April-May 2009 - Deacons

Volume 5 Number 2
www.Deacons.ArchChicago.org
April-May 2009
Outstanding ministry
recognized
An interview with
Bishop Rassas
By Dave Brencic
By Richard F. Hudzik
Once again the men and
women honored for outstanding
contributions in ministry showed
the range and depth of service of
Chicago’s Diaconate Community.
Deacon Michael DeLarco of St.
Celestine in Elmwood Park was
honored at this year’s
Convocation with the St. Stephen
the Deacon Award. The award is
given to a man who exemplifies
everything a deacon should be
and who is above average in
overall ministry.
DeLarco was lauded for the
way he quietly goes about serving
his parish and God’s people. He is
involved in marriage preparation,
is part of the wake visitation
team and does communion calls
In This Issue:
From the Editor ..................2
Views from the Vicar ............3
Mandated reporter training ....4
Diaconate web site ..............4
Mayslake Ministries ..............5
Memories of a baptism ..........5
NADD meeting ....................6
Summer scripture seminar .....7
Learning center .................7
Obits, Community news ........8
Entrepreneurial deacons .......9
Ecumenical events ...............9
Stritch Retreat House ......... 10
Office of Peace & Justice .... 10
Holy Land pilgrimage .......... 11
Grassi talk at Convocation ... 15
Calendar ......................... 16
Deacon Mike DeLarco is presented with the St.
Stephen the Deacon award by Rev. Mike
Ahlstrom.
and is involved in many parish
projects, but always behind the
scenes.
He ministers to the newly
ordained by leading an Emmaus
group with his wife and has
served on the Diaconate Council
both as a member and officer.
For several years, he has been
teaching a man who never
graduated high school how to
read.
His pastor paid him perhaps the
ultimate compliment: “I wish I
could clone him.”
The St. Philip Award, for
ministry in the field of
evangelization, was given to
Deacon Kenneth Jenney of St.
(Continued on page 14)
Deacon Ken Jenney receives the St. Philip
award.
THE NEWSLETTER
OF THE
Early on a February morning at
the start of one of Bishop George
Rassas’ typically busy days, The
Flame was able to meet with the
bishop for an interview over
breakfast. Multi-tasking seems to
be the only way to handle his
multitude of tasks as Episcopal
Vicar of Vicariate I. At a modest
Libertyville restaurant, between
bites of a Belgian waffle and sips
from his iced tea, the bishop was
able to offer Chicago’s Diaconate
community a few reflections.
Q. Tell us something about
yourself that we should know?
A. I have always loved being a
priest and a pastor. It has been
the best of endeavors and, as a
bishop, I continue to be a
pastor, although in a different
manner than when I was engaged
in a single parish. The best part
of what I do is to be with the
people — both with the
parishioners in the vicariate, as
well as being with the priests,
the deacons and the staffs and
the men and women religious.
Celebrating the Eucharist with
the people is life-giving for me —
whether as part of the
Confirmations or otherwise.
I have had the opportunity to
work for a number of years at
the Pastoral Center, as well as
at the parishes. Prior to 1991, I
was the director of Family
CHICAGO DEACONS
(Continued on page 12)
PAGE 2
A few random thoughts…
If you were unable to make the
Convocation this year, you missed an
absolutely wonderful talk by Father
Dominic Grassi. I think it was one of the
most affirming, challenging talks I’ve
heard as a deacon. Throughout his talk,
Fr. Grassi raised rhetorical questions for
deacons and their wives to ponder.
Have you ever thought what your life
would be like if you were not a deacon
or a deacon’s wife? What kind of impact
would it have on your family, your
relationship with God, the church and
your parish?
Those were the kinds of questions we
were asked to think about.
When people comment on the many
things I do around the parish or in
ministry, my response is: “Well, it keeps
me out of the bars.”
Actually, I cannot imagine my life
The Flame
A newsletter for the Chicago
Diaconate Community published
six times a year: February, April,
June, August, October, December
Publisher: Fr. Michael Ahlstrom
Editor: Dave Brencic
Staff: Dennis Colgan, Dan
Dietsch, Clare Faherty, Chick
O’Leary
Submit Articles and photos to:
Office of the Diaconate
Archdiocese of Chicago
816 Marengo
Forest Park, IL 60130
Ph: (708) 366-8900
Fax: (708) 366-8968
Deadline for submissions for the
next issue is May 15, 2009
Email:
DeaconNews@ArchChicago.org
The Flame is also viewable
online at:
www.deacons.archchicago.org
Printed by the generosity of J.
S. Paluch Company, Franklin
Park, Illinois. Publisher of
bulletins, vocation and
stewardship calendars, and of
World Library Publications'
assortment of music and liturgy
resources.
THE FLAME
without being a deacon. I feel so truly
blessed to be an instrument for the
Lord, to bring his presence to those who
are hurting, to bring his presence in the
waters of baptism, to bring his presence
to someone searching for faith.
Thank you Fr. Grassi for the food for
thought. I’m still feasting on your
morsels of wisdom.
I’m just putting something out there
for consideration. We don’t get too
much feedback on the things we run in
The Flame, but it has been suggested
that we have an opinion corner where
deacons and wives could sound off
(within reason of course) on issues or
concerns.
Is there interest out there for
something like this? Please, let us know
by email – here’s a chance to use your
Archdiocesan email address -- and send
it to deaconnews@archchicago.org or
dbrencic@archchicago.org.
Algunos pensamientos
sueltos...
Si no pudieron asistir a la
Convocación este año, se han perdido de
una charla absolutamente maravillosa
dada por el Padre Dominic Grassi. Creo
que fue una de las charlas más acertada
y llena de desafíos para los diáconos.
Durante ella, el P. Grassi planteó unas
excelentes preguntas para el
discernimiento de los diáconos y sus
esposas.
¿Alguna vez te has puesto a pensar en
como sería tu vida si no fueras diácono o
la esposa de un diácono? ¿ Qué impacto
tendría esto en tu familia, en tu relación
con Dios, la Iglesia y tu parroquia?
Estas fueron algunas de las preguntas
que nos hizo para que pensemos en ellas.
Cuando la gente comenta de las
muchas cosas que hago en la parroquia o
en mi ministerio, mi respuesta es:
“Bueno, esto me tiene lejos de los
bares”.
Actualmente, no puedo imaginar mi
vida sin ser diácono. Me siento realmente
bendecido por ser un instrumento del
Señor, de poder llevar su presencia a los
que están sufriendo, de llevar su
presencia en las aguas del bautizo, de
llevar su presencia a aquellos que están
en busca de fe.
Gracias, P. Grassi por todo ese
alimento para el pensamiento. Todavía
me estoy dando un banquete con esos
pedacitos de sabiduría.
Estoy poniendo algo para su
APRIL-MAY 2009
The submissions could be short … a
couple of paragraphs or 200 words. How
about it?
Those of you who follow this column
know my son Dan has been studying
abroad in Kenya for the past 6½
months. He comes home at the end of
April. So this Lent has been a season of
continued watching and waiting for my
wife Jane and I and our daughter
Jennie.
He won’t be home until after Easter so
our Lenten “fast” will continue a little
longer. I don’t think I would ever say
this, but thank God for the Internet. I
never dreamed we would have been
able to keep in touch with him like we
have.
Lastly, I pray that all of you and your
families have a blessed Easter. May the
Risen Lord fill your lives with new life.
Keep the fire burning,
Deacon Dave Brencic, editor
consideración. No recibimos muchos
comentarios acerca de las cosas que
escribimos en “The Flame”; pero se nos
ha sugerido que tengamos un esquinita
para dar opiniones, donde los diáconos
puedan exponer sus problemas y dudas
(claro, dentro de la razón).
