How brightly is the flame of faith burning in your life? Is it shining so brightly that you can’t hardly wait to be sent into mission territory? An exit sign at a church summed it well as it said, “You are now entering mission country.”
At the end of each celebration of the Eucharist we are sent forth with a missionary mandate to bring the Good News of salvation to all we meet. How well are we fulfilling that component of our baptismal calling?
Complacency, apathy, and indifference are descriptive words I hear too frequently in regard to the life of the Church. How could we allow anything connected with the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords to become mundane? As C.S. Lewis pointed out, “If Christianity is true, it is of infinite importance.” Our walk with God cannot be dull and lifeless.
Each of us bears responsibility for nurturing our faith life. We cannot simply rely on being spoon-fed by the Church, by the pastor, or anyone else. There needs to be initiative and ownership of each baptized individual to eagerly seek out God’s grace through prayer, study, and action. We depend upon the leadership of the Church to strengthen us in that journey, but we can never delegate our responsibility for spiritual growth to someone else entirely. We are a child of God walking in faith. When is the last time we asked God for an increase of that faith?
When we leave the church building and enter into mission country, are we thrilled and excited about the possibilities? Sharing the Good News should bring us immense joy. If we are reluctant to be faithful witnesses out in the world about what Jesus Christ has done for us, what is holding us back? Do we recognize and understand the many ways that God has moved in our lives? Are we aware of God’s presence in our interactions with others?
Entering into mission territory fully equipped means that we have to understand our own relationship with God. If we just know about God, without really knowing God, it will be difficult to communicate a message that truly conveys the infinite love and mercy of God. My hope and prayer is that each of us will personally experience God’s love profoundly. As we experience that love may we then grow in wisdom, understanding, and grace!
The restoration of the permanent diaconate in the Catholic Church came into effect after Vatican II. In 2017 we will mark the 50th anniversary of the order being restored. Fifty years is not a long time in the life of the Church. Thus, it is not surprising to find that the Church still does not really know what to do with us. I don’t expect that confusion to end any time soon. The range of emotions about diaconal ministry is quite wide within the diaconate community itself, but especially outside the ranks from both the laity and presbyters alike.
On June 9, 2011, Most Reverend Alexander K. Sample, Bishop of Marquette, (now Archbishop of Portland, Oregon) issued a Pastoral Letter entitled, The Deacon: Icon of Jesus Christ the Servant. This 19-page letter gives a tremendous amount of material upon which to reflect for deacons, and indeed, all the priests and the faithful of the Church as well.
Bishop Sample expressed his sadness after the Pastoral Letter was promulgated that most media outlets focused their attention on one item in the 19-page letter. Deacons should preach less frequently at the Eucharistic liturgy. The comments that swirled around that specific component of the letter were all across the board. Some celebrated that comment with gusto. Others were very much dismayed. Overall, it reignited the broader question of what to do with the deacon in his ministry.
When Bishop Sample issued his letter in 2011, I followed many of the articles written about his letter. I also read a good portion of the the comments made online following these articles. It was fascinating to see some of the words of encouragement and support for deacons contrasted with the many negative comments about deacons as well. The one that stuck in my mind most is what I captured in the title of this blog post. “Permanent deacons are the worst experiment of Vatican II.” Can you feel the love?
Last week the clergy of our diocese gathered for a three-day institute centered upon discipleship. Our speaker was Sherry Weddell, author of the book, Forming Intentional Disciples. At one point after she had referred to the “clergy” a few times but only meant the priests and the bishop, she corrected herself and casually commented, “The Church doesn’t know what to do with the deacons.” She verbalized what many of us already knew. Will it take another fifty years to better grasp the role of the deacon?
Sherry Weddell said time and time again during her presentation that there was a need to “build bridges of trust” to help people in their spiritual seeking and conversion. Each time I heard her repeat that phrase I was grateful for the many ways that I see deacons fulfill that role. We aren’t priests, but we are ordained for a life of service that effectively builds bridges. We are instruments of God’s love leading people to conversion. That doesn’t seem like a bad “experiment”.
