful documentary combines ATOP . . . Sewnin So1917 cover,to three $18.95shepherd FINDINGchildren in FATIMA — T experts to tell the whole story of Our Lady of Fatima. archival footage,the dramatic tiny village reenactments, of Fatima, Portugal.and original einterviews with Fatima FFFAM . . . 90 mins, $14.95 story and message of these apparitions Oftentimes, when an assertion is repeated long enough, it can it masks the deeper reality. Collins traces this diminished under- have gripped the imagination of people all attain, by the mere fact of its repetition, the status of a truth. As a standing to the 19th-century Lutheran deaconess movement, over the world, including simple believers, FATIMA FOR TODAY young boy growing up in the 1960s, my mother used to forbid me which interpreted the diaconate exclusively in terms of ministry, theologians, skeptics, scientists and popes. e Urgent Marian Message of Hope is book presents 100 of the most common from going swimming an hour after I ate for fear I would drown. and only certain kinds of ministry. This was picked up in Protes- FATIMA MYSTERIES Fr. Andrew Apostoli, CFR questions, with detailed answers, to explore This repeated assertion was grounded in the theory that, after we tant theological circles and influenced some of the post-Vatican Mary's Message to the Modern Age n this authoritative, up to date book, the context of these apparitions and why the eat, some of our blood is diverted to our gut leaving less blood in II authors. Unfortunately, this limited understanding remains the requests of Our Lady are so important today Grzegorz Gorny and Janusz Rosikon IFr. Apostoli, foremost Fatima expert, lavishly illustrated, over-sized volume carefully analyzes the Marian apparitions, our arms and legs. This lack of blood in our limbs, in turn, led to predominant perception, even among the clergy today, but, like for the Church and the world. with glorious photographs and insights requests, and amazing miracles that took cramping which, in the mind of nearly every responsible Ameri- eating before swimming, it contains only elements of the truth FHQAP . . . Sewn So cover, $14.95 A on the whole story of the apparitions of Our place in Fatima, and clears up linger- can mother, meant the premature death of their child. while hiding something more profound. Lady of Fatima in 1917, perhaps the most ing questions about their meaning. He Was this true? Well, it was true to my mother, and she was not Collins brilliantly emphasizes Christian service back where it NEW! important private revelations in Church challenges the reader to hear anew the history. A unique work on Fatima that pres- call of Our Lady to prayer and sacri ce in one to cross when the lives of her children were at stake. I mean, belongs, shifting the object of diakonia away from the thing being ents the bigger story in pictures and detailed reparation for sin and for the conversion of the theory was sound, but would it stand up to medical scruti- done, to a concrete expression of divine love. This is what it means text of the historical events before, during the world. 16 pages of photos ny? According to doctors at the Mayo Clinic, there is no scientific to be a minister of service, not simply a doer of good things, but an and a er Mary’s appearances. It underscores FATOP . . . Sewn So cover, $18.95 evidence that swimming after eating leads to drowning. Though envoy of God’s love in the service of which, good things are done. the serious nature of Our Lady’s requests for prayer and sacri ce for the conversion of the I never lost confidence in my mother’s care for me, she was func- The deacon’s service isn’t first and foremost to the people, but world and salvation of souls, probing the mys- tioning on the best theory of the time. New evidence, not avail- to God, and only in God, and with his grace, can the deacon truly teries of Fatima and their continued relevance able earlier, suggests that what was considered truth was only serve the people. Understood this way, the implication of Collins’ for our modern age. partially true. Yes, cramping can occur, but not to the intensity contribution moves Christian service away from a purely func- FATMH . . . 8 x 10 Hardcover, 400 pages, $34.95 and frequency that would result in drowning. tional work to a deeply relational encounter. Here, the deacon is "A masterpiece! e most comprehensive DVD Similarly, there are certain long-held assertions about the di- called to stand in-between God and the people as a divine ambas- FATIMA book ever on the Fatima apparitions.” he major new feature lm tells the — Fr. Donald Calloway, Author, aconate that should be subjected to scrutiny, such as the meaning sador and proclaim the Gospel, which is precisely what he does Tdramatic true story of the apparitions Champions of the Rosary of the term diakonos (service) as understood by the early Church. in the liturgy and pastoral ministry. This in-between, like Christ in 1917 of the Mother of God to three Some years ago, the Australian linguist John N. Collins con- himself, like the saint who intercedes for us, does not impede the shepherd children in Fatima, Portugal. It DVD ducted an extensive study on the diakon-word group in the people to God, but instead, facilitates it. portrays the great challenges the children THE 13TH DAY encountered with family, government, and Stylistically beautiful and technically innovative, this acclaimed Scriptures, the writings of the early Church Fathers, and the Perhaps it’s not fair to compare assertions about swimming the Church to convince them of Our Lady’s movie on Fatima uses state-of-the-art digital effects to create corresponding Greek-speaking world. In his 2009 book, “Diako- and eating with an assertion about the meaning of sacred eccle- appearances, and her urgent message to the stunning images of the visions and the nal miracle of the sun nia: Re-Interpreting the Ancient Sources” (Oxford Scholarship, sial service. They are, in fact, worlds apart. One thing is for sure, that have never before been fully realized on screen. world for prayer, penance and conversion, $45.95), Collins concludes that, in all of these sources, the term they both represent partial truths that mask deeper truths. By un- concluding with the spectacular Miracle of 13DM . . . 85 mins, $19.95 the Sun witnessed by over 70,000 people. DVD means envoy, emissary or messenger and, at least early on, had derstanding the whole truth, I can now go swimming after I eat Endorsed by the Vatican and Fatima Shrine, FINDING FATIMA little to do with care for the poor and needy — though this would and exercise my diaconate more effectively. TD with original song by Andrea Bocelli. Produced by the lmmakers of the acclaimed e 13th Day, this powerful documentary later develop. Instead, he maintains that Jesus’ diakonia is done FATIMM. . . DVD, 113 mins, $22.95 combines archival footage, dramatic reenactments, and original interviews with Fatima experts to tell the whole story of Our Lady of Fatima. FFAM. . . 90 mins. $14.95 out of compassion and love for others as an envoy of the Father. DEACON DOMINIC CERRATO, Ph.D., is editor of The Deacon and This understanding stands in stark contrast to the common director of diaconal formation for the Diocese of Joliet, Illinois. He is the www.ignatius.com notion of the deacon as a kind of spiritual handyman occupied founder of Diaconal Ministries, where he gives national presentations by corporal works of mercy. While there is a certain truth to this, and retreats to deacons and diaconal candidates. P.O. Box 1339, Ft. Collins, CO 80522 1-800-651-1531 www.the-deacon.com | Our Sunday Visitor 3 Serving deacons as they serve the Church contents November/December 2020 | Vol. 3 | No. 3 MINISTRY 10 Diakonia in Airports 47 By Deacon Joseph Krzanowski and Deacon Alfred Mitchell FAITH 14 Unanswered Prayer By Deacon Peter Lovrick ESSAY 18 Advent, Deacons and the Humility of God By Deacon William T. Ditewig, Ph.D. IN FOCUS 47 The Theodicy of Tobit By Deacon Daniel Lowery, Ph.D. PROFILE 54 Finding Truth and Justice By Deacon Steve Miller LEADERSHIP 56 Call to Pastoral Administration By Patti Maguire Armstrong CHRISTIAN UNITY 59 Catholics, Deacons and the Ecumenical Mission By Deacon Keith Fournier

DEPARTMENTS/COLUMNS

14 3 Deacon to Deacon 9 Your Feedback 64 Sacraments & Liturgy 6 In the Church 51 The Interior Life 65 The Deacon’s Wife 7 In the Diaconate 53 The Light of the East 66 Resources

Copyright © 2020, Our Sunday Visitor, Inc. The Deacon (USPS PE 735450) PUBLISHER | Scott P. Richert (ISSN 8750-7749) is published bimonthly by Our Sunday Visitor, Inc., 200 Noll Plaza, Huntington, IN 46750. Subscription rate in U.S. and Posses- EDITORIAL DIRECTOR | sions: one year, $39.95. Outside the U.S. (in U.S. dollars only): one year, Gretchen R. Crowe $50.95. For bulk rates, call 1-888-430-7512. Periodicals postage paid at EDITOR | Deacon Dominic Cerrato Huntington, IN 46750, and additional entry points. Postmaster: Send address changes to: The Deacon, P.O. Box 403, Congers, NY 10920-0403. ASSOCIATE EDITOR | Tim Johnson DESIGN | Amanda Falk EDITORIAL ADDRESS: The Deacon, Editorial Dept., 200 Noll Plaza, Hun- tington, IN 46750; Phone: 1-800-348-2440; E-mail: [email protected] CHIEF MARKETING OFFICER | Jim Weigert CIRCULATION ADDRESS: Circulation/Customer Service Department, PRODUCTION MANAGER | The Deacon, P.O. Box 403, Congers, New York 10920-0403; Phone: 1-888- Chris Rice 430-7512; M-F 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. E.T.; E-mail: [email protected] O S V, P ADVERTISING ADDRESS: The Deacon, Advertising Dept., 200 Noll Plaza, CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD | Huntington, IN 46750; Phone: 1-800-348-2440; E-mail: [email protected] Bishop Kevin C. Rhoades www.the-deacon.com

4 The Deacon November/December 2020

IN THE CHURCH

Nov. 26

Several retailers have announced that, Media CNS photo/Vatican in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, they will not be open this year on Thanks- giving Day, thus ending a trend over the past several years to begin Black Friday Pope Francis baptizes a baby in the Sistine Chapel. sales on the holiday. Vatican: Use of Modified Baptismal Formula Renders Sacrament Invalid Arbitrarily modified formulas used in baptisms are not valid, according to the Congregation for the Doctrine of Faith. That includes using the words, “We baptize you … ” rather than the prescribed, $250,000 “I baptize you in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” The CDF also said Aug. 6 that conferring the sacrament in the following manner, “In the The amount of money the Knights of name of the father and of the mother, of the godfather and of the godmother, of the Columbus is donating to relief efforts fol- grandparents, of the family members, of the friends, in the name of the community lowing a massive explosion in Beirut on we baptize you in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,” was Aug. 4. The explosion killed 181 people, also not valid. injured more than 6,000 and left 300,000 Vatican News reported that the CDF clarified that “the deliberate modification homeless. The governor of Beirut, Mar- of the sacramental formula was introduced to emphasize the communitarian signif- wan Abboud, estimates between $10 bil- icance of baptism, in order to express the participation of the family and of those lion and $15 billion in damages. Supreme present, and to avoid the idea of the concentration of a sacred power in the priest Knight Carl Anderson said: “The calamity to the detriment of the parents and the community that the formula in the Roman in Lebanon is a threat to the vital Chris- rite might seem to imply.” On the contrary, the note says, quoting the Second Vatican tian community there and threatens the Council’s Sacrosanctum Concilium, “when one baptizes it is really Christ himself who existence of Christianity throughout the baptizes … the Lord has the principal role in the event being celebrated.” Middle East. This desperate situation The doctrinal note recognized the roles of parents, godparents and the commu- must be addressed.” nity, but this, according to the conciliar text, requires that “each person, minister or layman, who has an office to perform, should do all of, but only, those parts which pertain to his office by the nature of the rite and the principles of liturgy” (Sacrosanc- tum Concilium, No. 28). The CDF asserted, “Modifying on one’s own initiative the form of the celebration of a sacrament does not constitute simply a liturgical abuse, like the transgression of a positive norm, but a vulnus [wound] inflicted upon the ecclesial communion and the 26% identifiability of Christ’s action, and in the most grave cases rendering invalid the sac- According to CARA’s recent report, rament itself, because the nature of the ministerial action requires the transmission “The Portrait of the Permanent Diacon- with fidelity of that which has been received.” ate: 2019-2020,” one in four permanent deacons (26%) works in “other parish November assembly of U.S. in Baltimore. The spring assembly was ministerial position.” bishops will meet virtually canceled out of concern for the health, Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the well-being and safety of the bishops. It bishops of the United States will host a was the first time in the history of the virtual gathering rather than in-person conference that a plenary conference meetings for their General Assembly was canceled.

