PERMANENT
DEACON
On
Saturday, September 13, 2008, parishioner Gary Keefer, St. Joseph's first
deacon, was ordained into the order of permanent deacon. Deacons perform
a ministry of service and are involved in all kinds of hands-on works
of charity and care. Liturgically deacons preach, teach, baptize, witness
weddings, and conduct funerals and wake services. Click
here to learn more about Deacon Keefer.
"The
two words thank you don't seem adequate to express
my deep appreciation to the staff and all the parishioners of
St. Joseph Parish. Your outpouring of support, your love,
and generosity stirred in me a deep sense of humility.
Thank you, as a parish, for the gift o the beautiful alb. I will wear
it with honor and remember you every time I do. I ask that you keep
me in your prayers that I may be the servant you wish me to be and,
as always, you are in my prayers daily. Again, A Great Big Thank You."
- Deacon
Gary Keefer
Frequently
Asked Questions About Permanent Diaconate
Who is a Deacon?
A deacon is an ordained minister of the Catholic Church. There are three
"orders" of ordained ministers in the Church: bishops, presbyters,
and deacons. Deacons are ordained as a sacramental sign to the Church
and to the world of Christ, who came "to serve and not to be served."
The entire Church is called by Christ to serve, and the deacon, in virtue
of his sacramental ordination and through his various ministries, is
to be a servant in a servant-Church.
What are the
various ministries of the Deacon?
As ministers of Word, deacons proclaim the Gospel, preach, and teach
in the name of the Church. As ministers of Sacrament, deacons baptize,
lead the faithful in prayer, witness marriages, and conduct wake and
funeral services. As ministers of Charity, deacons are leaders in identifying
the needs of others, then marshaling the Church's resources to meet
those needs. Deacons are also dedicated to eliminating the injustices
or inequities that cause such needs. But no matter what specific functions
a deacon performs, they flow from his sacramental identity. In other
words, it is not only WHAT a deacon does, but WHO a deacon is, that
is important.
Why do some
deacons become priests?
For many years ordained ministers "ascended" from one office
to another, culminating in ordination to the presbyterate, or priesthood.
The Second Vatican Council (1962-1965), however, authorized the restoration
of the diaconate as a PERMANENT order of ministry. So, while students
for the priesthood are still ordained deacons (transitional) prior to
their ordination as priests, there are more than 13,000 deacons in the
United States alone who minister in this Order permanently. There is
no difference in the sacramental sign or the functions between these
so-called "transitional" and "permanent deacons."
May married
men be ordained deacons?
Yes. The Second Vatican Council decreed that the diaconate, when it
was restored as a permanent order in the hierarchy, could be opened
to "mature married men," later clarified to mean men over
the age of 35. This is in keeping with the ancient tradition of the
Church, in which married men were ordained into ministry. Also in keeping
with ancient practice is the expectation that while a married man may
be ordained, an ordained man, if his wife should die, may not marry
again without special permission.
Is a Deacon
ordained for the Parish or the Diocese?
Whenever a person is ordained, he is to serve the diocesan Church. Deacons
are no different in this regard: they are assigned by the bishop to
ministries for which the bishop perceives a great need, and for which
the deacon may have special gifts or talents. Most often, this will
be within a parish setting, just as most priests minister under the
immediate supervision of the pastor. However, this assignment may be
changed at the request of the deacon or the initiative of the bishop.
LAY
LEADERS OF PRAYER Leaders
of Prayer are lay persons commissioned to lead the faithful in the following
acts of worship, which in the past were most often led by ordained clergy.
Services that they may provide include:
1. Liturgy of the
Hours (Morning and Evening Prayer)
2. Liturgy of the Word
3. Rites from the Order of Christian Funerals, such as the Wake Service
and Rite of Committal
4. Public devotions, such as the Rosary, Stations of the Cross, and
novenas
5. Sunday celebrations and Holy Days of Obligation when, in an emergency,
a priest cannot be present
6. Minor rites within the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults
Leaders
of Prayer are to be selected by their pastors, in consultation with parish
staff and/or appropriate members of pastoral council, and should be persons
who exhibit the following traits:
1. A living appreciation
for Scripture and a deep reverence for the Eucharist.