Years ago a religious sister was visiting with my pastor. I was standing nearby and heard her make a negative comment about deacons. My pastor asked her, “How could you make such a comment when my deacon is standing right there?” She said, “I like him as a person, but his role as a deacon is irrelevant.” In my nearly 17 years since ordination as a deacon I have become accustomed to such comments. There has never been a doubt as to where the deacon falls on the hierarchical structure of the Church, or as to how we are viewed by some of the priests, religious, and laity. That is okay. I simply strive to live out my calling as best as I am able utilizing the gifts and charisms that have been entrusted to my care for the building up of the Kingdom of God.
We are preparing to begin another formation class of deacons in the Diocese of Cheyenne. If all goes as planned we will have a diaconate ordination in the year 2021. Quite a number of current deacons will be moving into the retirement years by then. My prayer is that men discerning a call to the diaconate will be guided by the grace of our Lord, Jesus Christ, the love of God the Father, and the communion of the Holy Spirit in their prayerful reflection.
There have been many discussions and plans established for the formation of this next group. Information sessions have been planned and will begin to take place all across the diocese starting this Saturday. We will continue to learn and grow in our diaconal ministry. I was appointed to the diaconate formation board last year by the bishop, and I will have the privilege of walking with these men (and their wives) for the next five years of their lives as they go through the inquiry phase, aspirancy, and candidacy for Holy Orders.
The role of the deacon has been front and center in my mind during recent months because of all of these preparations. (The policy manual for the already ordained deacons has been revamped and updated as well.) I hope and pray that I fulfill the responsibilities of my own calling with faithfulness, fervor, and zeal. I know there are times when I fail to love as Jesus did, but overall, it is my intent to be a beacon of Christ’s light in a world sometimes enveloped in darkness. Otherwise, I guess I am just part of the “worst experiment of Vatican II.”
It was 55 degrees and only light winds. It doesn’t get much better than that in January in Wyoming. Nearly 300 people from all across the state came to Cheyenne to stand up for life. We also had a few guests from Colorado and Nebraska join us as well.
I walk away from these events with two emotions generally prevalent. The first is a sense of gratitude for all of the faithful who continue to stand up for life after 43 years of repercussions from a horrendous U.S. Supreme Court decision which trampled upon the unalienable rights of the unborn child. The second emotion is a sense of sadness. Why do so few join us in being a witness to the sacred dignity and value of each human life?
Cheyenne is not a large city and Wyoming is the least populated state in the country. However, getting less than 300 people to attend an event like this is truly disheartening. The fear that takes abode in my heart is that we have become a church that is complacent and apathetic to the plight of the unborn. There were numerous Christian denominations present at the march, and I am grateful to each church that promoted the event and encouraged members of its congregation to get involved. I saw people from all four corners of the state and many towns in between as well, plus the few folks from out of state. Why do I mention this? It begs a simple question. Where were the people of Cheyenne?
I would estimate that there were a minimum of 100 people present from outlying areas. Thus, that would give an estimate of about 200 people from Cheyenne in attendance. The three Catholic parishes in Cheyenne average nearly 3,000 people each week that participate in the Sunday liturgy. That is not how many registered members there are. This is the actual number of people who actually show up on a weekly basis. It represents about 30% of the entire registered parishioners for the three parishes. Even if there were no participants at the march coming from different Christian denominations, one would think we would have greater attendance just based on the number of Catholics in the city. There was no great distance to travel, no snow, no ice, and no excuse for a significant portion of Christian believers.