¿Están interesados en algo así? Por
favor déjenoslo saber por correo
electrónico – aquí tienen una razón para
usar el nuevo correo electrónico que
recibieron de la Arquidiócesis- y manden
su correo a deaconnews@archchicago.org
o a dbrencic@archchicago.org
Pueden mandar algo pequeño...unos
párrafos o unas 200 palabras. ¿Qué les
parece?
Aquellos de ustedes que leen esta
columna, saben que mi hijo Dan ha
estado estudiando en Kenya por seis
meses y medio. Él llegará en abril, así es
que esta temporada de Cuaresma ha sido
una constante espera tanto para mi como
para mi esposa Jane y nuestra hija
Jennie.
El no llegará hasta después de Pascua,
así es que nuestra vigilia de Cuaresma se
alargará un poco. Nunca pensé decir
esto, pero, gracias a Dios por el Internet,
ya que sin el nunca hubiéramos podido
mantenernos en contacto con Dan como
lo hicimos.
Y por último, rezo para que ustedes y sus
familias tengan unas benditas
Pascuas. Que el Señor resucitado llene
sus vidas de nueva vida.
Mantengan el fuego encendido,
Diácono David Brencic, editor
THE NEWSLETTER
Views from the Vicar
Let me begin by wishing all of you
a very blessed and joy-filled Easter
season!
Easter is the longest of our
liturgical seasons, extending for 50
days. It is the time of Mystagogy or
exploring the mysteries of our faith.
In the ancient church, the newly
baptized first learned the meaning
of the sacraments they received at
the Easter Vigil. It is a time for us to
reflect more deeply on our
sacramental initiation, which was
renewed at Easter. As our neophytes
continue to learn the mysteries of
faith, we might consider our own
need for ongoing formation.
Every three years every active
deacon is required to have anywhere
from 18 to 100 hours of ministerial
development, depending on seniority
in both ministry and biological age. I
OF THE
CHICAGO DEACONS
consider this quite minimal. None of
us would want to go to a physician,
or even an auto mechanic, who was
not keeping up with the latest
information for taking care of us, be
it our bodies or our cars. We can
never learn enough.
Besides our formal ministerial
development sessions, we also need
to read. Would it be too much to
expect everyone to read two or
three good books a year? Every good
homilist and teacher I know are avid
readers. We need to feed our minds
as much as we do our bodies.
Reading is how we do this.
Speaking of which I would like to
tell you something new we have
developed at our Deacon Center
(what I like to call the Diaconate
Office) in Forest Park. It is our
Diaconate Library. Associate director
Enrique Alonso has taken on the
Herculean task of sorting through
and cataloging all our books,
Reflexiones
Del Vicario
última información, para que atienda
nuestro cuerpo o nuestro carro.
Además, nunca podemos aprender lo
suficiente.
¡Quiero comenzar por desearles
unas Felices Pascuas, llenas de
bendiciones y de la felicidad de la
temporada Pascual! La Cuaresma es
la más larga temporadas litúrgica,
que se extiende por 50 días. Es el
tiempo de Mistagogia, o de explorar
los misterios de nuestra fe. En la
Iglesia Antigua, los nuevos
bautizados, recién aprendían el
significado de los sacramentos que
habían recibido, en la Vigilia Pascual.
Este es un tiempo para que nosotros
reflexionemos profundamente en
nuestra iniciación sacramental, que
renovamos en la Pascua. Mientras los
neófitos continúan aprendiendo los
misterios de la fe, deberíamos
considerar la necesidad de nuestra
formación continua. Cada tres años
todos los diáconos activos requieren
tener entre 18 a 100 horas de
desarrollo ministerial, dependiendo
de sus años de ordenación y de su
edad. Considero que esto es algo
mínimo. Ninguno de nosotros quisiera
ir al medico, o hasta a un mecánico
que no se mantienen al día con la
Además de nuestras sesiones de
desarrollo ministerial, también
tenemos que leer. ¿ Sería mucho
esperar que todos lean dos o tres
buenos libros al año? Todos los
buenos homilistas y profesores que
conozco, son buenos lectores.
Necesitamos alimentar nuestra
mente lo mismo que nuestro cuerpo y
lo hacemos a través de la lectura.
Hablando de esto, quisiera
avisarles de algo nuevo que hemos
desarrollado en nuestra oficina en
Forest Park. Tenemos una nueva
biblioteca. Nuestro Director Asociado
Enrique Alonso se ha tomado el
trabajo monumental de catalogar
todos nuestros libros, folletos,
videos, DVD’s, VHS, CD’s y cassetes.
Tenemos material en inglés y en
español, y él ha preparado un
catálogo en los dos idiomas. Lo
pondremos en nuestra red o si
quieren se los podemos mandar por
correo, si nos llaman al (708) 3668900. Están bienvenidos a visitarnos y
ver lo que tenemos. No hay ningún
PAGE 3
booklets, video DVDs and VHS tapes,
audio CDs and cassettes. We have
material available in both English
and Spanish. He has prepared both
an English and Spanish catalog for
you to use. We now have the catalog
available either on our Web site, or
we can mail you a copy, if you phone
us at (708) 366-8900. You are always
welcome to come and browse. There
is no charge for borrowing material.
I know there are times when I do not
have the time I would like to read. I
now listen to many audio CDs and
tapes, as I spend eight to 10 hours a
week driving around our
archdiocese. It is a great way to
keep up. Others like to listen as they
walk, bike or jog. Please take
advantage of this new resource. We
need to be grateful for Enrique for
making this possible.
The last thing I want to be guilty
of is being a liturgical fussbudget. I
(Continued on page 11)
cargo si
quieren
prestarse algún
material. Hay
algunos
momentos en
que no tengo
tiempo para
leer, así es que
mientras
manejo escucho algún CD o cassette,
durante las 8 o 10 horas que paso en
el carro. Es una buena manera de
mantenerse al día. Por favor
aprovechen este nuevo recurso que
les estamos ofreciendo, gracias a
Enrique que lo hizo posible.
Lo último que quiero ser es un
molestoso de la organización de la
liturgia. Les traigo el siguiente ritual
minutiae, solo porque sé que a
algunos les gusta aprender la forma
correcta de hacer las cosas. Lo
primero es que, cuando llenen la
Forma C del rito de penitencia, se
supone que tienen que hacerlo con
las cosas positivas que Cristo está
haciendo por nosotros. Cuando digan
“por todas las veces que fallamos en
hacer...” ustedes están alejándose
(Continued on page 11)
PAGE 4
New mandated
reporter training
Mandated reporter training for
all clergy is being required by
the Chicago Archdiocese as part
of the efforts to protect
children and youth.
Fr. Mike Ahlstrom, vicar for
the Diaconate, in a letter sent
to deacons, said: “All clergy by
law are mandated reporters.
When we become aware of a
child we suspect is being abused
or in danger, we must report
this … We need training to
better learn what to report and
how to go about reporting it.”
The training counts toward
ongoing ministry formation
New Diaconate
web site
With the move of the Pastoral
Center to Quigley, the serving
equipment for our old web site
needed to be changed. To
conform with the agencies of the
archdiocese, we opted to change
the domain name as well. You
can access the new web site at:
http://deacons.archchicago.org.
As in the past, all death
notices will be posted. You can
also download any form you
need for the Diaconate Office,
such as Ministerial Hours Report,
Retreat Reimbursement,
Continuing Education
reimbursements and the like.
Major meetings will be posted,
and there is a place for the
Vicariate Coordinators to post
events.
