By Dorothy K. LaMantia |Correspondent

As Catholic ministers who are engaged in evangelization and pastoral ministry to God’s people, deacons “become the icon and image of Christ the servant, and help people unite their lives in the life of Christ.”

So stated Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., in his address given to the 2013 Convocation of Deacons Oct. 25 and 26 in the Crowne Plaza Hotel, Plainsboro. The event drew 265 deacons and their wives and featured Mass, presentations by a number of speakers and time for fellowship and prayer.

Many in attendance were anxious to learn the results of the two-year study that Bishop O’Connell had commissioned into the permanent diaconate in 2011. The findings were published in a 17-page report and presented to each of the deacons.

STUDY RECOMMENDATIONS

Bishop O’Connell framed the context and rationale for the study’s establishment in October, 2011, which was accompanied by a moratorium into deacon recruitment. These measures were taken, he said, “because we have a large number of deacons, and there has been an uneven distribution throughout the diocese. We needed to think, reflect, and come to see what’s needed.”

The Bishop stated, “Academic preparation for a new class of deacons will start in September, 2015 with seven recruits, just as in the Acts of the Apostles. [The program] goes back to the beginning.”

Other recommendations by the study committee included formation, educational standards, assignment policies and dress and attire.

Training in public speaking will be a top priority for the next class of deacon candidates, the Bishop noted. “We must make sure they speak English, having good conversational ability so that the homily can be understood. We all know how frustrating it can be to not understand a speaker,” said the Bishop. He stated that in the future the committee will discuss concerns regarding Spanishspeaking recruits. The Diocese will partner with Georgian Court University, Lakewood, the only Catholic post-secondary institution in the diocese, for the preparation program. Candidates must have a minimum of a high school diploma or GED and be capable of doing the college-level work required, particularly with the necessary theological studies.

St. Joseph Sister Rose McDermott, the diocesan delegate for religious, has researched a possible curriculum for the program, Bishop O’Connell noted, adding that the academic progress will take four years, “giving plenty of time for discernment.”

The way that deacons will be assigned will also be revisioned. Having nearly 300 permanent deacons, “our diocese has the second-largest number of clerics in the country,” the Bishop said. “Some parishes have 12, while the neighboring parish may have one.”

Often, although not always, deacons had been assigned to minister in their own parishes, which can lead to the imbalance in the number of deacons among parishes.

“Assignments may be needed somewhere else, such as, hospitals, prisons or in grief ministry. There are other ministries besides serving at Mass,” said the Bishop, who gave assurance that deacons would not be assigned an unreasonable distance from their homes.

A permanent deacon may request permission to wear a gray clerical shirt embroidered with a deacon cross only when he is actively engaged in public ministry, such as at hospitals, nursing homes or prisons. The new garb serves to validate the deacon’s role as an ordained minister in the Church.

In a question and answer session, Bishop O’Connell fielded question on such topics as the Affordable Care Act and continuing education for deacons.

Bishop O’Connell drew a standing ovation following his closing remarks in which he affirmed the deacons as “a precious gift to the Church.” He exhorted them to “love, cherish and sanctify your wives,” stressing that, “You can give witness to living the Sacrament of Matrimony. Charity begins at home, then take it out to all the world.”

UP TO THE CHALLENGE

Calling the talk “uplifting,” Charlene Tharp, wife of Deacon Robert Tharp of St. Raphael/ Holy Angels Church, Hamilton, acknowledged, “The transferring of deacons was on many minds. It is a great point — not just ministering in parishes but in the community, hospitals, wherever they’re needed. People were anxious, but the bishop put a lot of fears to rest.” Deacon John Bertagnolli of Our Lady of Good Counsel Parish, Moorestown, commented, “I was so glad he came and we could hear [the findings] instead of reading them. Reading leaves things open to interpretation. He settled people down. I am happy he is reinstating the diaconate program.”

Deacon Jerry Doughty of St. Charles Borromeo Parish, Cinnaminson, said, “His insights on preaching were beneficial. Some things are needed. The collar will clarify who we are and identify us as ministers, especially to people who are returning to the Church after being away for a long time.

”I read the report, and he addressed questions the report did not answer,” said Deacon Ron Meyers of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish, Maple Shade, “and reaffirmed that the program isn’t going away but will get better.”

“He answered a lot of questions I was thinking about,” said Deacon Fred Linka also from Our Lady of Perpetual Help. “I agree that we are here to serve and we must go where we are needed.”

His wife, Mary Linka, said, “I was thrilled they did the study and revamped the program with an academic focus and that the bishop is so supportive of the program.”

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