Matthew Kelly has suggested from the research at Dynamic Catholic that about 7% of Catholics are actively involved in their faith. I was shocked when I took my calculator out and divided 200 by 3,000. The result is 7%. Some of these people at the march from Cheyenne were not Catholic. Thus, we had less than 7% of Catholics participate. Remember, this number reflects 7% of actual weekly church-goers. If we divided 200 by the total of all registered Catholic households it would be an even more dismal number. Are that few of registered Catholics in Cheyenne truly pro-life and willing to take a public stand and declare their pro-life position? Obviously, some people have health issues and other legitimate reasons for not marching. However, that is a small percentage of the group. My heart is grieved at the lack of response. There is a lot of work to be done in building a culture of life.
This is the Mass held at 9:00 A.M. on Saturday morning to kick-off the events of the day. Next year, let us fill those empty pews to the brim!
Signs are helpful to maintain order, ensure safety, and to provide pertinent information. I am wondering if my calendar has the adjacent sign implanted into my schedule. There hasn’t been much down-time this week.
I spent the holiday on Monday at the Abbey of St. Walburga with the administration, faculty, and staff of St. Laurence O’Toole Catholic School for a day-long retreat. Only a couple of the people had ever been to the abbey prior to this gathering. It is an amazing opportunity to pray with the sisters.
On Tuesday I headed to Casper for the annual Clergy Institute. We had Sherry Weddell for our presenter from Tuesday through Thursday. Her insights into forming intentional disciples gave us plenty of information to digest and ponder.
Today, I am back in Cheyenne preparing for the Holy Hour this evening at the Cathedral of St. Mary plus all of the activities tomorrow. Unlike Washington D.C., it appears that our weather will be quite cooperative for the march. We don’t gather thousands of people in Cheyenne, but we attempt to make a statement with a few hundred. Wherever you are, I hope you will get involved in building a culture of life.
The snowfall last night gave me an opportunity for some exercise this morning. (See how I turned shoveling snow into a positive event.) After I finished shoveling the driveway I realized I had a fairly good size wall of snow. A couple more snowfalls and I will be tempted to turn it into a fort. Yes, I may be getting old, but there is still a little kid in me that wants to hide in my fort and surprisingly smack someone with a snowball.
As I was shoveling I was reflecting back on Friday evening in Fort Collins with the Northern Colorado Men’s Forum. That gathering was a real shot in the arm for my energy and zeal. It was the first presentation of the new year for me and it really kicks my speaking schedule into high gear for the next ten weeks. Even though I didn’t specifically reference this passage Friday night, these words from Sacred Scripture keep reverberating in my mind today. “Submit yourselves to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.” (James 4:7)
What actions have I taken in my spiritual journey to submit to God and resist the devil? How do I resist temptation to sin? I can’t simply build a fort and hope to keep the devil out. It requires an abundance of God’s grace and my cooperation with that grace. Subsequently, do I immediately turn to prayer and seek God’s grace when facing temptation? If not, why not? Do I believe in the power of prayer? Do I truly believe that God has called me to sanctity?
Near Year’s Eve is a night I like to stay home. The days of going out and partying to bring in the New Year have long since passed. In recent years I have made a commitment to spend more time in prayer on this particular night. There are many things for which I can pray in addition to safety for all of the revelers. Here is a sampling of what I will be bringing before God on New Year’s Eve.
First of all, I will come before God with praise and thanksgiving. Although 2015 has certainly had its moments of struggle there have been numerous blessings as well. Thus, it is time to give thanks for family, friends, shelter, food, clothing, a job, access to healthcare when my heart stopped beating correctly, and a whole list of other material goods that we have the opportunity to enjoy. I thank God for the gift of faith and a beautiful church in which to grow in appreciation of that gift.
There are always particular celebrations that are to be remembered in gratitude when reflecting over the last year. Our daughter getting married in May is one such event. Our son celebrating his 18th birthday would be another one. Wedding anniversaries are something to be thankful for regardless of the year. Margaret and I celebrated 27 years together this year. Anniversaries of other events are also a time for praise and thanksgiving. In 2015 it was 29 years since I was diagnosed with cancer the first time and 14 years since the second time. That means next year it will be two milestones in one year—30 and 15. It has also been 12 years since my open heart surgery. Although that fix seems to be wearing off, I am grateful that my two hospitalizations this year seem to have put me back on the right track again.