The retreat schedule is posted,
and you can link to the Cardinal
THE FLAME
hours. Please be sure to record
the date and place of the
training and make a copy of the
Certificate of Participation and
send it to the Diaconate Office
with your ID number. Keep a
copy of the compliance for
future reference.
There are six sessions being
offered in the next few months:
• April 14, 7 to 9:30 p.m., St.
Bernardine School, 815 S.
Elgin Ave., Forest Park.
• April 22, 7 to 9:30 p.m., St.
Emily, 1400 E. Central Road,
Mount Prospect.
• April 30, 7 to 9:30 p.m., St.
Stephen Deacon and Martyr,
17500 S. 84th Ave., Tinley Pk.
Stritch Retreat House web site
for more detailed information.
There also is a link to the
Deacon Formation Program.
Links are provided for
homiletics and references. There
also are places that list needs
for Diaconate service.
In the future, the site will
contain more pictures, and
perhaps the ability to input or
register online.
For the past six years, Pete
Lagges has maintained the web
site. He put the new site
together. Kevin Reynolds and
Chris Savage will now be taking
over. With the new format, it
should be possible to make the
site more user-friendly.
You can find
The Flame
online at:
Deacons.ArchChicago.org
APRIL-MAY 2009
• May 30, 9 to 11:30 a.m.
Cardinal Meyer Center, 3525
S. Lake Park Ave., Chicago.
• June 26, 1 to 3:30 p.m., St.
Paul the Apostle, 6401 Gages
Lake Rd., Gurnee.
• June 27, 9 to 11:30 a.m.,
Archbishop Quigley Center,
835 N. Rush St., Chicago.
You must register within
seven days of the training
selected. To register, email
rrobinson@archchicago.org or
call (312) 534-5254. When
registering, give your name,
address, phone, that you are a
deacon and the parish to which
you are assigned.
Mayslake Ministries will present
the following programs:
April 24-26: “A Closer Look”
women’s retreat at Oscar
Swan Country Inn by Dr.
Diane Stephens.
July 24-26: “Embracing Your
Mystical Heart” women’s
retreat at Oscar Swan
Country Inn by Dr. Mary
Amore.
Sept.18-20: “Finding Our
Voice in the Lost Women of
the Bible” women’s retreat
at Oscar Swan Country Inn
by Dr. Mary Amore.
Reservations at:
www.mayslakeministries.org or
(630) 323-1620.
THE NEWSLETTER
OF THE
CHICAGO DEACONS
trip to the Holy Land. The words
Dennis spoke brought tears to
my eyes. He slowly poured water
from a pitcher into a bowl. “This
is Lake Michigan water … the
water with which Douglas will be
raised.” Dennis spoke softly.
Then, taking the first bottle, he
poured a few drops into the bowl
saying, “This is the water from
the Sea of Galilee with which
PAGE 5
been called! They were living
out that call! Before my eyes
stood two men who truly loved
By Connie Gronek
God and who were deeply
Three-month-old Douglas
honored to serve in this precious
James looked angelic in his
ministry. Mere words cannot
baptismal, snowy-white gown.
adequately describe the pride
His grandpa Ron looked
and love I felt that day for my
overwhelmed and proud in his
deacon husband. But, I’m sure
embroidered white alb. Both
all deacon wives have known
were celebrating a very special
that same feeling.
day. Little Douglas was being
My mind flashed back to
welcomed into his Christian
4½ years before when Ron
community while Deacon
and I were first being
Ron was baptizing his very
interviewed by Brother Joe
first grandson. Douglas was
and Sister Theresa as
celebrating his Christian
candidates for the
rebirth and Ron was
formation program. The
th
celebrating his 56
other candidate couple who
birthday. To complete the
joined us that evening was
scene, a sandal-clad
Dennis and Nancy Dunn.
Deacon Dennis Dunn stood
Although we didn’t know
by in the center of the
each other back then, the
beautiful and spacious
Lord had a plan. He had
marble sanctuary of St.
brought us together for a
Joseph’s Church in
purpose. Through the
Libertyville.
Douglas is baptized by his grandfather Deacon Ron Gronek as
formation program, our
It was a touching liturgy. Deacon Dennis Dunn stands by.
friendship has blossomed
It began with Deacon
like the rose Ron spoke
Jesus was raised.” Finally, he
Dennis leading Douglas, his
about. On our faith journey,
took the second bottle and
parents, godparents and all the
we’ve found true friends. What a
poured a few drops from it
relatives’ young children from
blessing and joy this has been.
saying, “And this is the water
the back of the church in a slow
As we were leaving St.
from the River Jordan in which
procession into the sanctuary. As
Joseph’s
on that last day of
our Lord Jesus received his own
Douglas approached, each
September,
Dennis poured the
baptism from his Father.” The
relative along the way traced
baptismal
water
from the bowl
waters were then mingled and,
the sign of the cross on his little
into
a
glass
mason
jar and gave
with those waters, our grandson
forehead. Later, Deacon Ron’s
it to the parents as a keepsake
was baptized. I was overcome
homily spoke of the special love
for Douglas. Our daughter Wendy
with emotion as were most of
of two parents which had
and son-in-law Jim carefully
the relatives present. What a
blossomed into a beautiful rose,
took the jar home … a tangible
wonderful, blessed moment!
a child of God.
and living reminder of their son’s
It was very rewarding for me
But, perhaps, the most
baptismal day. Little Douglas
to see before me two men who
memorable moment occurred
will have no recollection of this
had worked so very hard for
when Dennis displayed two
event, but we will treasure the
four, long years. Each had
bottles of water. “This is no
memory of this most holy day for
survived their many personal
ordinary water,” he said. We
many years to come … especially
struggles through the process.
soon learned that one bottle
Grandpa!
Each had agonized over many
contained water from the River
difficult issues and situations.
Jordan and the other contained
This article was reprinted with
Each had overcome their feelings
water from the Sea of Galilee.
permission from Deacon Digest. It
of uncertainty. Yet, each glowed
Both were brought back by a
originally appeared in 1996. Deacon
with a radiant peace. They had
parish couple who had been on a
Dennis Dunn died in October 2008.
Memories of a baptism
PAGE 6
NADD to explore
deacons’ roles
By Bob Puhala
So the National Association of
Diaconate Directors is coming to
Chicago, with hundreds of
directors heading deacon
formation programs in the
United States and Canada
gathering at River North’s
Holiday Inn Mart Plaza hotel
April 22-25. Does this
convention, themed “The
Deacon as a Prophetic Voice,”
have any real meaning for the
Diaconate community of the
Archdiocese of Chicago?
In several ways, it does. While
attendance at the gathering is
limited to deacon directors of
formation programs and their
staffs, the theme of the
convention reminds us of the
mission of both the Church and
its deacons: to announce, bear
witness, make present and
spread the good news of Jesus
Christ. And as convention
subthemes explore the role of
the deacon as evangelizer,
ecumenist, and energizer (of
others for ministry), it calls on
all of us to more fully
understand that our ministry of
service is linked in a very real
and meaningful way with the
missionary dimensions of the
Church.
Simply put, the missionary
efforts of deacons (our ministry/
service to the Word, Liturgy and
Charity), are carried into daily
life in ways not possible for
other Catholic clergy. It is fitting
THE FLAME
to make the observation that our
ministry is no different than that
of St. Paul, whose jubilee year
we celebrate, and that as
deacons we share in the
Church’s missionary mandate as
a sacred right and obligation.