6 The Deacon November/December 2020 IN THE DIACONATE

Diaconate Ordinations After the COVID-19 pandemic delayed and rescheduled many spring ordinations, dioceses took advantage of the loosened restrictions to ordain permanent deacons, some combined in an ordination ceremony with transitional deacons. Some of the ordinations include the following: Cardinal Joseph Tobin, Archbishop of Newark, ordained 22 permanent deacons for service in the Archdiocese of Newark on July 11. Archbishop Richard Smith of Edmon- ton, Canada, ordained four men as perma- Deacon Bradley Samuelson receives the Book of the Gospels from Bishop Michael Olson of Fort Worth, nent deacons for the archdiocese on Tues- Texas, during the ordination Mass of 24 permanent deacon candidates on Aug. 10 at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish in Keller, Texas. Juan Guajardo/North Texas Catholic day, July 21, at St. Joseph’s Basilica. Deacons Jeff Bond, Todd Burud, and Roger Scholbrock were ordained by Bish- op Donald J. Hying of Madison, Wisconsin, on July 26 at Immaculate Heart of Mary Church in Monona. Bishop Michael G. Duca of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, ordained six men to become deacons Aug. 8 at St. Joseph Cathe- dral. The deacons were the first to receive their intellectual formation at the Francis- can Missionaries of Our Lady University in Baton Rouge. Four men were ordained to the diaconate Aug. 9 at Christ the King Cathedral in the Diocese of Superior. Bishop Kevin Sweeney of Paterson, New Jersey, poses with the 14 men on Aug. 22 that he ordained as Archbishop Salvatore J. Cordileone of permanent deacons at the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist in Paterson. The men were the first class of San Francisco ordained nine deacons on permanent deacons ordained in the diocese since 2015. Courtesy photo Deacon Peter Cistaro Aug. 15 at a Mass held outdoors at St. Pius Church in Redwood City, California. Bishop Salvatore R. Matano of Roches- ter, New York, ordained five men, three as permanent deacons, at an Aug. 15 ordination at Sacred Heart Cathedral. The Archdiocese of Louisville ordained 18 permanent deacons on Aug. 29, joining 109 others who serve the Church as deacons. Bishop Edward B. Scharfenberger ordained eight permanent deacons,on Sept. 5 in the Cathedral of the Immaculate Con- On Aug. 22, Bishop Richard E. Pates, apostolic administrator of the Diocese of Joliet, ordained 16 men to ception in Albany, New York. the permanent diaconate. Courtesy photo

www.the-deacon.com | Our Sunday Visitor 7 Discover the Church’s treasures

When the Roman prefect asked St. Lawrence Founded by ordinary Catholics, Unbound to show him the treasures of the Church, helps connect people living in poverty the archdeacon took him to visit the in Latin America, Africa and Asia with generous city’s poor. “Behold the treasures of the sponsors in the U.S. Church,” he said. To learn more, call us at (800) 466-7672, email In the tradition of St. Lawrence, you us at [email protected] or go can introduce your community to some of to parishvisit.org. the Church’s treasures living today — the children, youth and elders waiting for a sponsor through Unbound.

parishvisit.org [email protected] (800) 466-7672 YOUR FEEDBACK What has the COVID pandemic taught you about being a deacon?

he COVID-19 pandemic has taught me that my ministry as a deacon can quickly

“Tchange. Shortly before the pandemic hit, I had a heart-valve replacement, followed by serious heart issues identifying me as a ‘person of high risk’ during the pandemic. When

the churches were closed, my pastor invited me to develop weekly reflections based on the weekly readings. These reflections are shared with the parish through email, Facebook and “ our website. When churches reopened on Pentecost, it was too risky for me to return to liturgical ministry. My main ministry has been sharing my thoughts and faith with others, a wonderful vocation, but certainly different than what I was doing at this time last year. — Deacon Russ O’Neill, Hartville, Ohio

“God will show us how we can serve “It has been an opportunity to dis- “We’ve discovered the pandemic if we ask for his help, pray about it and cover humility and service. My parish was likened to a leper, and every time think outside the box. I had to go vir- responsibilities include serving as the we sanitize our hands or wipe clean the tual to reach people. I conducted an wedding coordinator. I have formulat- pews after Mass, we cleanse the leper, email campaign with a St. Joseph no- ed the sanitation processes, making the COVID-19 pandemic. This visible vena to 110 men, and then 250 people changes as necessary. My ministry at act of cleansing restores the invisible with an Assumption novena. I’ll begin a Mass has included the distribution of grace brought forth by God’s merciful bi-weekly ‘Jesus Christ and The Eucha- Communion on the tongue.” love for us all.” rist’ email campaign to many this fall.” — Deacon Michael Hill — Deacon Bob Ortiz — Deacon John O’Maley Kansas City, Kansas Kansas City, Kansas Maineville, Ohio

he deacon, configured to Jesus in his human nature, can sit NEXT QUESTION: “Tvested in the congregation reflecting Jesus living among the“ people. Then, at the Gospel and Communion, when the divine per- f you had one piece son of Jesus is presented to the laity, the deacon goes up into the of advice for a newly sanctuary, makes that presentation and returns to the people. I — Deacon Gesualdo Schneider, Middlesex, Vermont ordained deacon, what would it be? “The constraints of dealing with “During this pandemic, our local the virus has reinforced for me a crit- food bank was struggling to meet the ical role of the deacon — acting as an increased need. A couple of phone individual minister of the church, en- calls and emails and an appeal via our You can offer your feedback gaging individuals and groups in the livestreamed Masses put our commu- (100 words or less) via community, bringing Christ-like service nity into action. Deacons are called to [email protected], or on and teaching. More important are our identify the need for Christ’s flock, call Facebook by searching encounters in the community, whether for action and [then] let the Holy Spirit “The Deacon.” Selected answers they be in person, by phone or Zoom.” work through his people.” to this question will appear — Deacon Steve Olson, Green- — Deacon Gary Mallaley in the January/February issue. ville, South Carolina Oak Park, California

www.the-deacon.com | Our Sunday Visitor 9 MINISTRY

Diakonia in Airports A presence to serve travelers and uplift spirits

By Deacon Joseph Krzanowski and Religious Presence neutral spot. At the same time, in many Deacon Alfred Mitchell Certainly, deacon-chaplains meet and ways that are often subtle, evangelization As a deacon who serves as a chaplain help distressed people in the setting of can take place. The evangelization of qui- at the Tampa-St. Petersburg Airport, I, an airport, but there are also many other et witness and of charity and compassion Deacon Joseph Krzanowski, am privileged forms of ministry and service. So often is real and effective. That kind of evange- to meet many people who have various people are genuinely glad to see a religious lization can and does take place through needs. presence in what can become the extreme- chaplaincies. I think back, for example, to a woman ly stressful situation of air travel. who was standing near the traveler’s aid They want a prayer or a blessing. Airport Chaplaincy window. They may need a word of encouragement. Airport chapels exist in many U.S. air- She was with her son who ports, although not all, and in was fast asleep. many parts of the world. The As we talked, it became The evangelization of quiet first airport chapel in the Unit- clear she was stranded in Tam- ed States was established by pa. Her son was playing soccer witness and of charity and Cardinal Richard Cushing at in Florida. Boston’s Logan International They were scheduled to fly compassion is real and effective. Airport in 1951. out of Orlando about 90 miles The National Conference away. of Catholic Airport Chaplains Their flight was canceled, and they Sometimes, people travel while in grief be- (NCCAC), headquartered at Chicago’s were directed to go to Tampa for another cause a loved one has died, and they look O’Hare International Airport, was estab- flight. for consolation. Frequently, an airport lished in 1986 by the U.S. Conference of That flight was canceled as well. She chaplain works not only with travelers but Catholic Bishops. had returned her rental car and had no with airport workers who need support It is a professional organization that money. and encouragement in their complex and exists to be a spiritual and theological re- I was able to direct her to connect with stressful positions. Sometimes, chaplains source whose purpose is to teach and wit- the right resources for food and support lead people to sacramental celebrations — ness to the word of God and to serve his and to get her to her final destination. I’ll for example, Mass celebrated in an airport people by fostering growth and renewal never forget what she said: “I was praying chapel or the Sacrament of Penance. through prayer, study and Christian ser- to God for help, and you [an airport chap- Airport chaplaincy cannot involve vice for airport personnel and travelers. lain] showed up.” proselytizing. Airports are public spaces, The NCCAC’s purpose is to provide sup- At that moment, I realized how grate- and there is a history of difficulty with port and intercommunication for all Cath- ful I was to have the opportunity to serve religious groups trying to recruit new be- olics performing pastoral ministry to air- God’s people on the move as a deacon. lievers in what must remain a religiously port workers and travelers.

10 The Deacon November/December 2020 Deacon Joe Krzanowski, a certified airport chaplain, visits with agents at the American Airlines Baggage Office prior to the pandemic. Courtesy archive photos Papal Support AIRPORT MINISTRY RESOURCES Pope Francis (and several of his pre- Considering airport diaconal ministry? Perhaps you might consider taking the decessors) have place a priority on airport initiative to invite your diocese to consider establishing this ministry if it does not chaplaincy as an outreach of the Church’s yet exist. mission. For more information, a good resource is the National Conference of Catholic Pope Francis recently relocated air- Airport Chaplains and their president, Father Michael Zaniolo, CAC, who serves at port-chaplaincy ministry within the newly O’Hare International Airport in Chicago. formed Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development. National Conference of Catholic Airport Chaplains Last year (June 10-13, 2019), the au- P.O. Box 66353 thors were privileged to join one of the pe- Chicago, IL 60666-0353 riodic meetings of Catholic airport chap- Phone: 773-686-2636 lains at the Vatican under the leadership Email: [email protected] of Cardinal Peter Turkson. Website: www.nccac.us This was the 17th International Semi- nar Dedicated to Civil Aviation Chaplains Another helpful resource from the NCCAC for understanding and launching this and Pastoral Agents. ministry is available in the book “Airport Chaplaincy: A Catholic Handbook” (The In addition to several presentations National Conference of Catholic Airport Chaplains, $11.95). and an opportunity for chaplains to share

www.the-deacon.com | Our Sunday Visitor 11 BOOKS TO Support Your Ministry

PATRONESS OF TRAVELERS NEW FROM DEACON EDDIE ENSLEY NEW FROM DEACON ED SHOENER Our Lady of Loreto is AND DEACON ROBERT HERRMANN AND JOHN P. DOLAN the patroness of air travelers. More than a dozen leading Do you want more joy in life? mental health practitioners, Our Lady of Loreto, Make room for a daily encounter Catholic theologians, and pray for us and for all with the Lord. pastoral care experts share who travel. In Pause in Wonder,, EddieEddie how best to respond to suicide Ensley recounts stories from his as leaders in parishes, schools, own spiritual journey as a Native healthcare systems, and other American and a Catholic deacon Church settings. Responding to to show how you can experience Suicide offers a cross-disciplinary joy even in the most difﬁ cult approach that provides basic circumstances. Simple, spiritually information about the central sound prayer practices—based on role of mental health in suicide scripture and tradition—heighten and clariﬁ es Church teaching your sense of wonder and bring about suicide, funerals and you greater joy in everyday life. burials for those who have died 160 pages, $15.95 by suicide, and their afterlife. Deacon Joe talks with an airport representative at the Tampa International Airport in pre-COVID-19 times. Courtesy archive photo 224 pages, $18.95

experiences, the pope met with the group day, that single hour of transit, is unique “Find great joy.” “A revelation.” and offered enlightening and encouraging and unrepeatable. You are creative in find- —Gary Zimak —Deacon Greg Kandra words. ing constantly new ways to show pastoral Catholic speaker, radio host, and author of Give Up Worry for Lent! Journalist and blogger at The Deacon’s Bench Pope Francis told the assembled charity to all, whether managers, employ- chaplains: “Millions of people of different ees or passengers. Your witness, and the nationalities, cultures, religions and lan- message you communicate in that partic- guages daily cross paths with one another. ular moment, can leave a lifelong impres- Each has his or her own story, known only sion. Availability is itself a powerful form to God, with its joys and sorrows, its hopes of witness.” and troubles. In this setting, you are called We left the meeting in Rome renewed to bring the message and presence of and enthusiastic for serving as dea- Christ, who alone knows what lies hidden con-chaplains in an airport setting. TD in the heart of each person, and to bring to everyone, whether Christian or not, the DEACON JOSEPH KRZANOWSKI, Ph.D., Good News of God’s tender love, hope and Tampa International Airport, and DEACON peace. How much peace can be sown with ALFRED MITCHELL, Hartsfield-Jackson A Feast Sex and the Christ in the Storm Oremus just a sign, a word, a look!” Atlanta International Airport, are both for Hungry Souls Spiritual Life An Extraordinary Blessing A Treasury Pope Francis added: “In airports, yours certified airport chaplains with the National Spiritual Lessons Reclaiming Integrity, for a Suffering World of Latin Prayers is primarily a presence of availability. You Conference of Catholic Airport Chaplains. from the Church’s Greatest Wholeness, and Intimacy POPE FRANCIS with English Masters and Mystics EDITED BY 104 pages, $19.95 Translations represent God’s ever-present love in an en- Deacon Krzanowski is professor emeritus at SUSAN MUTO PATRICIA COONEY HATHAWAY (Hardcover) 224 pages, $15.95 vironment crowded with people at work the College of Medicine, University of South 384 pages, $24.95 224 pages, $18.95 or traveling for a variety of reasons. ... You Florida, Tampa, and Deacon Mitchell is direc- are present in their midst to offer, respect- tor of storytelling, retreats and seminars, and fully and discreetly, a chance for them to director of deacon personnel in the Archdio- encounter the ‘now’ of God. For that one cese of Atlanta. Look for these titles wherever books and eBooks are sold. Visit avemariapress.com for more information. 12 The Deacon November/December 2020 BOOKS TO Support Your Ministry