2. An active prayer life and an exemplary moral life.
3. A spirit of cooperative involvement and leadership with the laity
and clergy of the parish community.
4. Both a strong desire and an ability to foster liturgical participation.
5. Skills in public speaking.
6. A commitment to ministry and the time to minister.
Formation for Leaders
of Prayer is provided by the Diocese, and persons who have successfully
completed formation are commissioned by the Bishop for service in their
parishes. The commission last for three years and is renewable. St. Joseph's
is fortunate to have Al Roberts, Joanne Sawyer and Arlene Hilfer who are
currently commissioned to serve as Leaders of Prayer.
LITURGICAL
MINISTERS The Mass servers, lectors,
children's homilists, and Eucharistic Ministers lend their talents to
help provide a meaningful worship experience, and are trained and coordinated
by the Worship Committee, our Director of Religious Education, and the
pastor. Look for training and volunteering opportunities by clicking on
the button above.
Scheduling for Servers,
Lectors and Eucharistic Ministers is handled by the DeLair Family. Any
major changes are to be called into them prior to the new schedules' release
(generally 3-4 months at a time). Liturgical Ministers will be notified
when to pick up their new schedules in the narthex. It is each person's
responsibility to find a replacement for those occasional times when you
are unable to serve in your ministry. Your involvement and participation
is appreciated.
Lectors
and Eucharistic Ministers The
proclaiming of the Word of God and the distribution of Eucharist
are important ways parishioners may minister. Discerned by the pastor,
parishioners are asked to serve and informational training sessions are
held annually or as needed.
Serving As
a Lector
When you answer your Baptismal call to be a minister of the word or
Lector (one who proclaims the Bible readings to the assembled faith
community), you enter a deeper relationship with the word of God as
revealed in sacred scripture. You take upon yourself the duty and privilege
of bringing the printed word to life - making it flesh, so to speak.
This ministry, as a reader gives voice to God's healing and strengthening
word as it goes forth, achieving the purpose for which God sent it.
In every sense, you become a prophet - one who speaks for God. If you
share the passion to want to know more about God's word and want to
share your time and talent of "speaking" God's word, please
consider becoming a Lector!
What
are the rewards of becoming a Lector?
As a Lector/Commentator you will
engage in active
participation of your faith,
strengthen and
reinforce your faith by learning more about the Word of God,
experience fellowship
among your brothers and sisters of our Ministry and the greater faith
community,
establish a closer
relationship and understanding of God, yourself, and the community,
and obtain personal
growth within our faith.
Those having received
the sacrament of Confirmation are eligible to serve. You are also required
to be a registered parishioner and a Roman Catholic in good standing
with the Church (practices their faith regularly, by attending Sunday
Mass, Holy Days of Obligations, church and community service, participant
of a church ministry). Our ministry offers a workbook of readings for
the current liturgical year, training, advance schedules, and commissioning
of lectors.
Serving As
A Eucharistic Minister
(Extraordinary Minister of the Eucharist)
Your willingness to serve as an Extraordinary Minister of the Eucharist,
reflects not only response to your Baptismal call to serve the people
of God, but a commitment to Christ as you share in the preaching, teaching,
and leading aspects of the church. A suitable candidate should have
a devotion to the Eucharist and possess the time, health, and willingness
to serve in this capacity. The individual must be a practicing Catholic,
having been Baptized and Confirmed in the Catholic Church, and have
an on going relationship with the parish as a registered, active participant.
Because the Eucharistic Minister is a minister of service, it is important
that the candidate possess a serious and mature faith commitment. The
person knows what it means to say, "the Body of Christ, the Blood
of Christ". Your willingness to commit to a monthly schedule, to
prepare properly for your service, and to arrive on time dressed appropriately
for your assigned Mass, further reflects that commitment.
"The
Eucharist constitutes the very life of the Church,
for the Lord said, I am the bread of life.
No one who comes to me shall ever be hungry,
no one who believes in me shall ever thirst."