During the convention,
workshops explore formation
program experiences and
innovations (within the context
of the National Directory), and
allow directors to share issues
and concerns about planning and
programming. These touchstones
with other deacon directors are
good starting points with which
to continually evaluate Chicago’s
deacon formation program
within the context of successful
standards and practices, as well
as its compliance with the
National Directory. Such shared
experiences can only help to
further improve an already
strong and nationally respected
Chicago deacon formation
program – with an end result of
better formed deacons to serve
the people of the archdiocese.
Another hot topic of
conversation will be an
examination of the deacon as a
Parish Life Coordinator.
Basically, a PLC is appointed by
the Ordinary, and oversees dayto-day activities in a parish
setting. This is a model that
already is used in some (arch)
dioceses around the country. Of
course, the deacon PLC is not a
pastor (canonically he could
never hold such a position), but
collaborates with both the
bishop and a designated, multiparish pastor, to lead and
coordinate the daily faith
experiences of a parish
community.
The PLC model is not one
currently being used in Chicago.
But such possibilities raise all
sorts of questions. Is a deacon
APRIL-MAY 2009
who has been formed in our
four-year formation program
ready to take on life as THE
parish leader? Is there a need to
develop a separate formation
program that would train and
form deacons for this possible
role, or would this formation be
done in the already-existing
program? How do you identify
possible PLCs from the roster of
Chicago deacons? And are
deacons better choices for the
position of PLC than
appropriately degreed and
qualified lay persons?
Finally, the convention is an
opportunity for the Chicago
deacon community to offer a
Windy City welcome to our
brothers (and their wives), who
gather not only for ministry/
business, but for fellowship and
a chance to explore our vibrant
urban scene. You can offer your
personal welcome by
volunteering to help with a
variety of tasks that need to be
undertaken for a successful
convention. We still need
volunteers to assist with
registration, liturgy planning and
preparation, hospitality, hotel
guides and more. If you can offer
your ministry for this event,
please contact Anne Chrzan,
associate director of the Deacon
Formation Program, at
achrzan@usml.edu or (847) 9704981.
And if your ministerial duties
preclude you from offering your
talents to convention planners, I
ask that you pray for a
successful April gathering.
Anytime people of faith come
together to reflect, learn and
deepen their love in the Lord, it
is both a gift and grace.
Deacons.ArchChicago.org
THE NEWSLETTER
OF THE
Summer scripture
seminar set
“The Bible and Social Justice” is
the theme of the 2009 Summer
Scripture Seminar June 21-26 at
the University of St. Mary of the
Lake in Mundelein.
The program brings together
some of the top biblical scholars
and theologians in the United
States for a week of talks and
presentations. This year’s theme
should be of particular interest
to deacons as ministers of the
church most involved in social
justice.
Scholars participating this year
include:
• Fr. Felix Just,
S.J., is a noted
scholar on
Johannine
Literature and
the Book of
Revelation. Fr.
Just is associate
director of the Loyola Institute
of Spirituality in Orange, Calif.
• Fr. John
Donahue, S.J.,
whose specialty
is the synoptic
gospels,
especially Mark,
and the
parables. He is
the author of several books on
the Gospel of Mark and on
parables. Fr. Donahue is a
member of the Ecumenical
Institute of Theology of St.
Mary’s Seminary and University
of Baltimore.
• Fr. John Lodge,
noted Pauline
scholar, is
president of the
ecclesiastical
faculty of
CHICAGO DEACONS
PAGE 7
Learning Center
seeks director
The Summer Scripture Seminar of the Liturgical Institute will be held at University of St.
Mary of the Lake, Mudelein Seminary, June
21-26.
Mundelein Seminary and a
member of the seminary’s
Scripture Department.
• Dr. Margaret
MacDonald is a
noted Pauline
and postPauline scholar
and author of
the “Sacra
Pagina” volume
on Colossians
and Ephesians. McDonald is a
professor in the department of
religious studies at St. Francis
Xavier University in Antigonish,
Nova Scotia.
“The Summer Scripture Seminar
offers the insights of
distinguished scholars, time for
prayer and reflection and lively
fellowship with a dynamic
community,” said Fr. James
McIlhone, director of the
conference.
Registration is available for
individual days or for the entire
conference and for those who
wish to stay overnight or
commute. Registration forms
and more information are
available at
www.summerscripture.com or
call (847) 837-4558.
The Learning Center, an
education center serving adults
(older teenagers through
seniors; predominantly African
American and Latino) in the
inner-city of Chicago, is seeking
a new full-time executive
director.
This position demands the
ability to multifunction
administratively while
supervising staff members,
addressing student needs and
connecting with the broader
community. The position opens
July 1. Programs at the center,
located at 2153 S. Millard Ave.,
focus on ESL, GED and literacy.
Qualifications should include:
a bachelor’s degree or higher
with preference in area of
education and/or social work.
Experience with fundraising,
grant writing and public
relations is desirable. The
candidate must have the ability
to work well with others,
possess good administrative
skills and be willing to take on a
multitude of tasks.
The current executive director
is Sister Monice Kavanaugh, O.P.
For more information, contact
the Executive Director Search
Committee, c/o Robert Nickels,
558 Edgewood Place, River
Forest, IL 60305; email:
rt.nickels@gmail.com.
PAGE 8
In Memoriam
Deacon Vincente Estrada
Deacon Vincente
Estrada, 76,
class of ’89,
died March 17.
Deacon Estrada
is survived by
his wife Maria
Esther, their
children
Patricia,
Adrianna, Rocio, Judith and Edgar,
and 12 grandchildren.
Deacon Estrada ministered at
Immaculate Conception Church in
Chicago for 11 years. Prior to that
he served at St. Roman Church.
During his work life, he was
involved with auto body repair.
In addition to his liturgical
duties, Deacon Estrada and Maria
Esther were involved in pre-cana
for many years. He also spent
many hours visiting the sick at
home and in hospitals.
“He was happy, always giving.
He always put others before
himself,” said his daughter Rocio
Estrada. “He loved to tell stories.
People knew him for that. He
loved going before crowds and
speaking.”
Deacon Joseph Mally
Deacon Joseph Mally, 95, a
member of the class of 1977, died
in February. Deacon Mally served
at St. Adalbert’s Church in
Chicago since the 1990s, said
Father Michael Michelini, pastor.
Deacon Mally also ministered at
the old St.Vitus Church for many
years.
Deacon Mally was a longtime
resident of the neighborhood and
had “an outstanding love of the
poor,” said Father Michelini. “He
would do anything to help poor
THE FLAME
people … clothing, financial help.”
Over the years, he was involved
with youth ministry and worked
with the Boy Scouts, and helped
out with organizing the
fundraising for the parish.
“He really embodied the
Diaconal charisms,” Father
Michelini said.
During his work life, he was
employed by the U.S. Postal
Service and fought in France
during World War II. He is survived
by a sister.
Deacon John Pistone
Deacon John
Pistone, 76, a
member of the
first class of
1972, who
served the
Diaconate
community and
the Catholic
Church in a
variety of roles, died March 22.
In his long career of ministerial
service, Deacon Pistone served as
executive director of the National
Association of Deacon Directors,
executive director of the National
Conference of Catholic Bishops
Secretariat for the Diaconate, and
director of the Deacon Formation
Program for the Chicago
Archdiocese.
Deacon Pistone ministered at St.
Thomas of Villanova Parish in
Palatine for over 30 years and at
St. John Vianney in St. Pete
Beach, Fla., for two years.
He and his wife Rae gave over
90 retreats to deacons and wives
all over the United States and
Canada. He also was a frequent
contributor and columnist for
Deacon Digest magazine.
Deacon Pistone received the St.
APRIL-MAY 2009
Stephen’s Award and other
national awards during his years of
service.