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More than a dozen leading Do you want more joy in life? mental health practitioners, Make room for a daily encounter Catholic theologians, and with the Lord. pastoral care experts share In Pause in Wonder,, EddieEddie how best to respond to suicide Ensley recounts stories from his as leaders in parishes, schools, own spiritual journey as a Native healthcare systems, and other American and a Catholic deacon Church settings. Responding to to show how you can experience Suicide offers a cross-disciplinary joy even in the most difﬁ cult approach that provides basic circumstances. Simple, spiritually information about the central sound prayer practices—based on role of mental health in suicide scripture and tradition—heighten and clariﬁ es Church teaching your sense of wonder and bring about suicide, funerals and you greater joy in everyday life. burials for those who have died 160 pages, $15.95 by suicide, and their afterlife. 224 pages, $18.95 “Find great joy.” “A revelation.” —Gary Zimak —Deacon Greg Kandra Catholic speaker, radio host, and author of Give Up Worry for Lent! Journalist and blogger at The Deacon’s Bench

A Feast Sex and the Christ in the Storm Oremus for Hungry Souls Spiritual Life An Extraordinary Blessing A Treasury Spiritual Lessons Reclaiming Integrity, for a Suffering World of Latin Prayers from the Church’s Greatest Wholeness, and Intimacy POPE FRANCIS with English Masters and Mystics EDITED BY 104 pages, $19.95 Translations SUSAN MUTO PATRICIA COONEY HATHAWAY (Hardcover) 224 pages, $15.95 384 pages, $24.95 224 pages, $18.95

Look for these titles wherever books and eBooks are sold. Visit avemariapress.com for more information. FAITH

Preaching the Unanswered Prayer Scripture presents a framework for three responses to prayer

By Deacon Peter Lovrick deck of the rescue ship Carpathia in the Deacons, as ministers of the Word, are A religion editor of a prestigious U.S. movie “Titanic” declares: “No God. God also preachers. When the Sunday readings newspaper addressed an ecumenical went down with the Titanic.” declare, “Ask anything and it will be grant- preaching conference some years ago. The religion editor pleaded with the ed to you,” or, “Say to this mountain and it She told the assorted priests, deacons assembled preachers to preach about un- will be moved,” they owe the listeners an and pastors that one of the biggest rea- answered prayer. The people need to hear articulation of naturally arising questions, sons that people reported for their own something more than stock responses, bewilderment and doubt with which they loss of faith was unanswered prayer. Many facile reasoning or broad labels like, “It’s a wrestle. As a minister of the Word, the dea- had given faith a shot, but then a crisis, a mystery.” Their faith is at stake. She laid the con’s best bet is to start with Scripture. need, crashed into their lives. They report- problem out on the table and ended her What does Scripture tell us? On the ed that, at first, they took Scripture at its address without any solutions. We were one hand, it declares that God has mastery word and stuck it out. They over nature. The power of God prayed and they prayed, but split the Red Sea in the Jew- nothing came of it. They were Instead of taking an unanswered ish Scriptures and calmed the left alone in their troubles; storm in the Christian Scrip- the worst happened. Finally, prayer as a reason to stop tures. The disciples declare in they just let go and abandoned awe that even the wind and faith altogether, giving up on praying, take it as a reason sea obey him. the existence of God. The Jewish Scriptures also The new atheists, like to pray all the more. tell us that God can send nat- Christopher Hitchens, look ural catastrophes. He caused at these experiences of un- a flood to wipe out the whole answered prayer as validation for what the preachers, after all. What were we go- world except for one family and later they see as their own hard-nosed, realistic ing to say, not just in the face of obstinate rained fire to blot out Sodom and Gomor- take on the world. They point out horrible unbelief, but in the face of what seems like rah. things in nature like organisms whose sole the empty promises of Scripture? On the other hand, the Christian purpose is to cause suffering, and to nat- Scriptures show that even though he has ural disasters, which ravage people, even Start with Scripture the power to send disaster upon the wick- those who are ardent pray-ers. They ask, Deacons, as ministers of charity, see a ed, the tower of Siloam falls on ordinary “What is up with that?” Their answer says large wedge of misery. They cannot avoid people anyway. In other words, although that God does not answer prayer because the question of unanswered prayer in their natural catastrophe can be a punishment, there is no God at all. As the woman on the ministries to the sick and the suffering. it is not necessarily so. Neither has God

14 The Deacon November/December 2020 AdobeStock decreed that no disasters will occur. Scrip- ture records natural disasters, famines, O Lord, how long will you look on? disease and war as ugly parts of human Restore my soul from their destruction, experience. my very life from lions! The man was born blind not, Scripture Then I will thank you in the great assembly; tells us, because of his sins or the sins of I will praise you before the mighty throng. his parents. The critical thing in the Gos- Do not let lying foes rejoice over me, pel is that God used it for his glory. my undeserved enemies wink knowingly. God cures disease in the Jewish Scrip- They speak no words of peace, tures when Naaman the Syrian emerges but against the quiet in the land from the Jordan cleansed of his leprosy af- they fashion deceitful speech. ter reluctantly listening to the prophet El- They open wide their mouths against me. isha. Jesus cures nine lepers in the Jewish They say, “Aha! Good! Scriptures, commending the one in partic- Our eyes have seen it!” ular who returned to give him thanks. You see this, LORD; Luke tells us that all who came to him do not be silent; at Simon’s mother-in-law’s house in Caper- Lord, do not withdraw from me. naum were cured. Yet, while some leprosy Awake, be vigilant in my defense, and blindness were cured, not everyone in in my cause, my God and my Lord. Judea was cured. Scripture explicitly tells Defend me because you are just, LORD; us that Jesus worked no miracles in his my God, do not let them rejoice over me. hometown. Do not let them say in their hearts, “Aha! Our soul!” What to Make of It All Do not let them say, So, what is a deacon to make of all “We have devoured that one!” this? How does he prepare to tackle this Put to shame and confound in his preaching? The first thing is to note all who relish my misfortune.

that Scripture itself declares that we can- Psalm 35:17-28 Clothe with shame and disgrace not with any certainty pontificate on the those who lord it over me. meaning of any disaster or suffering in But let those who favor my just cause which someone prays. Several years ago, shout for joy and be glad. after the horrendous damage of Hurricane May they ever say, “Exalted be the LORD Katrina in New Orleans, I heard not a few who delights in the peace of his loyal servant.” people presumptuously declaring that Ka- Then my tongue shall recount your justice, trina means “pure” and thus this was God’s declare your praise, all the day long. judgment — his cleansing out of the “cess- pool” of New Orleans. To that, the deacon’s response must surely be Our Lord’s declaration on the tower of Siloam. But granted that we cannot presume to give meaning to trouble, what does the deacon say about God’s response to our prayer when we encounter it? He can observe that Scripture presents woman with the hemorrhage touches the child, and despite her laughter over the us with three answers to prayer. The first fringe of Jesus’ garments and is immedi- idea, she does, in God’s time. Jesus tells the is instantaneous. The Hebrews bitten by ately whole. lepers to go to the Temple, and they are poisonous snakes need only look at Moses’ The second answer happens over time. healed, not in front of him, but along the bronze serpent and they are healed. The God promises Sarah that she will bear a way. The blind man recovers his sight only

www.the-deacon.com | Our Sunday Visitor 15 AdobeStock

after he goes away and washes his eyes in ing that it, too, will become a prayer of mercy on me, a sinner.” the pool. thanksgiving, deeply felt because of the The deacon can call, encourage and The third is a refusal. Jesus prays persistence of our supplication. exhort his listeners to do the same. Having that the Father take away the cup, but he It might be that we do not receive what come before him acknowledging our pow- doesn’t. Paul asks that God remove the we pray for yet will receive extraordinary erlessness, we are encouraged to persevere thorn from his side, but he won’t. Howev- grace. Praying in every situation means in prayer. He can remind the congregation er, Scripture tells us something important that we have invited God in. The situation that Jesus tells us not to give up on prayer, about these denials. The answer is not is immediately changed. We are not alone to be instead like the widow persistently simply “no.” The Evangelist tells us that the in our problem. Emmanuel, God is with knocking on the judge’s door. Instead of Father then sends ministering angels to Je- us, even if we do not understand why God taking an unanswered prayer as a reason sus. If Jesus was to suffer and die, there was does not give exactly as we asked when we to stop praying, take it as a reason to pray resurrection on the other side of that pain. asked for it. all the more. God tells Paul that although he will not Even then, the deacon can preach, we The psalms continually entreat the remove the thorn, he will give him grace do receive his presence, his grace. It may Lord to show up, if not immediately, then that is sufficient, extraordinary grace that well be that we cannot quantify it at the in his own good time. We pray in this way made Paul the great apostle that he was. time, but his grace is sufficient, it does because above all we pray with hope, nev- make a difference, and something marvel- er giving up or giving in to the darkness Framework ous is happening. Prayer means that the — or to a voice that whispers that there is Deacons obtain from Scripture a worst is not left to be the worst. nothing there, that nothing will happen. framework for their answer to the question God’s actions in our disordered lives, Rather, the deacon declares that God of unanswered prayer. They do not have disordered relationships, and in a disor- is there, and his grace is happening when the whole story, but they do know that dered world, transform. The deacon can we invite him into our lives. Prayer always prayer always makes a difference. That is draw upon his experience of service, of makes a difference. The answer to un- what they can preach with confidence. It what he sees in his ministry, for concrete answered prayer is a prayer: “Lord Jesus might be that we receive what we pray for examples of all these answers to prayer. Christ, son of the Living God, have mercy right away, and hence our prayer of suppli- That experience informs his preaching to on me, a sinner.” TD cation turns into a prayer of thanksgiving. make actual promises of Scripture. It might be that we receive what we Scripture tells us to come before God DEACON PETER LOVRICK holds a doctorate pray for at a later time according to God’s empty-handed. The tax collector does not of ministry from Aquinas Institute of Theology own purposes. In that case, we are called even dare to raise his eyes to heaven, but in St. Louis. He is professor of homiletics at St. to persistent prayer, prayer that does not like those who came to Jesus for healing Augustine’s Seminary in Toronto, Canada, as give up, but grows in confidence, know- called out of their poverty, “Lord, have well as the director of diaconate formation.