There are plenty of intercessions to be offered as well. It seems like there is never a shortage of people to pray for and concerns to be brought before the foot of the cross. Here are some of my petitions for this New Year’s Eve.
I pray for all church leadership—the pope, bishops, priests, deacons, religious, and all lay leaders striving to proclaim the Good News of Salvation in their respective roles. Fill them with zeal, energy, hope, integrity, courage, perseverance, and a genuine love for God’s people.
I pray for all who bear the name of Christian—may each of us live our lives in such a way that we truly bear witness to Jesus Christ.
I pray for all who do not know Jesus Christ—may they come to encounter the living God through the faithful witness of those who believe and follow in the footsteps of Christ.
I pray for all government leaders worldwide—may they govern with wisdom, prudence, and integrity as guided by the Holy Spirit. Specifically, I pray for own president, the vice president, the U.S. Supreme Court Justices, the U.S. Senators and Representatives, Cabinet Officials, ambassadors, and all appointees who wield power and influence.
I pray for all local government officials as well—the governors, lieutenant governors, secretaries of state, treasurers, auditors, senators, representatives, judges, mayors, city administrators, council men and women, sheriffs, and all appointees who wield power and influence. May each of them carry out their duties with diligence, prudence, wisdom, and integrity.
I pray for who are struggling in any way. I pray for those whose hearts are broken due to relationships falling apart. May the shattered hopes and dreams eventually be pieced back together in renewed spirit and vigor.
I pray for the incarcerated and all of their families–may they find strength, hope, healing, and conversion.
I pray for the homeless—may they find shelter in the immediate circumstances and eventually obtain a safe haven that is more permanent.
I pray for the unemployed and the underemployed—may all who seek gainful employment be successful in their endeavors.
I pray for all those suffering from physical illness—may they experience healing, comfort, and peace through the mercy of the Divine Physician.
I pray for all those suffering from mental illness and emotional issues—may they find solace and healing from the support and encouragement of loved ones as well as beneficial help from the medical community and the healing touch of our Lord.
I pray for all who are depressed, especially those contemplating suicide—may they reach out and get the help they need to cope with the current circumstances and be led to healing and wholeness in the love of Jesus Christ.
I pray for all those who are home-bound, in hospitals, nursing homes, and under the care of hospice—may they experience genuine love from those who care for their needs.
I pray for the terminally ill—may they find comfort in the love of family and friends and eternal hope in the embrace of Jesus Christ who is Lord forever and ever.
I pray for all those suffering from addictions. Through God’s grace, the help of others, and a definitive purpose to be set free, may each of you truly experience the freedom you desire.
I pray for all those family members who care for loved ones who are suffering—may God fill you with patience, fortitude, and strength.
I pray for all who are grieving the death of a loved one—may you find comfort and peace in the warm embrace of God’s love and the care and concern of other family and friends.
I pray for the safety of all travelers.
I pray for our law enforcement personnel and other first responders—may they be protected at all times, but especially on this particular night which generally adds to the stress level of their positions. Give each of them keen insight and awareness, quick reflexes and solid judgments, and bring them safely back to their families at the end of their shift.
I pray for all who are coping with natural disasters. This year I pray especially for my relatives and friends in Missouri coping with the flooding. May each of you be kept safe from harm.
I pray for our culture—may we turn back to God with our whole heart, mind, soul, and strength.
I pray that we may be aware of the sacred dignity and value of each human life from conception through natural death. May we build a true culture of life in our society.
I pray for all couples preparing for marriage and those who are newly married—may their future children draw them closer to Christ and to each other.
I pray for all children who will be born today—may they may come to know a world which chooses life over death and light over darkness.
I pray for all little children who await the birth of a new sister or brother—may the joyful expectation that shows in their eyes inspire their parents to hope and conviction.
I pray for obstetrical doctors and nurses and all who nurture the life of children in the womb–may God bless them for their faith, compassion, and love.