During his work life, John was a
manager at Allstate Insurance
Company for 34 years.
"John has been a special friend
for many years, and his support
and love for the Diaconate was
second only to his love for his
family. We will miss him!" said Jim
Alt, publisher of Deacon Digest.
In addition to his wife, Rae, to
whom he was married for 52
years, he is survived by his
daughters Terri Cielsak, Julie
Turner, Kathy Erickson, Gia Miller,
and six grandchildren.
Community news:
Your prayers are asked for
those who have recently gone to
the Lord: Deacon Joe Mally, ’77;
Deacon Vicente Estrada, ’89;
Deacon John Pistone; Anna Loi
Ngyen, mother of Deacon Duc Van
Nguyen; Arlene Frugoli mother-inlaw of Deacon Dave Kalina, '08.
Among the sick, we commend
to your prayers: Tom Coffey,
Marvin Kocar, Roberto Figueroa,
Sabino Sanchez, Kenn Jenney,
Judy Finnegan Patricia Gniech,
Josette Pezowicz, Angelo
Cordoba, Edwin Martinez, Phil
White, David Brezinski, Donald
Palmer, Agnes Barrett, John Burt,
José Uroza, Emiliano Rodriguez,
Milton Rodriguez, Wilmer
Rodriguez, Arturo Velasco,
Bienvenido Nieves, Santos Soto,
Joaquin Varela, Luis Perez, John
Simmons, Ronald Wiener, William
Malloy, Cheryl Ann Gaca,
daughter of Ron and Linda
Morowczynski, Cheryl Becker,
Theresa Winter and Mary
Gronkiewicz.
Please contact the Diaconate
Office at (708) 366-8900 to add
the names of others who are sick
or deceased.
THE NEWSLETTER
Celebrating
entrepreneurial
deacons
By Don Grossnickle
The Holy Spirit works in
mysterious ways. Let’s take a
look at the role of deacon as
entrepreneurs for the Lord.
The history of the early church
describes moments of awakening
when widows and orphans felt
neglected. Entrepreneurial
leaders of the church knew
something should be done, but
they felt their place was in
teaching and proclaiming God’s
Word. Someone had a creative
idea: How about establishing a
new position with a new job
description — someone to look
after the affairs of the needy
while others continue to take
care of teaching?
So a new office was created,
what we now call deacons (see
Acts 6:1-6). The office of deacon
comprises those who are skilled
in many diverse areas, such as
administration, maintenance,
bookkeeping, housekeeping and
the like. It took entrepreneurial
thinking in the first century to
meet the needs of the many
OF THE
CHICAGO DEACONS
widows and orphans.
Today, the deacon is called
upon to be a creative and
inventive problem-solver.
Certainly, the challenge of how
to bring the “good news” to the
many — the deacon as missionary
— is entrepreneurial. Deacons
trying to get a ministry started
or resuscitated use skillful and
motivated entrepreneurial
charisms. Finding a way to break
through and letting God
empower healing often requires
creativity, perseverance,
determination, persistence,
resilience and more — all traits
of the entrepreneur.
Let’s celebrate the deacon
entrepreneur in ourselves. Let’s
find ways to bring that spirit
together to be shared, especially
during times of discouragement.
Growing in our ministry and
meeting the challenges of
leadership in the church most
certainly calls forth the blessed
partnership of the
entrepreneurial deacon and the
Holy Spirit.
Deacon Don Grossnickle serves as
executive director of Stauros USA an
entrepreneurial mission to bring
compassionate healing to those who are
suffering. Visit the Stauros web site at :
http://www.stauros.org/
PAGE 9
Upcoming
ecumenical events
Mark your calendars for these
upcoming ecumenical events.
•
Tuesday, May 5, 6 to 8:30
p.m.: 3rd Annual Abrahamic
Faiths Intersections on
Interfaith Dialogue. Speakers
will be Dr. Elizabeth Jeep,
Rabbi Asher Lopatin, Inam-ul
Haq at DePaul University –
Lincoln Park Student Center,
2250 N. Sheffield Ave.,
Chicago.
•
Wednesday, May 20, noon to
1:00 p.m.: 24th Annual
Memorial Observance for
Indigent Persons, First
United Methodist Church at
the Chicago Temple, 77 W.
Washington St., Chicago.
•
Thursday, October 1, 2009 –
6:30 – 8:30 p.m. Evening
Prayer for the 10th
Anniversary of the Joint
Declaration on the Doctrine
of Justification (JDDJ) Copresiders: Francis Cardinal
George, O.M.I. – President,
United States Conference of
Catholic Bishops; Bishop
Mark Hanson – President,
Lutheran World Federation
Homilist: Archbishop Wilton
Gregory – Atlanta, Georgia
Old St. Patrick’s Catholic
Church, 700 W. Adams St.,
Chicago.
For more information,
contact the Archdiocese of
Chicago’s Office for Ecumenical
and Interreligious Affairs at
(312) 751-5325 or visit:
http://www.archchicago.org/
departments/ecumenical/
eia.shtm.
Go to my brothers and tell them, “I am going to my Father and your Father, to my
God and your God.” Jn 20:17
(Church of the Holy Sepulcher at the Easter Vigil.)
PAGE 10
Update from Cardinal
Stritch Retreat House
By Richard F. Hudzik
And now for something
completely different.
“Sermon on the Mound:
Finding God in Baseball and the
Spiritual Lessons of the Game” is
the title for a day of reflection
for priests and deacons to be
held at Stritch Retreat House on
May 27. With a series of
reflections and sharing lunch (no
doubt, we will offer Ballpark
Franks and “col’ beer”),
participants will join Deacon Bob
Puhala in prayer and fellowship.
As Bob writes to us: “Whether
you’re a Cubs or White Sox fan,
you love the game of baseball.
Let’s spend the day together
reflecting on how God speaks to
us on the diamond of life by
using baseball and its metaphors
as our guiding tool. After a day
of finding God’s lessons in the
game, perhaps we’ll have a
better idea of what it takes to
make the final roster cut on
God’s team, or at least be given
a seat in the upper deck.”
Arrival and coffee will be at 9
a.m. and the first conference at
9:30 a.m. The day will conclude
with prayer at 3 p.m. Call the
retreat house to register. Watch
our Web page and your email for
further details and reminders.
In addition to Deacon Bob’s
offering in May, I remind you
that there is a Spanish language
retreat on the weekend of April
17-19 and a couples’ retreat May
1-3. On May 29, the Class of
1994 will begin their weekend.
There are only a few spots
remaining on the May 1 couple’s
retreat with Fr. Kevin Huber,
THE FLAME
vocations director of the Gary
Diocese.
Last but not least, here are
two other offerings which differ
from the usual weekend
retreats:
• First, consider joining a lay
retreat offered July 10-12 by
the Canons Regular of St.
John Cantius wherein the
spirituality of the Latin Mass
is explored
• Second, our annual directed
retreat for all ministers of the
Church will be held Aug. 2-8.
In this small, largely silent
retreat, each retreatant
meets daily, one-on-one, with
the retreatant’s assigned
spiritual director for a
conference. Daily Mass is
offered and the remainder of
your time is spent in silence,
rest and contemplation. We
have excellent directors for
this week: Kate Wiskus, DMin,
from the Mundelein Seminary
formation faculty; Rev.
Robert Schoenstene, a Joliet
Diocesan priest who is a
Scripture professor at the
seminary; and Sr. Georgene
Wilson, OSF, a full-time
spiritual director.
I heartily encourage you to
consider one or more of these
offerings. If we are serious about
the spiritual journey, we need to
devote the time apart to pray.