16 The Deacon November/December 2020

ESSAY IGNITE CREATIVITY Advent, Deacons and & INNOVATION IN the Humility of God Ordained into the servanthood of Christ, YOUR PARISH we must be similarly kenotic A series for inspiration, creativity, and innovation in ministry and evangelization, influenced by powerful talks from prominent Catholic leaders. By Deacon William T. Ditewig, Ph.D. form of God, did not regard equality with God is always about pouring forth: God The themes of Advent come to us ev- God as something to be grasped. Rather, brings life; sustains and provides; heals, ery year and find us in a different place. he emptied himself, taking the form of restores, and saves — all so we can share Just think back to last year’s Advent when a slave, coming in human likeness; and that life with God forever. The Son of God OSVTALKS.COM most of us had never heard of COVID-19. found human in appearance, he humbled tells us often that he came not to be served This year, Advent and its themes resound himself, becoming obedient to death, even but to serve: again, this reflects the humil- in new ways. Not only is the world differ- death on a cross” (Phil 2:3-8). ity of God. ent this year, we ourselves are different. Humility (from the Latin humus, What does that mean to us deacons This fact is true every year, of course, but “earth”) means being “grounded,” knowing during this year’s Advent? First, the Son of for most of us never in such a God teaches us that humility dramatic way. means not clinging to things, Advent focuses our atten- things that might even be ours tion on the humility of God. In short, whatever skills, strengths by right. Therefore, for us who We don’t often think of God as and gifts we may have, through are baptized into the life of humble, but consider it close- the Trinity and ordained into ly. Think of what our God has the grace of God, are to be used for the servanthood of Christ, we done. We sing during Advent must be similarly kenotic: no “O Come, O Come, Emmanu- the good of others. Gifts received honor, glory, reputation, sta- el!” Our God is not only with tus. us, our God has emptied him- are gifts to be re-gifted to others. self into our human nature. Connectedness St. Paul reminds us to But why did Christ pour imitate Christ and to “do nothing out of who we are, with no illusions of grandeur himself out like that? To what end? And selfishness or out of vainglory; rather, at one end or a false, groveling humility at why should we? humbly regard others as more important the other. Humility means being in rela- Christ emptied himself so as to use than yourselves, each looking out not for tionship with “the other”; as St. Paul said that humanness to connect with us, to his own interests, but [also] everyone for to the Philippians, we are to see others as have human hands to touch us and heal us, those of others. Have among yourselves more important than ourselves and tend human eyes to see us, even a human heart SR. JOSEPHINE GARRETT the same attitude that is also yours in to others’ needs before our own. This, too, to burn with love for us. He uses that emp- OSV TALK: Daily Bread Discernment Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the is a participation in the humility of God. tiness to elevate us, to fill us with his own

18 The Deacon November/December 2020 IGNITE CREATIVITY & INNOVATION IN YOUR PARISH A series for inspiration, creativity, and innovation in ministry and evangelization, influenced by powerful talks from prominent Catholic leaders. OSVTALKS.COM

SR. JOSEPHINE GARRETT OSV TALK: Daily Bread Discernment 2020 AdobeStock mercy and compassion. He shows us how rent pandemic and other crises that we is in the Manger: Reflections on Advent we, even in our own human weakness, can face today. What will best give comfort to and Christmas” (Westminster John Knox lift up others and bless them. Those who God’s people? What do we “have” that can Press, $16): “Who among us will celebrate have strength give that strength to those be given for the comfort of others? Christmas correctly? Whoever finally lays who are weak. Those who have resources The third week of Advent focuses on down all power, all honor, all reputation, can raise others out of poverty. In short, John the Baptizer. Everything John did, all vanity, all arrogance, all individualism whatever skills, strengths and gifts we may even before his birth, pointed the way to beside the manger; whoever remains low- have, through the grace of God, are to be Christ. His life and ministry was all about ly and lets God alone be high; whoever used for the good of others. Gifts received the One who would come after him. What looks at the child in the manger and sees are gifts to be re-gifted to others. a sublime act of humility: to constantly the glory of God precisely in his lowliness. The first week of Advent calls us to be point away from oneself to highlight the ... In total reality, he comes in the form of on watch, to be alert to the actions of God. Word of God! We are to do no less. John the beggar, of the dissolute human child We watch for God’s presence in our lives humbly surrendered his own ambition, in ragged clothes, asking for help. He con- and in the lives of our people. Our God is family, even his very life to make sure fronts you in every person that you meet. coming to us and does so not with trum- Christ was proclaimed to the people. As long as there are people, Christ will pet blasts and military parades welcoming Finally, the fourth week of Advent of- walk the earth as your neighbor, as the one the conquering hero; we must be alert to fers us the chance to encounter the hum- through whom God calls you, speaks to God’s coming in a manger, in the power- ble young woman of Nazareth, Mary, as you, makes demands on you.” less form of an infant. Around us are peo- she receives the news about God’s plan. What would our Church look like if ple who are themselves struggling due to The great mystery of the Annunciation every member, from the newest neophyte depression, illness or loneliness. What can is that she could have said no! Salvation to the pope, from bishop to novice, from we pour out for them? history hinged on that wonderful, humble cardinal to deacon, from curial prefect to The second week of Advent calls us fiat. Mary holds nothing back and pours parish staff volunteer, laid down “all pow- to prepare the way of the Lord, and the everything she is into accepting that di- er, honor, reputation, vanity, arrogance, first reading from Isaiah begins, “Com- vine Will. Through her humility, the hum- individualism”? What if each and every fort, give comfort to my people, says your ble Christ comes to us. member of the Church lived out St. Paul’s God. Speak tenderly to Jerusalem.” Only admonition to live “in humility, treating when this is done do we “make straight in God of Lowliness others as better than yourself ”? TD The 3rd Annual the wasteland a highway for our God!” by Throughout Advent 2020, may we con- filling in the valleys and bringing low the sider the humility of God. The disciple of DEACON WILLIAM T. DITEWIG, Ph.D., is a mountains. We are to give away, to pour Christ seeks to follow the Lord’s path, and deacon of the Archdiocese of Washington, a out comfort to our sisters and brothers. this demands no less a kenosis on our retired Navy commander and past executive BUYER’S GUIDE The approaching holy days were challeng- part as deacons. In his reflections on Ad- director of the Secretariat for the Diaconate at Your Yearly Guide For Parish Related Products and Services ing to many people even before the cur- vent, Dietrich Bonhoeffer wrote in “God the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.

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Receive the Gospel of Christ whose herald you have become. Believe what you read, teach what you believe, and practice what you teach. The Theodicy of Tobit ese are the words a newly ordained deacon hears from his bishop as the Book Ministering and accompanying those who suffer of the Gospels is placed in his hands. It is a solemn but joyous moment in which the deacon is called to a lifelong pursuit of the spiritual life. e foundation of the diaconate is intimate communion with Christ the Servant. is communion originates and deepens in the interior life, and it is here, through prayer and meditation, where he Bridgeman Images truly discovers God on a personal level and, at the same time, discovers himself in a more profound way. In Encountering Christ the Servant: A Spirituality of the Diaconate, Deacon Dominic Cerrato, PhD, oﬀ ers deacons and deacon candidates an integrated approach to diaconal life and ministry, rooted in the cultivation of the interior life. In this study, Deacon Dominic outlines the primacy of the interior life, the necessity of abandonment, the Servant Mysteries, and living the Servant Mysteries. “Tobias and the Angel,” c.1530, by Savoldo Giovanni Girolamo. / Italian and the Angel,” c.1530, by Savoldo Giovanni Girolamo. “Tobias Entering into a new and more intimate By Deacon Daniel Lowery, Ph.D. sistent suffering. Think, for instance, of the We can be rendered speechless in the relationship with Christ the Servant will “Why do bad things happen to good family that has lost a child as a result of a face of great suffering and yet feel com- people?” This perennial question cries car accident, a drug overdose or suicide. pelled, nonetheless, to say something. All open deacons and deacon candidates to for an answer, an explanation of some Think, too, of those who are imprisoned, too often, our words can be unhelpful or their true identity, and their mission, as kind, a theodicy. How can an all-knowing, chronically jobless or marginalized by im- even harmful: “I know how you feel.” “God heralds of the Gospel of Christ. all-powerful and all-good God permit suf- migration status. Finally, think of those has a plan.” “God will provide blessings in fering? who find themselves in the proverbial pit your life that will compensate for this mo- This is a particular challenge for dea- of declining health, mental illness or lone- ment of pain.” “You have been invited to cons who encounter others who have ex- liness. Providing hope for those who stand share in the Paschal Mystery of Christ.” As perienced tragedies of one kind or another on the precipice of hopelessness can prove well-intended as these and other such ex- OrderOSV.com as well as those who are burdened by per- a daunting task. pressions might be, they are only margin- Bulk discounts available. www.the-deacon.com | Our Sunday Visitor 47 IN FOCUS

ally better than the answer implied in the Job, a text that focuses thematically on the fering say about God? How does the Book question posed by Jesus’ disciples: “Rabbi, problem of undeserved suffering, can be of Tobit recommend that those who are who sinned, this man or his parents, that problematic. God is baited by Satan into suffering proceed? And what does the text he was born blind?” (Jn 9:2). using Job to prove a point; in the end, Job say about our ministry to those who suf- Given this, we would do well to think is subjected, not to comfort, but to a rant fer? clearly about suffering, if for no other of truly biblical proportions. It’s no won- The setting of the story is Assyria. The reason than to not find ourselves inton- der that we struggle with the problem of extended family featured are devout Jews ing empty platitudes to those who need suffering. who have been deported to Nineveh fol- something more. We can turn to Scripture, lowing the collapse of the northern king- of course, but the Old Testament, in par- The Book of Tobit dom of Israel in 721 B.C. ticular, can prove unhelpful in some situ- There is another source in the Jewish We learn that two distant relatives ations. Scriptures, however, that may be more are suffering greatly, so much so that they The Deuteronomist tradition in the helpful. The Book of Tobit is a relatively both pray for death. An older man, Tobit, Old Testament associated suffering with late addition to the canon, having been is blinded by bird droppings while dozing sin, hence the disciples’ question concern- written, most likely, some 200 years before against a courtyard wall. Meanwhile, in a ing the man born blind. In this view, good the birth of Jesus. It is a novella of sorts, a far-off city, Tobit’s young cousin, Sarah, is things happen to good people and bad compelling story about an extended fami- tormented by a wicked demon, Asmodeus, things happen to bad people. That’s just ly that experiences great suffering. who brings sudden death to seven men the way it is. God even punishes the “third It’s a simple story that reveals, none- betrothed, in turn, to Sarah, all on their re- and fourth generation” (cf. Dt 5:9). theless, a sophisticated theodicy. Follow- spective wedding nights. God goes even further. He “hardens” ing a brief synopsis of the Book of Tobit, Now destitute, the blind Tobit dis- pharaoh’s heart in the Book of Exodus and, four questions will be addressed in turn: patches his son Tobiah to secure funds elsewhere in the Jewish Scriptures, the What does the text say about suffering? long safeguarded by a relative in a distant hearts of whole peoples. Even the Book of What does the existence of profound suf- place. The journey is a hazardous one, and Tobiah doesn’t know the way. A stranger named Raphael is then introduced. He THE LORD HEARS OUR LAMENTATIONS offers to guide Tobiah to and from his fa- Pope Francis spoke of the suffering of Sarah and Tobit in a homily on May 6, 2013, ther’s home. in the Chapel of Santa Marta: At a key point in the story, Tobiah steps “Tobit and Sarah; they do not curse, but they complain. Lamenting to God is not down the bank of the Tigris River to wash a sin. A priest that I know once said to a woman who complained to God about her his feet, only to be assailed by a large fish. misfortunes: ‘Madam, that is a kind of prayer, go ahead. The Lord feels and hears At Raphael’s urging, Tobiah hauls the fish our lamentations.’ ashore, where he cuts it open in order to “Job … also lamented by cursing, not the Lord but the situation. Moreover, retrieve its gallbladder, heart and liver as expressing sorrow ‘is human,’ also because there are many people who are in these “useful medicines.” situations of existential suffering. (Referring to a photo of a malnourished child on Raphael then leads Tobiah to the the cover of the Italian daily edition of L’Osservatore Romano.) How many are there home of Sarah’s father, where he meets his like this? Are we thinking about Syria, refugees and the others? Are we thinking beleaguered kinswoman for the first time. about hospitals, those suffering terminal illness? Tobiah quickly falls in love with Sarah but “In Mark’s Gospel (12:18-27), the Sadducees turned to Jesus and presented the is understandably reluctant to marry her. woman — like in a laboratory, very ascetic, a moral case. Instead, when we speak Raphael encourages Tobiah to proceed about these people who are in these extreme situations, we must do so with our with the ceremony but to burn the fish hearts close to them. We must think about these people, whose suffering is so great, heart and liver as incense at the foot of with our heart and with our flesh. his bed on his wedding night. Asmodeus “In the Church, there are many people in this situation and, according to Jesus, we is thereby dispatched for good. Raphael must pray for them. These suffering people must enter my heart, they must be an then journeys home with Tobiah and Sar- anxiety for me. My suffering brother, my suffering sister. This is the mystery of the ah where he encourages the young man to Communion of Saints. Praying: Lord, look at him who cries and suffers. Let us pray, use the gall drained from the fish as a salve if I may say, with our flesh, not with ideas, pray with your heart.” on his father’s eyes, and so Tobit is healed

48 The Deacon November/December 2020 IN FOCUS

of his blindness. Only then is Raphael revealed as the answer to Tobit’s prayer and Sarah’s, too. As is true of all good stories, everyone then lives happily — and faithful- ly — ever after.

