During the annual Convocation of Deacons held Oct. 21-22 in Plainsboro, more than 150 deacons and 44 of their wives unpacked the familiar checklist of priorities they were given about the diaconate years ago – God, Family, Work, Diaconate.
“I am assuming God is always first in our lives,” said Father Stephen A. Sansevere, opening his keynote address for the annual convocation. “Because, if not, then what are we doing here?” he queried.
PHOTO GALLERY: 2022 Diaconate Convocation
Father Sansevere serves as pastor of St. James Parish, Pennington; St. Alphonsus Parish, Hopewell, and St. George Parish, Titusville.
Marking a Milestone
Hosted by the diocesan Office of Clergy and Consecrated Life, the convocation included an Oct. 22 Mass celebrated by Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M.
“Our spiritual life is planted in the Lord’s orchard,” Bishop O’Connell said, reflecting on the parable of the barren fig tree in his homily. “What we have to come to grips with is the fact that, because of our Baptism and our vocation, we are accountable to the owner of the orchard. We are accountable for bearing spiritual fruit and in our lives on this earth as Christians, as husbands and wives, as parents, as ordained ministers of the Gospel.
“God has planted in us the seeds of goodness and love. He has provided us the means to grow and develop as adults, baptized and ordained.”
During the Mass, the Bishop presided over the Rite of Candidacy in which he called eight new deacon candidates to prepare to receive the Sacrament of Holy Orders upon completing five years of formal study. The candidates are: Anthony Cullen, St. Benedict, Holmdel; James D. De Poortere, St. Catharine-St. Margaret, Spring Lake; Christopher J. Ellis, Holy Innocents, Neptune; Gerald Ford, St. Raphael-Holy Angels, Hamilton; Errol Giordani, St. Gabriel, Marlboro; Steven A. Griggs, St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, Whiting; Christopher J. McNicholas, St. Mary Parish, Middletown, and Jeffrey B. Miceli, Our Lady of Good Counsel, Moorestown.
The Rite of Candidacy signaled the end of a period of aspirancy, which began last year, during which the men sought to discern whether they were being called to the diaconate, learned what to expect in the formation process and more about the life of a deacon.
God Comes First
In his three-part keynote, “The Effective Deacon: Insights Regarding How to Balance the Management of Priorities as We Exercise Diaconal Ministry,” Father Sansevere reiterated that God should always come first in the life of a deacon and then focused on the family of deacons “who, not by their choice, have joined and become a rich part of the diaconate.
Citing that members of a deacon’s family may include a wife, children, parents, siblings, nieces, nephews, and grandchildren, Father Sansevere said, “This is quite a package we bring along when we hear the call to be a deacon.”
Then focusing on the wives of deacons, he smiled and said, “They are the glue that holds everything together as the candidate studies and the eventual deacon ministers. They are the forgotten heroes of all deacons.
“Remember, it was God who called us but in so many ways it was that minister of marriage who sits by our side day in and day out, who did and continues to believe in us. God bless the women of the diaconate – our wives.”
For the priority of work, Father Sansevere shared when he was a police officer with the Jersey City Police Department for 25 years and later as a sergeant and occasions his work and his diaconate intertwined, especially during the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.
“The deacon is called to be an ambassador in the world because he has one foot in the ecclesial world and one in the secular world through his work,” he said.
Father Sansevere urged the deacons to remember the words at their ordination when the Bishop places the Book of Gospels in his hands and says, “Believe what you read, teach what you believe and practice what you teach.”
“This isn’t just in Church but wherever we are by our Baptism we are called to bring Christ into the world,” he said.
“We are still called to witness for Christ,” he said. “Failing to be who we are called to be – ministers in Word, Sacrament and charity – means over time, our role and faith will have no meaning in the workplace.”
For the priority of the diaconate, Father Sansevere reflected on three deacons of the early Church – St. Stephen, St. Lawrence and St. Francis of Assisi.
“While the deacons of today are not called to be Stephen or Lawrence or Francis, “We are called to use the gifts and talents God has given us,” he said.
“The ministry we choose or are chosen for requires only one thing from us that matches Stephen, Lawrence and Francis and that is that when we perform these ministries, our heart and souls are dedicated to doing God’s work, not ours.”
Deacon Henry Cugini of St. Robert Bellarmine Co-Cathedral, Freehold, acknowledged that he enjoyed gathering with his brother deacons and their wives for prayer, worship, fellowship and attending Mass with Bishop O’Connell. He was inspired by Father Sansevere’s insights, especially knowing that he had been a deacon for many years and “understands the life and struggles we deacons can have.
Deacon Cugini said he will always remember two statements made by Father Sansevere: “Deacons are the ambassadors of the Catholic Church and deacons are the bridge between the people of God and the Church. We have one foot in the world and the other one in the Church.
“Father Steve spoke out language from his own experiences as a deacon.”