As worthy and important our
ministry work might be, we owe
it to those whom we love and
serve to give them the best of
the Lord’s life. We need to know
that life in order to pass it on.
Venite seorsum — Come away by
yourselves.
Deacon Richard F. Hudzik, is director of
Stritch Retreat House.
APRIL-MAY 2009
Office for Peace
and Justice
The CCHD Education Committee
that works on the planning and implementation of the annual Justice
Day is looking for volunteers to assist in 2009 Justice Day that will
focus on the economy. This committee meets every second Tuesday
of the month from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at
Quigley Center, 835 N. Rush St., in
Chicago. Contact Elena Segura at
(312) 534-5333 or
esegura@archchicago.org
Please join us in celebrating a
Mass for the Christians of Iraq at 2
p.m. Sunday, March 29, at St.
Gertrude Parish, 1420 W. Granville
Ave. in Chicago. Fr. Dominic Grassi
will be the celebrant. After Mass
there will be hospitality and an opportunity for networking with others concerned about the welfare of
Christians and all other vulnerable
populations in Iraq.
Do you know a veteran of the Iraq
or Afghanistan war who is living
with a brain injury? Would they
benefit from a day rehabilitation
program? The Midwest Brain Injury
Clubhouse has two scholarships
available specifically for veterans.
For more information, visit
www.braininjuryclubhouse.org or
call Deborah Giesler, executive director, at (312) 932-1120.
The Hank Center for the Catholic
Intellectual Heritage at Loyola University Chicago, in conjunction with
the Office for Peace and Justice,
will present a half-day conference
April 16 at Loyola’s Lakeshore Campus entitled, “Is Belief in God Irrational?” This conference will explore the rationality of belief in
God from the Catholic, Jewish,
Evangelical Protestant and Muslim
traditions. Francis Cardinal George
will give the opening remarks.
Registration begins at 9:30 a.m.
and the day will close by 3:30 p.m.
Contact Sarah Pilisz Babbs at (312)
534-3894 or
spilisz@archchicago.org.
THE NEWSLETTER
Reflexiones
del Vicario
(Continued from page 3)
de estar centrados en Cristo y se
vuelven egocéntricos, y de ser una
aclamación positiva centrada en la
gracia, la cambian en una aclamación
centrada en el pecado. Busquen en el
índice para encontrar ejemplos
apropiados. ¿Y qué les parece si solo
cantan “Señor ten piedad” en vez de
recitarlo?. Otra de las cosas es que
cuando hacen las Intercesiones
Generales, traten de no usar
“nosotros”. Se supone que debemos
rezar por otros: la iglesia, el mundo,
los pobres y nos necesitados. Además
deben ser hechas por el diácono y no
por el lector de la misa. El problema
que tenemos es que cuando se
reinstaló la oración de los fieles, no
había diáconos para que las hagan y
por eso las hacían personas laicas, así
como el sacerdote era el que tenía
que estar a cargo de todas las
lecturas en la misa antes del
Vaticano II, cuando no había diáconos
ni lectores que las hicieran. Ahora
tenemos diáconos y ellos deben
hacer lo que es propio de su rol,
aunque algunos piensen lo contrario,
basados en cuando vivían en AD
Views from the Vicar
(Continued from page 3)
bring up the following ritual
minutiae only because I know many
of you appreciate learning the
proper way of doing things. The first
of these is when it comes to
composing Form C of the penitential
rite. These are supposed to be
positive statements as to what Christ
is doing for us. When you say, “For
the times we failed to …,” you are
turning it from being Christ-centered
to being self-centered, and from
being a positive grace-centered
acclamation, to being a negative sincentered degradation. Look in the
appendix of the sacramentary (pgs.
363-366) for many seasonally
appropriate examples. And how
about singing a simple “Lord, have
mercy” instead of reciting it?
OF THE
CHICAGO DEACONS
PAGE 11
(antes de los diáconos.)
Lo tercero, son los ademanes.
Como me dijo una vez el Cardenal
George cuando yo estaba dando una
clase de liturgia, “ Diles a los
diáconos que como regla general,
ellos no tienen que hacer lo que está
haciendo el sacerdote. Cuando
imitan al sacerdote, se equivocan.”
Por ejemplo, algunos de los diáconos
hacen una venia como el celebrante
cuando el sacerdote hace una venia o
una genuflexión, o se bendicen,
cuando el sacerdote hace la señal de
la cruz durante la Oración de la
Eucaristía. ¡Una vez hasta vi a un
diácono extender sus manos como el
celebrante al decir las palabras de la
institución!
Y por último, algo que el diácono
siempre debe hacer es la despedida
al final de la liturgia. Por ejemplo,
aunque el sacerdote dirija las últimas
palabras en un funeral, el diácono
termina con “Llevemos a nuestra(o)
hermana(o) a su lugar de descanso”.
Desde luego mucho más importante
que todas estas pequeñas cosas, es la
teología y espiritualidad del rol del
diácono en la liturgia. Lo guardaré
para otra ocasión.
Padre Michael Ahlstrom
Another item is the composition of
General Intercessions. Avoid using
“us” and “we.” We are supposed to
be praying for others: the church,
the world, the poor and needy. Also
it should be the deacon, not a
lector, who leads the petitions. The
problem we have is that when the
Prayer of the Faithful was first
restored there were no deacons to
lead them. By default laypersons
lead them, just as the priest had to
do all the readings in the pre-Vatican
II Mass when there were no lectors
or deacons to do them. Now we have
deacons and they should do what is
proper to their role, even though
some think otherwise, based on their
still living BD (before deacons).
A third item is gesturing. As
Cardinal George once told me when I
was teaching the liturgy course,
“Tell the deacons that their rule of
thumb is not to do what the priest is
Holy Land pilgrimage
Bishop Joseph N. Perry will lead a
Holy Land Pilgrimage Nov. 27 to
Dec. 5, 2009.
Cost for the 10-day trip will be
$2,949 per person, double occupancy. (Add $539 for single occupancy.) It includes round-trip air
fare from Chicago to Tel Aviv, Israel, four nights of accommodations
in Jerusalem and three nights in
Tiberias, an air-conditioned coach
and English-speaking tour guide and
more.
Registration form with $600 deposit for each traveler required.
Call Bishop Perry for a copy of the
registration form and daily itinerary
at (708) 772-3791.
doing. When they imitate the priest
they mess up.” For example, some
deacons bow like a concelebrant
when the priests bow or genuflect,
or bless themselves, when the priest
makes the sign of the cross during
the Eucharistic Prayer. I once even
saw a deacon extend his hands like a
concelebrant at the words of
institution!
A final item is that the deacon
always does the dismissal at the end
of a liturgy. For example, even
though the priest leads the final
commendation at a funeral, the
deacon ends with “Let us take our
sister to her place of rest.” Of
course far more important than all
these little things is the theology and
spirituality of the deacon’s role at
liturgy. I will save that for another
issue.
Father Michael Ahlstrom
PAGE 12
THE FLAME
An interview with
Bishop Rassas
(Continued from page 1)
Ministries for the Archdiocese.
During this time, I had the best
of both parish lives as a resident
priest and as staff working
downtown. I was pastor for 14
years at St. Mary’s in Lake Forest
— a wonderful place where I
made many friends. I was vicar
general for a little more than a
year before being ordained a
bishop in 2006.
I was born in Baltimore and, if
you look at my Episcopal coat of
arms, you will see the cross of
Maryland. Maryland is important
to the presence of the Catholic
Church in the United States
because Maryland is where the
Church first took root in the
colonies. I grew up in Winnetka,
attended Quigley High School,
Niles College and Mundelein
Seminary. I was ordained a priest
on May 2, 1968.