What the Text Says Our first question then: What does the text say about suffering? Most importantly, there is no suggestion that the suffering experienced by Tobit and Sarah is due to personal sin. The Book of Tobit thus challenges the Deuteronomist understanding of suffering. Tobit and Sarah are both presented as good and faithful Jews. Nor is there any indication that God has permitted their suffering in order to make a lesson of them. They do not serve as “teachable moments” in God’s economy. Instead, three distinct causes of suffering are featured. The first pertains to the background of the story. All of the protagonists live as exiles in Assyria, an analogue, perhaps, for the natural and “The Prayer of Tobias and Sarah” (woodcut, 1860) by Julius Schnorr von Carolsfeld, published in The Holy man-made circumstances that function as Bible, St. Vojtech Publishing, Trnava, Slovakia. fluenta/AdobeStock background in the stories of so many who suffer in our own day. Indeed, far too many too, that evil can be man-made. People perhaps, or through the angel’s efforts — of our contemporaries have been rendered corrupted by evil do evil things, and so nudges, suggests, provides counsel and powerless in the face of impersonal forc- people suffer. Evil persists in our world as points the way. God does not presume. es of nature and history — that is, natural well. He does not treat Tobiah as a puppet, nor disasters of one kind or another, war, eco- does he abrogate the laws of nature or the nomic dislocation, institutional racism, God and Suffering cultural, economic or political circum- etc. And this, of course, begs our second stances in which the story unfolds. Second, Tobit happened to be in the question: What does the existence of Raphael simply journeys with Tobiah. wrong place at the wrong time. He was profound suffering say about God? It As one spiritual writer, Jesuit Father Wil- blinded not by God as a consequence is clear in the Book of Tobit that God re- liam Barry has argued, “the one action of of personal sin but by happenstance, a sponds to prayer, but he does so in a sub- God includes the free actions of all hu- reminder, it seems, that suffering is of- tle way. God — in the person of Raphael, man beings. … Our faith and our experi- ten random and arbitrary in ence tell us that we really are nature. There need not be a free agents, not pawns in the “grand plan” as such, let alone Prayer can keep our relationship with great chess game of Creation. a “grand plan” devised by God. If our actions are truly free, And third, suffering can, God alive, even in the worst of times, then, again in some mysteri- indeed, result from evil. As- ous fashion, God’s one action modeus and other demons, even in those moments when we are includes them and adjusts to presumably, seem to have free close to despair. We are reminded in them in order to attain God’s reign in Sarah’s world. It’s As- intention.” That one inten- modeus who torments Sarah, prayer that God walks with us always. tion? “So that they may all be however, not God. We know, one, as you, Father, are in me

www.the-deacon.com | Our Sunday Visitor 49 IN FOCUS

and I in you, that they also may Tobit and Sarah, as well as be in us” ( Jn 17:21). [Jesus] came, instead, to share Tobiah. As noted by Martin Luther It’s important to note King Jr., “The arc of the moral with us all of the joys of human that Jesus himself rarely universe is long, but it bends responded to challenging toward justice”, in this context, existence and our suffering, too. questions of this kind with God’s justice. We believe that fast and easy answers. More suffering — even tragic suffer- typically, he responded with ing — does not have the final say. a question or two of his own God reserves the final word to himself. good and faithful son. And so we coun- or with an enigmatic parable. And when sel prayer in the face of suffering. Prayer confronted by personal suffering, he re- Proceeding with Suffering can keep our relationship with God alive, sponded — more often than not — with Our third question: How should those even in the worst of times, even in those his presence, a healing touch and an assur- who suffer proceed? It’s important to moments when we are close to despair. ance that the individual who stood before note, first, that Tobit, Sarah and Tobiah are We are reminded in prayer that God walks him was loved by the Father. ordinary people. Much of the Jewish Scrip- with us always. This, of course, goes to the heart of our tures is about whole peoples and priests, understanding of the Incarnation. Jesus prophets and kings. In contrast, the pro- Ministry to the Suffering did not come to abolish grief and pain. He tagonists in the Book of Tobit are everyday Our final question speaks to minis- came, instead, to share with us all of the people in every sense of the term. The les- try: What does the text say about our joys of human existence and our suffering, son is that God is concerned about all of service on behalf of those who suffer? too. Most importantly, he came to share us as individuals. We should recall always In fact, the Book of Tobit doesn’t provide the Father’s love. Jesus is Emmanuel, God that God loves us and cares for us. any fast and easy answers. It can, however, with us. Second, Tobit and Sarah pray honestly. provide a corrective to certain misconcep- They both pray out of their desperation. tions about God and his work in the world. Journey with the Suffering Indeed, they pray for death. The end re- God does not punish sin with suffering. We are often invited to journey with sult, however, is not so much that God is He does not use us to provide a lesson for others, some of whom have been over- moved to action, but that Tobit and Sarah others. And he does not plan suffering. In- whelmed by great suffering. In these mo- are open to God’s subtle interventions in stead, Raphael is revealed as an angel who ments, complex and well-reasoned theod- their lives, and so, too, is Tobiah, Tobit’s has been directed to “journey” alongside icies simply won’t do. Like Raphael, we are invited, instead, to journey with those who are beset by grief and pain — sometimes BOOK HELPS UNITE THE SUFFERING WITH PADRE PIO in silence, sometimes with a simple word Deacon Lowrey reminds us: “Prayer can keep of friendship, and sometimes in certain our relationship with God alive, even in the worst grace-filled encounters — with the assur- of times, even in those moments when we are ance that God walks with all of us, even in close to despair. We are reminded in prayer that the darkest moments of our lives. In these God walks with us always.” challenging circumstances, deacons can Padre Pio, who had a great love for all people, sometimes serve as Raphaels to others especially felt the pain of others, whether moral, who are in great need of God’s presence, physical or mental. He himself endured endless and, in sharing God’s presence, we are suffering from his ever-bleeding stigmata. sometimes privileged, albeit in a small Through his intercessory prayer, he wanted to way, to advance the arc of God’s work in share in the pains of those suffering and ask God creation. TD to alleviate their suffering. Eileen Dunn Bertanzetti’s book “Listening to God with Padre Pio” (OSV, $12.95) DEACON DANIEL LOWERY, Ph.D., is a deacon brings those who are suffering, in pain, in confusion to prayer with Padre Pio in the Diocese of Gary, Indiana. Prior to retir- through meditations on his writings, experiences and advice. She reminds those ing, he served as a professor and administra- who are suffering that Jesus suffers right along with them and for them. tor at Calumet College of St. Joseph.

50 The Deacon November/December 2020 THE INTERIOR LIFE

By Deacon James Keating Discernment and Leadership When deacons enter the mystery, then they can lead parishioners to moral conversion

The foundation of Christian moral reasoning and activity is back to Eucharistic worship so their discernment is nourished by built upon one’s participation in the Paschal Mystery of Christ. the self-offering love and truth that is Christ. In being so nour- This participation is secured in the worship of God the Father at ished, their consciences become hospitable to the right judgment the Eucharistic liturgy and appropriated daily in the sacramental of such a worshipping mind. vocation we live as deacons. God is an ally in our search for moral happiness. Even if peo- Worship not only gives just praise to the Holy Trinity but pu- ple discern incorrectly at first, their trust in God ought not to be rifies us from sin, illuminates our minds with the truths of Scrip- shattered. Due to grace, the link between truth and our correct ture and affects sacramental and, ultimately, eschatological com- perception of it can be forged again through prayer, penance and munion. Within worship, our minds are formed into “the mind of counsel. God is living his life in us since our baptism for one rea- Christ.” From within this mind, as it matures through the years, son only: He wants our well-being. we discern what behaviors are worthy of our dignity as deacons. God is trustworthy. Deacons encourage parishioners to sur- The first step of moral discernment is to enter and re-enter render to him as a way of life. Surrender is not a single act. God the Paschal Mystery; the last step is to enact what this mystery wants to fasten us to his truth. The fullness of his truth is Christ. teaches the conscience. The length of time between the first and As deacons, the more we enter the Paschal Mystery through last steps cannot be universally mandated, as each person comes regular worship the more we can lead others into faithful deci- before God to suffer sin yielding to moral truth according to his sion-making. or her own particular circumstances. The content of our moral In the end, those who desire holiness and enact the moral formation, however, will not contradict the truths of Christ’s doc- truth that claims their consciences testify that Resurrection and trine in Scripture as these have unfolded throughout history in Ascension are real. There is new life; it is possible in grace. Such the magisterium. believers become free among the imprisoned because believers Moral doctrine stands as the best judgment of the Church are, paradoxically, bound themselves, not to sin, but to the obe- now. We live only in the present, and pastoral leaders are called dience of the Cross. to teach doctrine, as it is now known. On occasion, the role of Intimacy with Christ is our purification. Christ stands for us pastoral speculation and prophetic judgment is legitimate, but a as truth. He shares his divine life with us, uniting us to himself deacon cannot place the prophetic mantle upon himself in con- and fulfilling the great promise: I go to prepare a place for you (cf. tradiction to doctrine. A deacon’s personal struggle with a partic- Jn 14:3). ular moral doctrine cannot be imposed upon a parish as a har- Deacons go first into the mystery of worship and moral con- binger of the development of doctrine. This is vanity. There might version. Then, out of the wisdom of what we suffer in our own arise in the future awareness of defects in the current articulation conversions, we accompany others who choose to be fascinated of certain moral norms, but this possibility does not replace the with Christ as well. Let us be taken by grace and drawn out of sin reality of moral doctrine as it stands today. into his marvelous light (cf. 1 Pt 2:9). TD A deacon is to coax parishioners into discernment and accompany them through decision-making to the end if so invit- DEACON JAMES KEATING, Ph.D., is the director of theological forma- ed. Deacons are well-positioned to send discerning parishioners tion with the Institute for Priestly Formation at Creighton University.

www.the-deacon.com | Our Sunday Visitor 51 358+:.'43'99:/3+9

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By Father Deacon Basil Ryan Balke Desert Spirituality Our spiritual tradition is about experiencing the Holy Spirit

During the height of the quarantine, I began to hear a lot of need to give people the original writings. The works of our spiri- questions and comments about how the removal of Divine Lit- tual Fathers speak for themselves. This is, after all, why they have urgy (Mass) had “destroyed spiritual lives.” One friend even went lasted 2,000 years. so far as to say, “They told us for decades that if you don’t receive Week after week, I was consistently amazed at how much the 358+:.'43'99:/3+9 the Eucharist you are spiritually dying, and then they took away participants comprehended. People genuinely understood what the Eucharist.” the Desert Fathers were talking about, and they had ways of ap- This made me think about what has happened to us as a plying them to their own lives that I would never have thought of. 269:(%6,7(6:(5(%8,/7:,7+<2853$5,6+,10,1' Church, and how we view the Eucharist and spirituality. If I am Spirituality is about the Holy Spirit coming into our hearts, and honest, I had a great deal of frustration that somehow there de- sometimes our laity might understand this better than we do. veloped a thought that Christian spirituality could only be found :H YHFUHDWHGDVROXWLRQWKDWHQJDJHVLQIRUPVDQGLQVSLUHV in physical churches, as if it had never been able to thrive in the It’s about the the Holy Spirit, not about me SDULVKLRQHUVDQGQHZYLVLWRUVDOLNHWREHFRPHDFWLYHO\LQYROYHG:LWK Gulag or concentration camps, as if Christ would not visit the My temptation as a spiritual director or presenter before these sickbed or those quarantined. While God is found in the church webinars was to try to present myself as an all-knowing specialist RXU1(:DQGVLPSOHGUDJDQGGURSSODWIRUPHYHQWKHOHDVWWHFKVDYY\ building liturgically, we cannot say he is present only in that place. in spirituality. If I am honest, I loved it when people would look VWDIIPHPEHUZLOOEHDEOHWRKDYH\RXUSDULVKVLWHXSDQGUXQQLQJLQ Being stuck at home, I began to complain to my wife. In her at me as someone with arcane knowledge, and I hoped that they superior wisdom, she stated, “Well, do something about it.” viewed me more like a guru rather than a brother in Christ. This is QRWLPH Taking her charge, I began offering webinars on the writings precisely what the Desert Fathers called “vainglory,” and for many and spirituality of the Desert Fathers through the St. John Cassian of them it was the thing which killed the spiritual life faster than ([SHULHQFHWKHVHNH\IHDWXUHV Institute. Something amazing happened. I had a group of about 40 anything else. I quickly realized that in continuing to entertain engaged Christians — Catholic, Orthodox and Protestant — who these thoughts and desires I would be killing my own spiritual life 0XOWLODQJXDJH6XSSRUW joined me every Tuesday evening to discuss the ancient writings while trying to look spiritual. Teaching spirituality and the spir- 7DLORUHG0HVVDJLQJ of the early Church and apply the lessons into their lives today. itual tradition of our Church is not about me; it’s about people 5HTXHVWDIUHH Over the last several months, I have grown in my understand- experiencing the Holy Spirit. I need to get out of the way. 3URJUHVVLYH:HE$SS FRQVXOWDWLRQ ing of how we as deacons can share our spiritual tradition in the I know that there have been some very dark times in our 6LWH6WDWLVWLFV UHSO\RVYFRPZHEVLWHV age of COVID and how we can all journey as Christians together. I Church’s past, but the practice of our spirituality is relevant, re- RUFDOOH[W have learned: “We don’t have to reinvent the wheel.” gardless of what the world looks like and whether or not we can 7HPSODWHG6HFWLRQV The St. John Cassian Institute refers to these webinars as congregate in our physical church buildings. TD “Spiritual Classics,” because we use specific texts from the early Church to read and discuss. Desert spirituality is remarkably FATHER DEACON BASIL RYAN BALKE is a Byzantine deacon, licensed practical. Instead of having lengthy passages on Christology, they professional counselor, director of Mount Tabor Counseling, give specific advice on how to fast. Instead of rigorous liturgies, (mounttaborcounseling.com), one of the hosts of the Catholic Psyche it says pray one psalm with attention. I have come to realize that Podcast (catholicpsyche.com), director of custom solutions for the we do not need to overcomplicate spirituality. We do not need to Center for InMinistry Development (inministrydevelopment.com) and make massive commentaries on the writings of the saints. We just a spiritual director and presenter at the St. John Cassian Institute.