Altar Servers
Serving the priest during Mass is a very special privilege. Servers help
everyone at Mass to pray better by the way they perform their duties and
are setting an example for others to follow. Boys and girls 4th grade
or older may become altar servers. Training, typically coordinated by
the Worship Committee, is usually held once a year (please contact the
Parish Office or
refer to the bulletin for scheduled training opportunities). Click on
the training opportunities button for more information.
Eucharistic
Bread Bakers Providing
home baked bread for communion at the weekend Masses by following a specific
recipe that conforms to the liturgical guidelines, volunteers are scheduled
on alternating basis for two or three weekends a year. Training for bakers
of our Eucharistic Bread take place on an annual basis by our chairperson,
Terry Murphy. Schedules are coordinated through the Parish Office. Click
on the training opportunities button for more information.
Mass Setup There are dozens of small details that go into the preparation
of each weekend Mass including arranging the altar linens, selecting the
Eucharistic service pieces, checking the bread and wine, and other
numerous duties. This requires knowledge of the liturgical calendar and
close coordination with the Worship Committee. Click on the training opportunities
button for more information.
MUSIC
MINISTRY Music
is considered an integral part of worship at St. Joseph Parish. Cantors,
choir, and instrumentalists are all an important and enhancing part of
the sacred liturgy. The choir is not just for special occasions. If you
have a love and a talent for music, please consider joining this friendly
group and participate in one or more aspects of Music Ministry. Click
here for more information.
CHURCH
LINENS It is easy to overlook many of the basic, unheralded activities
that are needed to keep a parish running smoothly. The church linens including
altar and communion cloths, need regular and expert laundering.
USHERS & HOSPITALITY MINISTERS This is an important and visible part of St. Joseph Parish.
In addition to greeting people as they come into church, ushers assist
in the offertory collection and procession, distribute parish bulletins
after Mass, and assist in other special duties as needed. If you would
like to be an usher/hospitality minister, please contact Parish
Office.
BAPTISM
MINISTRY As
the first Initiation Sacrament we receive, Baptism is a key event in the
lives of those receiving it, their families, and the community of St.
Joseph's. Many people in the parish give of their time to make Baptism
a memorable experience. Baptismal Font Maintenance - The baptismal font itself often needs
routine maintenance, as well as regular cleaning. This is handled by Kevin
Kotkowski. Baptismal Gowns - For infants particularly, the tradition of a
white baptismal garment adds to the beauty and solemnity of the occasion
as a sign of the new life of Christ. The tradition of hand crafting baptismal
garments for babies and small children and RCIA continues (the late Leona
Redhead lovingly provided for many years, then Carol Cox, Kathy Singer
and now Annette Carlisle).
For further information on Baptizing your child, click
here or contact the Parish
Office.
WEDDING
COORDINATOR
There is expert, one-to-one assistance available to engaged couples as
they contemplate their church wedding. The coordinator, Chuck Casalicchio,
helps them at
the rehearsal, ceremony, and with other details
as needed (in addition to meetings with the pastor). If you are planning
a wedding, click here
or
contact the Parish Office.
CHURCH
CLEANERS Our crew
of adults, teens and families help keep our worship space clean and welcoming
throughout the year. Two people are scheduled about once every six weeks
to vacuum and straighten the church and narthex. Before Christmas and
Easter, a major cleaning of the church takes place on a designated Saturday
morning to help make the church shine for the holidays. New recruits are
always welcome. Please contact Parish
Office for further details.
FUNERAL
LUNCHEONS
The Parish Community of St. Joseph would like to be of service for families
in their time of mourning. On behalf of the parish, the ladies of the
Funeral Luncheon Committee, coordinated by Jan Huter, provide luncheons
in the parish's Hughes Hall for a nominal fee. Their delicious menu is:
ham, sloppy joes, kielbasa and sauerkraut, scalloped potatoes, green beans,
salad tray, buns, bread and homemade desserts. This faithful crew would
gladly welcome anyone wishing to join them for this important ministry.
COLLECTION
COUNTERS This group assists the parish by counting collections taken at Masses.
Please contact the pastor at the Parish
Office (330.274.2253) with questions.