Q. Do you have any words to
deacons to call them to a higher
or new or better service? What
would you like to see the
deacons do that they are not
now doing?
A. I have worked with the
Diaconate from the very
beginning of its founding here in
Chicago, and I witnessed its
development and increasing
confidence and abilities. I have
always been impressed with the
wide variety of ministries in
which deacons engage
themselves. This wide variety is
a positive in that a deacon, in
response to the promptings of
the Spirit, should pursue those
ministries for which a need
exists and for which he is
qualified. No individual should
try to be all things. We each
have different gifts. It is
Bishop George Rassas,Vicar for Vicariate I
important to do what we do
well. I would also like to
encourage all deacons to
continue their educations — to
deepen their theology and also
be attuned to responses of the
Church to new social conditions.
For example, consider the
extraordinary challenges today
in bioethics. We need to be
ready to respond thoughtfully
and faithfully. Simultaneously,
with the deepening of theology,
it should go without saying that
the deacon needs, as do we all,
to deepen his prayer.
In terms of the future, it
seems to be the case that there
may be increasing calls and
opportunities for the deacon to
serve ever more visibly in the
parish. As the Catholic
population grows and as the
deacons are enabled, and as the
presbyterate does not
necessarily increase in numbers,
there will be a need for the
deacon to consider how he might
further meet the day-to-day
needs of the parish in education,
liturgy, social service and
management of resources. There
likely will be increased
opportunities and needs for
more full-time ministries by the
deacons in the parishes.
APRIL-MAY 2009
Despite these increased
demands, the deacon is
expected to do the difficult task
of balancing the competing
requirements of work and
family. This mandates a life
resting upon the foundation of
prayer.
Q. If the Diaconate is primarily
envisioned in terms of its
charity, its liturgical service and
its teaching function, do you
personally argue for any
priorities here? Any “first among
equals” or ought we to hold the
three gifts in harmony and
balance?
A. I have always respected the
role of the deacon in the parish.
I have always been grateful for
the diversity of things that
deacons do. In the Diaconate’s
earliest days, it was my
observation that its spirituality
and formation flowed out of a
social justice awareness.
Certainly, that is a good thing.
However, in terms of prioritizing
the gifts of word, altar and
service, I would call for the
deacon to balance all three.
How this is lived out will vary
from deacon to deacon. As I
noted, it is my perception that
we all have different gifts and,
accordingly, how we respond to
God’s call will be shaped by the
blessings God has given us at this
moment in time. We need to
recognize and respect the
diversity of gifts — not everyone
is a teacher, not everyone is a
preacher, not everyone is an
organizer — but all of us are
listening to God’s call to service.
Q. How can deacons better
serve the Archdiocese of
Chicago? Related to that, how
can deacons better understand
that they are ordained for the
archbishop and not for the
(Continued on page 13)
THE NEWSLETTER
(Continued from page 12)
parish? How can deacons better
serve the bishops?
A. It seems quite natural that
there is an allegiance that a
deacon feels to his own parish,
the parish likely in which he
lives and in which his family
worships. Friendships are
created and sustained over the
years. Changing parishes can be
difficult. It is difficult often for
priests too to be reassigned.
Nevertheless, as I was moved
from assignment to assignment,
despite the initial inertia of
wanting to remain in the status
quo, I repeatedly came to see
that the move was an
opportunity for making
additional friendships. The
change wasn’t an abandonment
of what was known before. It
was an opportunity to see anew
the blessings that God has for us
in meeting his people. Not only
are new people met, but new
skills will be acquired as each
parish’s call for service will be
different.
Notwithstanding
the benefits of moving, there
does remain the difficulty of
navigating how a deacon might
serve at one parish, but have his
family remain behind at another
parish. In this situation, the
deacon will be called to discern
how he is to answer the needs of
the Church and also encourage
and foster the liturgical life of
his family.
Q. How do you view the
deacons’ wives’ role in the
ministry of their husbands?
A. I don’t think that there is a
singular answer to this question.
In line with my conviction that
each deacon is blessed with
different abilities, so too is each
marriage and each deacon’s wife
differently blessed. It would
OF THE
CHICAGO DEACONS
seem to me that husband and
wife should discern how, when
and if they are to collaborate in
ministry. If this collaboration is
fruitful for themselves, their
marriage and the Church, then,
by all means, they should pursue
it. However, if it is decided that
the deacon will pursue ministry
separately from his wife, then
that too should be honored.
Also, the couple will be mindful
that their understanding with
regard to ministry will likely
change as family circumstances
change — as children grow, as
health needs vary, as economics
prosper or falter.
Q. Are there any particular
areas in which you see the need
for greater involvement of
deacons on the level of parish,
vicariate or society in general
(i.e., where should deacons be
more involved)?
A. In addition to all that I have
said before, I would add that I
would like to see the deacons
and the wives be involved in
promoting vocations to serve the
Church. As we know from
priestly vocations, a primary
empowerment of vocations is
the personal invitation from a
priest to a young man to
consider the priesthood.
Certainly, a priest’s invitation
can be supported and validated
by the parents’ affirmation.
Moreover, it would seem that
the invitation to consider the
priesthood would be nullified by
the parents’ disapproval. Thus,
the Diaconate community has a
role to play in priest vocations.
However, it is also quite vital
that the Diaconate be engaged
in fostering all the different
vocations in the Church. Thus, I
would like to see the deacons
and their wives encouraging
PAGE 13
their own children, as well as
the young people and the not-soyoung people of the parishes, to
consider lives in the Diaconate,
in the professed religious orders
and as lay ministers.
Q. How should deacons pray?
A. I would hope that the
deacons and wives are praying
together as a couple. There is
little that is more intimate than
prayer together.
I think that we all know what
we ought to do. So often, our
prayer time is affected by how
we prioritize. As ministers,
prayer needs to occupy a key
and central place in our days.
Further, I would encourage all
who can to attend daily Mass.
Certainly, not everyone can due
to a variety of competing claims.
The Mass was a virtually daily
feature of my life from my
childhood, as I attended with my
parents. It has been and remains
a foundation for me. I know this
prayer will bring you closer to
God to be his better servant.
Bishop Rassas’ coat of arms honors
Maryland where the Catholic Church first
took root in the united States, and Sts.
Faith, Hope and Charity, the parish of his
youth.
PAGE 14
Outstanding ministry
recognized
(Continued from page 1)
Monica Parish in Chicago.
Jenney was recognized for his
work with Catholics who have
fallen away, those who desire to
become Catholic and those who
need reassurance of their faith.
He was described as a deacon
who “seeks out the lost, the
forgotten and those who aspire
to become members of the
faith.”
Jenney’s nomination also noted
his inspiring and uplifting
homilies and the hopeful message
he conveys for those who are
hurting. As stated in the
nomination: “There is no doubt
that he is called by God to do His
work.”
Others who were nominated for
the St. Philip Award included:
Deacon Ignacio Alvarez, St.
Turibius; Deacon Irv Bryce, St.
Albert the Great, Burbank;
Deacon Gilbert Cintron, St.
Hedwig, Chicago; Deacon Terry
Collins, St. James, Chicago;
Deacon Ted Czarnecki, Queen of
the Rosary, Elk Grove Village;
Deacon Michael DeLarco, St.
Celestine, Elmwood Park; Deacon
Phil Disparte, Chicago Airport
Catholic Chaplaincy; Deacon
Anthony Llorens, St. Martin de
Porres, Chicago; Deacon Louis
Ricco, St. Theresa, Palatine; and
Deacon Antonio Villalobos, St.