www.the-deacon.com | Our Sunday Visitor 53 PROFILE

Finding Truth and Justice How the yearning for truth and justice was yearning for Jesus

By Deacon Steve Miller son was a lawyer played by actor Raymond acter. He took hopeless cases and almost Like a lot of lawyers my age, I grew up Burr on a successful TV series running always prevailed. I recall, as a young boy, watching “Perry Mason.” For those of you from 1957-66. Unlike more modern lawyer wanting to be like Perry Mason, represent- who may be too young to know, Perry Ma- portrayals, Mason had a great moral char- ing the defenseless and prevailing in truth AdobeStock

54 The Deacon November/December 2020 Prepare your best Sunday Mass homily! I have come to realize that what my Contains prayerfully, researched meditations on every Sunday heart yearned for many years ago while Gospel Reading in Year B. watching “Perry Mason” was Jesus. and justice. and telecommunications division. By the Many years later, I found myself at the mid-1990s, I became the managing attor- University of Dayton (Ohio) pursuing a ney for a large corporation, specializing in Juris Doctorate. The University of Dayton technology transactions and overseeing was founded by the Marianist Brothers in intellectual property assets. But law was 1850. However, I did not attend the U.D. not the only area I was growing in my life; I because of my Catholic roots. My family was growing in my faith as well. abandoned the Church in the late 1960s, Along with my wife, Melissa, a con- shortly after my first holy Communion. By vert from the Disciples of Christ, I was the time I arrived at Dayton in 1984 I had confirmed via the RCIA in 1989. Later, we only a marginal Catholic identity. I chose were invited to serve as high school youth Dayton for many reasons, but none of catechists, and from there were invited on Visit: homilystarters.com them included Catholicism. a Cursillo weekend by fellow youth minis- Buy Now and Receive 20% Off! During my first year, my faith was re- ters. Cursillo was life-changing. I believed Available in English and Spanish kindled one day in a constitutional law God was calling me to serve the Church 479-366-7283 class, where I watched another student in a dedicated way. My wife was very sup- battle the professor over Roe v. Wade. portive, encouraging me to leap into full- OSV Provides Free Resource Rather than explain the rationale of the time ministry. After two years of ecclesial For Suffering Families court as was expected, Tony delivered a lay ministry formation and certification, I scathing condemnation. The professor became the director of administration for A prenatal diagnosis is was angered. Everyone knew that Tony a parish. cause for deep had committed “grade suicide,” because Thereafter, I obtained a bachelor’s in suffering and grief, whether the professor had a reputation for being pastoral theology and a master’s in theo- or not the vindictive toward those who disagreed logical studies from St. Meinrad Archab- condition is with him. bey. I then entered the first cohort for the expected to be life-limiting. Following the class, I walked with Tony permanent diaconate of our diocese. Fol- How does a outside and asked him why he decided lowing ordination in 2005, I was named as T2320 family cope Also available in with this to enrage the professor. Tony proceeded director of diaconal formation, which con- print for $4.95 heartbreaking to give a witness to me about the Catho- tinues today. reality? lic Faith. Then he said, “I’m on my way to Someone asked me recently if I missed Journey in Love: A Catholic Mother’s the chapel for noonday Mass, would you the practice of law. I responded, “I am Prayers after Prenatal Diagnosis is a like to join me?” I had not been to Mass in practicing!” I have come to realize that sensitive, supportive resource to turn to, and return to, for help, hope, and many years, and certainly not during the what my heart yearned for many years ago consolation. week! Surprised by the invite, I said, “Sure.” while watching “Perry Mason” was Jesus. Available as a free e-book This began my gradual return to the prac- Jesus is the Law; he is our mediator and at OrderOSV.com. tice of the Faith. advocate, the fullness of truth and justice. Download, share, and pray Following school, I began practicing And my time, gifts and talents belong to with families who need help. law as a clerk for the chief judge of the and are best used by him. TD Court of Appeals of Ohio. I later returned home to practice in the Indiana State DEACON STEVE MILLER, JD, MTS, is the Department of Administration, and in director of deacon formation for the Diocese particular the information technology of Lafayette in Indiana. OrderOSV.com

www.the-deacon.com | Our Sunday Visitor 55 LEADERSHIP

A Call to Pastoral Administration Deacon Frank Pettrone is grateful to continue the mission of Jesus in his Church

By Patti Maguire Armstrong This faithfulness to Christ is expressed in Duties include office management, direct- When Deacon Frank Pettrone became service of the Church and all God’s peo- ing faith formation programs, providing a deacon in the Catholic Church, it had ple, by helping the bishop and priests as preparation for the sacraments and pas- been by way of a long and winding road. a minister of the Word, of the altar and of toral care, excluding what is specific to He had left the Church for a time but came charity.” an ordained priest. It could also include back after a deep encounter with Jesus liturgical functions such as a celebration Christ. From that point on, Pettrone was Canon Law of the Word with Communion and bring- ready to follow wherever God led him. On There have been other pastoral admin- ing Communion to the sick. If priests are June 3, 2006, it led to his ordination as a istrators in the diocese of Rochester, but very scarce, then even lay people can be permanent deacon. And in June 2019, currently, Deacon Pettrone is the only one. delegated to perform baptisms, witness Bishop Salvatore Ronald Matano appoint- He was designated to serve for four years. marriages, direct funerals and even pro- ed him as a pastoral administrator at St. According to canon law, pastors are always claim the Gospel — duties that deacons Mark’s Church in the Diocese of Rochester, a bishop or priest. However, Canon 517.2 are already called to do. New York, as a way to help with a shortage allows for a person or persons to share in In a statement from Bishop Matano, he of priests. the pastoral care when it is deemed neces- credited Deacon Pettrone with integrating “Being a deacon has been more than sary by the bishop due to a priest shortage his two roles as deacon and administra- rewarding in that it is who I am,” Deacon and there are no other possibilities such as tor well. “As pastoral administrator of St. Pettrone said. “I couldn’t even imagine using a retired priest or entrusting several Mark’s Church, Deacon Pettrone models my life being lived in any other way.” The parishes to one priest or a team of priests. this ministry with dedication and charity. appointment as a parish administrator be- The parish is technically vacant, but a In serving God’s people, the deacon seeks came the next natural step for him when a priest director with the powers and facul- not his own personal preference for minis- need arose and his bishop asked it of him. ties of a pastor is appointed over the par- try, but rather he goes where he is needed “I strongly believe that a deacon serves ish administrator — although he is not the to bring God’s presence to his sisters and where the bishop asks him to serve,” he pastor — and has the final say on admin- brothers.” said. “In the Rite of Ordination, the bishop istrative and pastoral decisions. The ar- asks the deacon candidate, ‘Do you prom- rangement entrusts a share of the pastoral Call to the Diaconate ise respect and obedience to me and my care to deacons or laypersons, with prece- Once Deacon Pettrone returned to the successors?’ This obedience, undertaken dence to be given to deacons. Catholic Church, he developed an appetite in faith, is obedience to Christ in the per- The job of a pastoral administrator for the study of Scripture and the Faith as son of the chief shepherd of the diocese. essentially prevents a parish from closing. well as service to the Church. “Our parish

56 The Deacon November/December 2020 didn’t have a deacon, and at that time I was unfamiliar with the permanent diaconate,” A MODEL OF MINISTRY he recalled. “It was only after a couple of Bishop David Zubik of the Diocese of Pittsburgh made the following comments priests approached me and asked me to about deacon administrators in a 2015 statement: consider becoming a deacon that I started “The deacon administrator is a model of ministry that the Church provides and exploring the diaconate.” that the diocese is exploring in response to changing demographics and fewer By then, he and his wife, Elizabeth, had priests. These models include inter-parish collaboration, ministry teams serving already launched their three children into more than one parish and multiple parishes served by one pastor. the world. “Liz has truly been with me ev- “Some dioceses in the United States have relied on deacon administrators for ery step of the way,” Deacon Pettrone said. decades. One in six permanent deacons nationwide was serving in a full- or part- “Since she has been with me on many eve- time paid position of pastoral care of one or more parishes in 2013, according to the nings at the church, I’ve always been able Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate, which conducts research on and for to put in significant time at the parish, the Catholic Church.” even when I worked a secular job and was ministering as a deacon assigned to the the many people and relationships over Becoming Parish Administrator parish.” these past 14 years. It is very humbling to The situation that led to him becom- The blessings in his vocation have be part of someone’s faith journey and to ing a parish administrator at St. Mark’s been many he said: “Most rewarding are be able to minister to them along the way.” gradually began in 2014, when he accepted the full-time position of pastoral associate. “Father Sirianni, who at the time had the two roles of pastor and judicial vicar, really needed support in pastoral ministry of the parish, so I accepted the offer of full-time ministry to help out,” Deacon Pettrone said. “Father Sirianni and I have always had, and continue to have, a good, collaborative ministerial relationship. Giv- en my managerial experience in the cor- porate world, many of those things were a good fit for my skill set, such as assuming the management of our facility and capital projects, supervising the office and the staff, and working with our finances, along with many other responsibilities.” Initially, it was simply the pastoral ministries that had drawn Deacon Pettrone to the position of pastoral associate. His willingness to assume administrative responsibilities followed later when the needs of the parish became apparent. It was also a way to assist Father Sirianni to continue his priestly ministry and support the ministerial needs of his bishop, diocese and parish. “I believed the Lord was asking me to do this because it was such a good fit for me and our situation,” he said.