Mark, Chicago.
Judy Finnegan of St. Juliana in
Chicago was awarded the St.
Priscilla Award for service to the
church and the Diaconate.
Finnegan supported her
husband’s ministry and after his
death, she remains very active.
She ministers to the people of
the parish and the widows of the
THE FLAME
Diaconate community and is very
active in the area of liturgy.
Her nomination stated: “She is
taking the initiative to serve on
her own where the need is
greatest.”
Other women nominated for
the Priscilla Award included
Carolyn Biel, St. Catherine
Laboure, Glenview; Charlene
Kryszak, Church of the Holy
Spirit; and Jennis Steinbeigle, St.
Damian, Oak Forest.
APRIL-MAY 2009
hurting world.”
Other deacons nominated for
the St. Lawrence Award included:
Deacon Dan Dietsch, St. Joseph,
Homewood; Deacon Steve Norys,
St. Theresa, Palatine; and
Deacon Bob Ochsner, Our Lady of
Humility, Beach Park/Zion.
Deacon Jorge and Nubia Rozo were recognized with the Shared Ministry award.
Deacon Dick Lawson was the recipient of the
St. Lawrence award.
Deacon Richard (Dick) Lawson
of St. Hubert, Hoffman Estates,
was given the St. Lawrence
Award for ministry to the
treasures of the church: the
suffering and neglected, the poor
and needy.
Lawson meets with those
seeking help in his parish and
according to need distributes
food, certificates, gas, money,
utility and rent payments, car
repairs, medical bills and
prescriptions.
At Thanksgiving and Christmas,
he organizes collection and
distribution of food, a Christmas
Giving Tree with gifts given to
area families, the elderly, infants
at a crisis pregnancy center and
the sharing parish.
Lawson’s nomination stated:
“His kindness and compassion are
companioned with energy and
enthusiasm, and his ministry
reveals the heart of Christ to a
Deacon Jorge and Nubia Rozo
of Holy Rosary in Chicago were
honored with the Shared Ministry
Recognition Award. The Rozos
are involved in baptismal,
quinceanera and marriage
preparation. The couple also
ministers to the less fortunate
and needy of the parish by
organizing Christmas food baskets
and passing out gifts to the
children.
Bishop Sabatini said of the
Rozos: “They are the only native
Spanish speakers on our staff to
minister to those who would be
grievously impaired without
them.”
Other couples nominated for
the Shared Ministry Award
included: Deacon Louis and
Barbara Abboud, St. Patrick,
Wadsworth; Deacon Dennis and
Ronnie Mudd, Holy Family,
Waukegan; Deacon James and
Connie Schultz, St. Constance,
Chicago; Deacon Dave and Shawn
Tiemeier, St. Joseph,
Libertyville; and Deacon Richard
and Gail Voytas, St. Daniel the
Prophet, Chicago.
THE NEWSLETTER
OF THE
CHICAGO DEACONS
physically, intellectually,
emotionally and spiritually.
Fr. Grassi affirms
and inspires at
convocation
“If you’re doing something in
your ministry that no longer
sustains you, it’s time to move
on,” he said.
By Dave Brencic
Interweaving questions, quotes
from St. Paul’s epistles and
insightful reflections, Father
Dominic Grassi affirmed and
challenged Chicago’s deacons
gathered for the community’s
annual convocation.
With the theme of “Deacon as
Missionary: Walking in Paul’s
Shoes,” Fr. Grassi took an “It’s a
Wonderful Life” approach with
the first part of his talk.
“Think of all the lives you’ve
touched,” Fr. Grassi asked. “We
don’t realize the impact we have
on people. We can’t remember
all the people we’ve touched,
but they often remember us.”
Fr. Grassi then raised a series
of reflective questions for
deacons to ponder:
What is unique in your ministry
that no one else has?
What do you do that makes you
feel that your ministry is
important?
Why did God call you? Why did
you say yes?
How would your life be
different if you weren’t a
deacon?
In between, Fr. Grassi affirmed
the call of the deacons and the
vital role deacons play in the
parish and the church at large.
“There is so much in your
spiritual portfolio that you will
be reminded of when you are in
heaven and the lives you have
touched,” Fr. Grassi said.
“Ministry has colored your life. It
PAGE 15
Fr. Dom Grassi addressed the deacons
gathered at Concordia College for the annual
Diaconate Convocation
is part of the fabric of your life.”
In the second part of his talk,
Fr. Grassi shifted gears and
explored the role of the
Diaconate and the current state
of the Catholic Church.
Referring to a “depression of
spirituality in the Church” and a
lack of excitement, Fr. Grassi
said “deacons are poised to be
the ones who bring us out of this
state.”
He criticized the overemphasis
by the church on “nitpicky
things” concerning theological
and liturgical issues.
He also warned deacons to be
wary of the temptation to
become “priest lite” and take on
too many responsibilities and
duties around the parish.
“That’s not your calling, that’s
not your ministry. It is devaluing
what the Diaconate is all about,
that’s not what you were called
to be.”
The issues of supporting one
another as a community and
avoiding burnout also were
raised. He noted the importance
of prayer and support groups
among deacons, which can be a
place where deacons get
grounded, enriched and can
reflect on their ministries.
He stressed deacons need to
pay attention to their health
In his last session, Fr. Grassi
challenged deacons and their
wives to challenge others -including priests -- and get back
to the roots of ministry.
“We cannot hide behind the
altar,” Fr. Grassi said. “We need
to go out into the world. “You
need to reclaim your Diaconate.
Your ministry is to the most
needy of our society.”
In reflecting on the day, Fr.
Mike Ahlstrom, Vicar for the
Diaconate Community said, “I
was very pleased with the
positive spirit of the day.
Attendance was up a little from
where it was in recent years, but
still far from where it should be.
Fr. Dom Grassi’s presentation
was down to earth and humorous,
but also with some very good
questions for all to reflect on
concerning the diaconate. I was
very proud of those who received
special recognition, but equally
proud of all the men and women
of our community who do so
much that is not recognized.”
Ministry award recipients pose with Fr. Ed
Salmon, Deacon Dennis Colgan and Fr. Mike
Ahlstrom. For next year. a proposal is being
considered to combine the St. Stephen Symposium and the Convocation into one overnight event.
(photos by Dan Dietsch)
PAGE 16
Archdiocese of Chicago
Office of the Diaconate
816 Marengo
Forest Park, IL 60130
April:
May:
3-5
1-3
24
27
“Meet Your Ancestors:
Biblical Men and
Women of Faith”
men’s silent retreat
5
Palm Sunday
9
Holy Thursday
10
Good Friday
11
Easter Vigil
12
Easter
14
Mandated Reporter
Training (St.
Bernardine School)
17-19 Spanish retreat
22-25 NADD Convention in
Chicago
24-26 “A Closer Look”
women’s retreat
30
Mandated Reporter
Training (St. Stephen
Deacon & Martyr)
30
Couple’s retreat
Diaconate ordination
“Sermon on the
Mound: Finding God in
Baseball and the
Spiritual Lessons of the
Game”
Mandated Reporter
Training (Cardinal
Meyer Center)
Numbers to know:
Office of the Diaconate
816 Marengo Ave.
Forest Park, Ill. 60130
(708) 366-8900; fax (708) 3668968
Father Michael Ahlstrom,
Vicar for the Diaconate Community
email:
mahlstrom@archchicago.org
Deacon Dennis Colgan,
Assoc. Director
Email:
dcolgan@archchicago.org
The Chicago Deacons Web site:
www.deacons.archchicago.org