Deacon Frank Pettrone is shown at prayer. Prayer is the most important part of his day. “I take seriously In 2019, Father Sirianni became eligi- that I must pray for our parish and our parish family in my role,” he says. Courtesy Photo ble for full retirement. “He still wanted to

www.the-deacon.com | Our Sunday Visitor 57 Ultimately, according to Deacon Pettrone, the reason he embraces his role as parish administrator is because he believes that, like in John’s Gospel when Jesus asked ROLE DEFINED The role of the Peter, “Do you love me?” he asks us the same question. pastoral administrator, whether a permanent deacon, religious, or continue his priestly ministry and serve as flow from our response to the challenges layperson, ensures judicial vicar,” Deacon Pettrone explained, placed before us, and I’m grateful for my that the ministries of “but without the administrative responsi- vocation to continue the mission of Jesus Word, Worship, and bilities of leading the parish as a pastor.” in his Church today. If I had been working Service are functioning well. The pastoral Given a shortage of priests, there were no in a secular job, I doubt I would have glad- administrator is in priest replacements, so Deacon Pettrone ly done what I have done in the past few charge of a parish agreed to be appointed as a pastoral ad- months for the Church.” and is accountable to ministrator by the bishop. This allowed Each deacon has his own gifts and the diocesan bishop through the priest Father Sirianni to continue his priestly charisms, he said, and each must respond moderator and works ministry as parochial vicar at St. Mark’s to what the Lord calls him to do through collaboratively with the as well as judicial vicar for the Diocese of the invitation of the bishop. “God is always priest moderator, the Rochester. present to us, always calling us to a deep- sacramental minister “When we announced our appoint- er and more intimate relationship with and parish staff. — Diocese of Buffalo ments at the weekend Masses, the over- Christ,” he said. “On some days, perhaps website whelmingly positive reaction of our pa- on those more challenging or difficult days rishioners affirmed our belief,” Deacon in our lives, whether as a parent, a son or Pettrone said. “For me, as a pastoral ad- daughter, a spouse, a minister, a deacon, a ministrator, I believe I not only provide priest, or even as a pastoral administrator the pastoral care and leadership for our in the time of a pandemic, you just know in parish, but in doing so am extending the your heart that God put you there, and it is ministry of a wonderful priest who may God’s grace alone that sustains you.” have otherwise retired due to the stress of Ultimately, according to Deacon administration.” Pettrone, the reason he embraces his role as parish administrator is because he be- Challenges and Blessings lieves that, like in John’s Gospel when Jesus He admits there have been many chal- asked Peter, “Do you love me?” the Lord lenges, but believes blessings have flowed asks us the same question. “When I was from them. For instance, when public asked to fill this role as pastoral adminis- Masses were suspended from the middle trator, all I really heard was Jesus asking of March until the solemnity of the Body me, ‘Do you love me?’ and Blood of Christ on June 14, Deacon “He still asks me that question each Pettrone had to lay off staff to manage the day,” Deacon Pettrone adds. “I just hope financial shortfall. He took on all the work and pray that my work, my life and par- that needed to be done, including main- ticularly the ministry I’ve been given don’t tenance and secretarial work. He has not point to me, but to Jesus Christ. All praise, had a full day off since his appointment. honor, glory and thanksgiving to our Lord, “But I know the Lord put me here in Jesus Christ, both now and forever!” TD this place and time to do what I have done and to be who he has called me to be,” Dea- PATTI MAGUIRE ARMSTRONG writes from con Pettrone said. “The Lord’s blessings Bismarck, North Dakota.

58 The Deacon November/December 2020 CHRISTIAN UNITY

Catholics, Deacons and the Ecumenical Mission Incorporating the language of fraternity and respect with non-Catholics

By Deacon Keith Fournier powered lay faithful. I will always be grateful for his insight, On July 29, 2020, the feast of Sts. Peter I served with love, honor and humil- his invitation and the great blessing of his and Paul, the Vatican Congregation for the ity as a lay leader for many years before imposition of hands. After ordination, I Clergy issued an instruction entitled “The ordination as a deacon. It should enrich, continued in much of the work I engaged pastoral conversion of the Parish com- promote and empower it. And the deacon in as a layman. But — and all who have munity in the service of the evangelizing should not be perceived as a threat to the been ordained to the order of deacon know mission of the Church,” which contains a irreplaceable ministry of the priest. what I mean — everything was different. good summary of the unique role of the When my bishop asked me to con- The theology of the sacrament is correct. Catholic deacon in the Church (cf. Nos. 79- sider the diaconate, he referred to my There was an ontological difference. 82). One of the points the in- I have spent years praying struction underscores is what and working with evangelical the Catechism of the Catholic The Church is meant to become Protestants in the trenches of Church, the documents of the the current devastated culture Second Vatican Council and the home of the whole human race. on the great challenges of our the Code of Canon Law make current secularist age, includ- clear: Deacons are ordained For the Church to continue the ing the right to life, the defense “not unto the priesthood, but redemptive mission of Jesus most of marriage and the family, de- unto the ministry.” fense of religious freedom and So, what does that diaco- effectively, she must be one. a love of preference toward nal ministry include? One im- the poor, in all their manifes- portant aspect, which I have tations. I have also engaged in lived — and I believe Catholic deacons work as a pro-life, religious-freedom, hu- what the Church calls and encourages as have a unique opportunity to serve — is man-rights, constitutional lawyer and my “spiritual ecumenism,” praying with and authentic ecumenical ministry. evangelistic and ecumenical ministry. He for one another. And, yes, I have experi- saw them as an example of what he called enced the power of the Holy Spirit in such My Experience a kind of “anonymous diaconate.” He told prayer. I am in my 25th year of service as an me he thought the fathers of the Second One of my experiences as a clergyman, ordained minister of the Catholic Church Vatican Council asked bishops to look for a deacon, in working with Protestant min- — a deacon. such men and help them discern whether isters, is they often “get” the Catholic dea- The role of the Catholic deacon does they were being called to holy orders as a con more than some Catholic priests or not detract from the vital role of an em- deacon. He did just that with me. lay Catholics. I remember when one of my

www.the-deacon.com | Our Sunday Visitor 59 AdobeStock

Protestant minister friends, an older man, I understand his comment, even as he and a giant in the evangelical world, asked does not understand the sacramental name, “What do Catholic deacons do?” I ex- ture of the Church or the gift of the min- plained that we share the Gospel, preach, isterial priesthood. But his response was teach, evangelize, visit the sick, baptize, — and is — an interesting one, one that witness weddings, bury the dead, care for Catholic deacons should reflect upon. the poor and serve in the broader social I have done a lot of authentic ecumen- order. ical work and believe that the Catholic He said, “Oh, so you’re a Catholic min- deacon has a unique role in promoting i st e r.” the work of Christian unity. Christians of

‘WOUNDS TO UNITY’ Deacons can take their ministerial role in pursuing a true ecumenical approach from the Catechism of the Catholic Church, advises Deacon Fournier, which provides a section entitled “Wounds of Unity”: “In fact, ‘in this one and only Church of God from its very beginnings there arose certain rifts, which the Apostle strongly censures as damnable. But in subsequent centuries much more serious dissensions appeared and large communities became separated from full communion with the Catholic Church — for which, often enough, men of both sides were to blame.” The ruptures that wound the unity of Christ’s Body — here we must distinguish heresy, apostasy, and schism — do not occur without human sin: Where there are sins, there are also divisions, schisms, heresies, and disputes. Where there is virtue, however, there also is harmony and unity, from which arise the one heart and one soul of all believers. “‘However, one cannot charge with the sin of the separation those who at present are born into these communities [that resulted from such separation] and in them are brought up in the faith of Christ, and the Catholic Church accepts them with respect and affection as brothers. … All who have been justified by faith in Baptism are incorporated into Christ; they therefore have a right to be called Christians, other communities have come to respect and with good reason are accepted as brothers in the Lord by the children of the and recognize the ministry and role of or- Catholic Church.’ dained Catholic deacons. “‘Furthermore, many elements of sanctification and of truth’ are found outside the visible confines of the Catholic Church: ‘the written Word of God; the life of Toward Christian Unity grace; faith, hope, and charity, with the other interior gifts of the Holy Spirit, as well The Catholic Church proclaims that, as visible elements.’ Christ’s Spirit uses these Churches and ecclesial communities in and through Jesus Christ, and by the as means of salvation, whose power derives from the fullness of grace and truth that power of the Holy Spirit, authentic unity Christ has entrusted to the Catholic Church. All these blessings come from Christ with God the Father — and with one an- and lead to him and are in themselves calls to ‘Catholic unity.’ other — is the plan of God for the entire “Christ bestowed unity on his Church from the beginning. This unity, we believe, human race. That plan began through the subsists in the Catholic Church as something she can never lose, and we hope that redemption brought about by the volun- it will continue to increase until the end of time.” Christ always gives his Church tary offering of Jesus Christ, the Son of the gift of unity, but the Church must always pray and work to maintain, reinforce, God, on the cross. It is sin that separated and perfect the unity that Christ wills for her. This is why Jesus himself prayed at us from God and one another. The Church the hour of his Passion, and does not cease praying to his Father, for the unity of his birthed from the wounded side of the Sav- disciples: ‘That they may all be one. As you, Father, are in me and I am in you, may ior on Golgotha is the way toward realiz- they also be one in us, ... so that the world may know that you have sent me.” The ing that unity. desire to recover the unity of all Christians is a gift of Christ and a call of the Holy The Church is meant to become the Spirit’” (Nos. 817-820). home of the whole human race. For the

60 The Deacon November/December 2020 ‘STANDING TOGETHER’ “The community of all the baptized is not a mere ‘standing beside one another,’ and certainly not a ‘standing against one other,’ but wants to become an ever fuller ‘standing together.’” — Pope Francis, meeting with the Finnish Ecumenical Delegation, Jan. 17, 2020

Church to continue the redemptive mis- communion with the Catholic Church are sion of Jesus most effectively, she must be invited to make the prayer of Jesus for the one. It was not the Lord’s plan that Chris- restoration of full communion and visible tians be separated. It is his plan that the unity our own in the way in which we re- Church be restored to full communion. late to other Christians. His prayer to the Father, that we may all We properly speak of the impetus to- be one (cf. Jn 17:21), will someday be ful- ward restoring Christian unity through rely answered. In that priestly prayer, Jesus covering full communion as ecumenism. made it clear that the witness of Christian But, sadly, the word ecumenism has often unity is connected to the world coming to been redefined and used in ways that were believe. We should want to walk toward never intended. In Unitatis Redintegratio that unity and not fear it. (the Decree on Ecumenism) the fathers of Catholic teaching in the Church is the Second Vatican Council warned of a rooted in an ecclesiology of communion. false ecumenism. All who are validly baptized, in accordance Here are words from the very begin- with a Trinitarian formula, even if they are ning of that document: not in full communion with the one, holy, “The restoration of unity among all catholic and apostolic Church, already Christians is one of the principal concerns have a form of imperfect communion with of the Second Vatican Council. Christ the the Catholic Church. We who are in full Lord founded one Church and one Church

www.the-deacon.com | Our Sunday Visitor 61 Pope Francis greets Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople outside the Basilica of St. Nicholas in Bari, Italy, July 7, 2018. The pope met leaders of Christian churches in the Middle East for an ecumenical day of prayer for peace in the region. CNS photo/Vatican Media only. However, many Christian commu- tion to work toward healing the divisions to and with other Christians. For example, nions present themselves to men as the and promoting an authentic path toward John Paul II wrote in his encyclical letter true inheritors of Jesus Christ; all indeed Christian unity. on Christian unity, Ut Unum Sint: profess to be followers of the Lord but dif- There is an adage in the Gospels, “It happens for example that, in the fer in mind and go their different ways, as which has a special application in this spirit of the Sermon on the Mount, Chris- if Christ Himself were divided. Such divi- arena: “Much will be required of the per- tians of one confession no longer consider sion openly contradicts the will of Christ, son entrusted with much” (Lk 12:48). If the other Christians as enemies or strangers scandalizes the world, and damages the fullness of truth subsists in the Catholic but see them as brothers and sisters. Again, holy cause of preaching the Gospel to ev- Church (cf. Lumen Gentium, No. 8), that the very expression ‘separated brethren’ ery creature” (No. 1). should not make us haughty, but rath- tends to be replaced today by expressions Into a world that is fractured, divided, er humble in our relationship with other which more readily evoke the deep com- wounded, filled with sides and camps too Christians. munion — linked to the baptismal char- often with an attitude of enmity toward acter — which the Spirit fosters despite one another, the Catholic Church is called Where to Begin? historical and canonical divisions. Today to proclaim, by both word and deed, the How can we pursue true ecumenism? we speak of ‘other Christians,’ ‘others who unifying love of a living God. To proclaim There are many, many things to consider. have received Baptism,’ and ‘Christians of the full Gospel of Jesus Christ. To proclaim But, for brevity, I will end with two, our other Communities.’ The Directory for the the necessity of salvation in him, baptism language and our willingness to pray with Application of Principles and Norms on and incorporation into his Mystical Body, other Christians. Ecumenism refers to the Communities to the Church. I suggest we heed the wise instruc- which these Christians belong as ‘Church- Yet, the Body of Christ is broken — and tions of Pope St. John Paul II and use the es and Ecclesial Communities that are that should break our hearts. Of all Chris- language of communion, which the Cath- not in full communion with the Catholic tians, Catholics have the highest obliga- olic Church encourages when we speak of, Church. This broadening of vocabulary

62 The Deacon November/December 2020 is indicative of a significant “In the eyes of the world, change in attitudes There is an cooperation among Christians increased awareness that we As deacons, let us use the language becomes a form of common all belong to Christ” (No. 42). of fraternity and mutual Christian witness and a means He also strongly encour- of evangelization which bene- aged cooperation and “spiritu- respect. Let us learn to pray fits all involved.” (No. 40) al ecumenism,” which includes As deacons, let us use the praying with one another: with other Christians as well. language of fraternity and “Relations between Chris- mutual respect. Let us learn tians are not aimed merely at to pray with other Christians mutual knowledge, common as well. Finally, let us choose prayer and dialog. They pre- only filled with fraternal communion but to enroll in the true school of suppose and from now on call for every is a manifestation of Christ himself. ecumenism in our ministry and walk the possible form of practical cooperation at “Moreover, ecumenical cooperation dynamic road to that unity for which Jesus all levels: pastoral, cultural and social, as is a true school of ecumenism, a dynamic still prays. TD well as that of witnessing to the Gospel road to unity. Unity of action leads to the message. full unity of faith: ‘Through such coop- DEACON KEITH FOURNIER currently serves “Cooperation among all Christians eration, all believers in Christ are able to as deacon in the Diocese of Tyler, Texas, where vividly expresses that bond which already learn easily how they can understand each he serves as general legal counsel, director of unites them, and it sets in clearer relief the other better and esteem each other more, deacon formation and dean of Catholic iden- features of Christ the Servant. This coop- and how the road to the unity of Christians tity at Bishop Thomas K. Gorman Catholic eration based on our common faith is not may be made smooth. School. RESOURCES FOR YOURSELF MORE THAN AND YOUR MINISTRY V TRU PRO EN LE STED RELIAB DURA-LUX

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By Deacon Steve Kramer Listening with the Heart of Christ When the deacon brings a healing word

As my wife and I searched for a movie to watch during the Two days later, it was baseball. One day before my going in to vis- height of the coronavirus pandemic, we came upon the 1984 com- it him, the charge nurse told me that he had received word that edy-drama film “Garbo Talks.” The leading character is Estelle his medical condition was going downhill rapidly, and he realized Rolfe. The film’s premise is that Estelle is dying and has pleaded death was close at hand. with her son, Gilbert, to locate the great actress Greta Garbo and As I knocked on the door, the man had a different look on ask her to come to the hospital so Estelle can meet and talk with his face. He said, “Good to see you — let’s talk.” I spent the next her before she dies. Just before her passing, Estelle does indeed hour sitting by his bedside listening as he poured out his story meet Garbo. Two very important moments occur that led me to and asked questions about God and what happens after death. At reflect on our diaconal ministry. some point, every deacon, priest and minister has found them- The first was when Garbo comes up to the room, stands by selves in this sacred space. the bed, motions for permission to be seated, pulls up a chair and People need to talk and know that there is someone who then says nothing. Estelle begins to talk and gushes out her feel- will listen without judgment. How many times have you sat with ings and emotions. someone who is dying, going through a divorce, just lost a child This image brought me back to my time as director of pasto- in an accident, or has realized that they must enter a treatment ral care for a large Catholic nursing facility on the East Coast. I facility for drug/alcohol abuse, and after sitting with them for an learned early on that people in general, but specifically those who hour and a half (without ever saying a single word), heard this: are dying, desperately want to be heard. “Thank you for all of your advice. I appreciate it.” Everyone wants It is at the bedside, the hallway of the nursing home or the someone to listen to them. waiting room at the hospital where the deacon finds himself The second moment in “Garbo Talks” that struck a nerve was bringing Christ’s healing words and touch to a person. right after Estelle had died. The bed is empty and her son Gilbert It took some time for me to truly discover that listening to is seen packing up her few remaining possessions. There is a final- the dying is an intimate moment, a privileged point in time. Often ity in that scene. It is over. The loved one has died and is with God. enough, family members find that they can’t discuss the situation Here, too, is the realm of diaconal presence. Our ministry of before them, and so there is a “tap dance” around the issue of charity continues with helping to plan the funeral liturgy, wake death. As an outsider, the critically ill person may find solace in service, cemetery committal and, most importantly, listening to talking with you. the survivors, to what they need and how the Church might help A few years ago, I was making my rounds at the nursing home them on the journey of their grieving process. TD and introduced myself to a new resident. He told me in no uncer- tain terms that I should get out and never bother him about God DEACON STEVE KRAMER, D.Min., is the director of homiletics and or religion — “If you want to talk about sports or hunting, that’s associate professor of pastoral studies at Sacred Heart Seminary and okay.” Two days later, I stopped by and we talked about football. School of Theology in Hales Corners, Wisconsin.

64 The Deacon November/December 2020 THE DEACON’S WIFE

By Susan Kehoe A Call to Evangelize In days of chaos, the Church is needed more than ever

I am writing this in the middle of the summer of the plague Deacons, as the bridge between the clergy and the laity, will and protests. It is likely that our culture and our country will con- have an important role in helping to strengthen the domestic tinue to be influenced in ways that will have consequences for church. There are many families who indeed have been striving to the Church. The culture of contempt is deeply embedded in our truly become a domestic church in the pandemic. But they need society. support. The culture is always pushing against their values. The culture of contempt is based on an ideology that has de- Perhaps it is time to take our cues from the Church of the first volved from an emphasis on diversity and tolerance to one that three centuries. It was small and persecuted. Christians lived very divides people into groups based on race, sexual identity, political different lives from the mainstream pagan society. They were con- affiliation, religion, as well as those who wear masks and those sidered a threat. Yet the Church grew. People began to want what who do not. It is an ideology that rejects the understanding that the Christians had. They lived lives of love, took care of one anoth- every individual has inherent dignity and worth. er and most of all, they exuded joy. The institutional Church, I believe, has been severely weak- In other words, we are called to deepen our faith and our spir- ened by the virus-induced suspension of Masses and restrictions itual lives. We can’t bring Christ to anyone unless we live the Faith to the sacraments. Mass in my diocese has resumed, but it is a deeply and passionately. This means that we will probably have strange experience. Attendance is down. My husband and I are to leave our comfort zones and change our approach to ministry. hearing from people who feel — rightly or wrongly — abandoned It is important to cultivate a community of believers in order to by the Church. There seems to be a lot of anger that began with spread the Gospel in truth and love. the last rounds of Church scandals and has intensified these last The virus shutdowns have made me realize that the work of few months of the pandemic. evangelization will have to occur, by necessity, in our neighbor- Unfortunately, in these days of chaos, the Church of Jesus hoods, streets and workplaces, and where the lonely, lost and Christ is needed more than ever. People are lost, lonely and fear- marginalized are. We have to live our faith so that people see ful. People need hope; and hope can only come through an inti- something different — something that sets us apart from the hate mate knowledge and faith in Jesus Christ. and anger that seems to permeate society. St. Augustine wrote that the human heart is restless until it It is unlikely that people will be persuaded by Christian ar- finds God. I suspect that many of the protesters in our streets guments or reasoning. It is impossible to argue with slogans and have restless hearts in search of meaning, purpose and love. If, hashtags, because there is seldom any cogent reasoning behind however, the institutional Church has been damaged to the ex- them. But if we truly live our faith, people will want to know why tent that people will not hear the Good News of the Gospel, how we have love, hope and joy. do we reach those who need to meet Jesus? Then each must “always be ready to give an explanation to Certainly, the clergy will have to roll up their sleeves and go anyone who asks you for a reason for your hope” (1 Pt 3:15). TD out into the world to meet people where they are in new and different ways. But as a layperson, I realize that 2020 is a call for us to SUSAN KEHOE is co-director of RCIA at Christ the King Parish in Des evangelize. The Second Vatican Council emphasized that the laity Moines, Iowa, along with her husband, Deacon Larry Kehoe. She writes has a unique role: to sanctify the world. at adeaconswife.com.

www.the-deacon.com | Our Sunday Visitor 65 RESOURCES

A Pilgrimage Book through Advent and Christmas

For those seeking to make a reflection and a space to journal thoughts life-changing pilgrimage, “Oriens: and feelings; some days Father Sember A Pilgrimage through Advent and Christ- presents questions to help with journaling. mas 2020” (OSV, $16.95) just may offer that The book covers 10 weeks, including Ad- Start the renewal journey. Oriens is the Latin word meaning vent and then the 40 days following Christ- “rising” and “dawn.” The book, by Father mas to the feast of the Presentation. As we Joel Sember of the Diocese of Green Bay, spend four weeks preparing for Christmas of your parish Wisconsin, begins with the First Sunday of through Advent, it is logical that we spend Advent and continues through the feast of 40 days celebrating Christmas. Maintain- the Presentation on Feb. 2. Each day, Fa- ing the devotional through Feb. 2 will help Exodus 90 is the 90-day spiritual exercise ther Sember guides pilgrims one step clos- readers continue to see Jesus in the ordi- er to “the dawn from on high.” nary and provide readers a boost through that is renewing Catholic men. “Oriens” will guide readers to meditate the post-Christmas lull of January. for themselves. “If you don’t really know “This Oriens journey may seem now Exodus 90 gives men a clear and simple path to freedom by returning how to pray with Scripture, this book will like a long one,” Father Sember says, “but walking pilgrimage. You take a little step to the fundamentals of Catholic spirituality: teach you,” says Father Sember. “If you al- you’ll be surprised at how quickly it passes. every day.” Along the way pilgrims will ready know how to pray, then it will help And you’ll enjoy those extra days.” discover that Advent and Christmas are Prayer Asceticism Fraternity you pray better.” He reminds readers that the Church more than destinations — they involve a Each week has a theme; each day has a designs Advent “to be more like a journey of the heart. Scripture and guided Fasting, abstinence, Brothers in Christ UHćHFWLRQVHDFKGD\ almsgiving supporting each other Boston Street Kid Shares Story Helping Parishes Sanctify Each Moment of Addiction and Redemption Why 90 days? Research shows that it takes just 90 days to rewire the brain, break bad habits Justin McClain has written and com- end meetings, bless- Jim Wahlberg and develop good patterns. In other words, it takes 90 days to uproot vice and grow in virtue. piled “Alleluia to Amen: The Prayer Book ing events, marking shares his per- for Catholic Parishes” (Ave Maria, $19.95), the launch of major sonal story as a written as a resource for parish leaders undertakings such as troubled street looking for prayers to offer outside of li- capital campaigns or kid who had the turgical celebrations. Using the calendar, gathering the com- art of “hustling” “What impressed me most was “Exodus 90 has made spiritual McClain uses original and traditional munity in times of down to a sci- the simplicity of the program. It was soldiers of the men in my parish by prayers to help lead faith communi- sorrow, unexpected ence. He was so good that I’ll get a group of my |u-bmbm]|_;lbm|_;0-Ѵ;rѴ-mv;7 ties in prayer with confidence and ease. crises and tragedy, but also in moments sent to prison These prayers could be used to begin or of thanksgiving and praise. twice but found parishioners to do it every year!” by so many saints before us.” that while he Fr. Kyle Kowalczyk Fr. Jonathan Norton was attempting to “hustle” a Catholic priest, the priest Reflection on St. Michael the Archangel actually “hustled” him. Wahlburg got The faithful at many of our parishes recite the prayer clean from alcohol and drugs and was to St. Michael the Archangel after Masses, but if you ever desired lifted out of his dire situation. Today, For resources and how to get to delve into this devotion, James Day’s new book, “Michael the he has dedicated his life to working Archangel” (OSV, $14.95), may be of interest. Day tells the com- with addicts and spreads the word Exodus 90 started at your parish, pelling story of God’s fearless protector, whom many have turned that recovery is possible. “The Big Hus- to during the darkest of times and while facing increasing diabol- tle” (OSV, $27.95) is a book of hope: The GO TO exodus90.com/PARISH ical movements. Day lays the foundation for the devotion, and hope is that God, “if we allow him, can he speaks of the battle lines drawn between good and evil. When turn our sin and our pain into a mis- we seek his protection, St. Michael will truly defend us against sion of love,” writes actor James Cavie- Satan. zel in the book’s foreword.

66 The Deacon November/December 2020 Start the renewal of your parish Exodus 90 is the 90-day spiritual exercise that is renewing Catholic men.

Exodus 90 gives men a clear and simple path to freedom by returning to the fundamentals of Catholic spirituality: Prayer Asceticism Fraternity Scripture and guided Fasting, abstinence, Brothers in Christ UHćHFWLRQVHDFKGD\ almsgiving supporting each other

Why 90 days? Research shows that it takes just 90 days to rewire the brain, break bad habits and develop good patterns. In other words, it takes 90 days to uproot vice and grow in virtue.

“What impressed me most was “Exodus 90 has made spiritual the simplicity of the program. It was soldiers of the men in my parish by so good that I’ll get a group of my |u-bmbm]|_;lbm|_;0-Ѵ;rѴ-mv;7 parishioners to do it every year!” by so many saints before us.”

Fr. Kyle Kowalczyk Fr. Jonathan Norton

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