I pray for all who have been scarred by the tragedy of abortion—may they experience repentance, healing, and peace.
I pray for all people who work in the media—may God move them to a conversion of heart which reverences human life and upholds the dignity of human sexuality.
I pray for those who march for life in Washington, D.C. and all across the nation each january—may their voices be heard and the lives of children saved.
I pray for all those trapped in human trafficking—may they be set free from the bondage they are in and society effectively address the needs of the vulnerable among us.
I pray for the refugees and all persecuted Christians—may they find safety and security from those who want to do them harm.
I pray for all who have died this past year. May they rest in God’s eternal dwelling.
I pray for peace throughout the world.
Finally, I pray for myself. Lord, please help me to grow in wisdom and in favor with You in 2016. Give me Your grace and Your blessing that I may root out sin from my life and join my will more completely to Your Divine Will. Dear Lord, make me holy as you are holy! +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Dear Readers,
If you have specific prayer requests that you would like included in my list of intentions, please mention them in the comment section and I will certainly add your petitions to my list. If it is a private request that you don’t want everyone to see, feel free to e-mail it to me at: deaconvernon@gmail.com
I have posted this blog entry on the 30th to allow time for feedback so I can have the petitions all gathered by the evening of the 31st.
Please know of my gratitude for each of you who hold me up in prayer. Your kindness is truly appreciated.
I went for a walk but got a little concerned when I heard something running up behind me. I had not heard any of the dogs barking as I walked; they were all smart enough to stay indoors. Their “FitBit” wasn’t telling them to get some exercise. I turned around fearing the worst when I saw the neighbor’s two little goats following me. What a pleasant surprise!
The goats visited our house for a little while and then I walked them back to their own house. I felt like a little kid again bringing home a stray dog and asking if I could keep him. As my wife snapped the pictures of the goats I think she would have said yes if I would have asked to keep them. The neighbors who own them may not agree, but that is another issue.
Take some time to enjoy the simple pleasures of life that come your way.
My destination was one hour away. I allowed an hour and ten minutes for my travel time. It was a Sunday morning and traffic should be light. Road conditions should be good. A ten minute cushion should be just right. My destination is in sight just one block in front of me and that is when the red lights start to flash at the railroad crossing. My cushion is quickly eroding. I am so close, yet so far away.
I still arrived on time but not without my anxiety going up just a little. If I had made it 15 seconds sooner I would have been ahead of the train. Instead, here I sit. What shall I do? Well, snap a picture of course. If the time is not a total waste I will feel better about the delay.
Unexpected obstacles can happen in many areas of our day-to-day lives. In much of Missouri and other places in the Midwest it is navigating around flooded streets after the torrential rains. How do we cope? How do we adjust? I have prayed for patience for years and God allows these types of opportunities to arise that I may more fully learn the virtue. I guess I better keep praying and learning, because that train still ticked me off.
As the reports continue to roll in about streets being closed throughout St. Louis County and surrounding areas, and even Interstate 70 being shut down in places in St. Charles County, please know of my prayers for all those impacted. Apparently the middle part of the state has been hit hard as well. Watching the video with all 12 floodgates of Bagnell Dam open lets me know that many in that area will also be affected.
My kids gave me a “FitBit” for Christmas. Developing a sedentary lifestyle as I age, along with some health issues, makes it extremely important that I develop the self-discipline to get some exercise. Apparently, my kids recognized that my self-discipline in regard to getting physical activity isn’t what it used to be. Thus, they made the determination that I need a machine to tell me throughout the day that I am lazy. Merry Christmas to me.
Actually, it is a great gift and I am excited to start working toward a more active lifestyle. Walking 10,000 steps a day when you have a “desk job” is going to require some adjustments to the daily routine. As I looked out the window this morning I realized that I am going to need another Christmas present. I need a treadmill. The picture above doesn’t do justice to the current weather conditions, but there is no way I am going out for a walk in that kind of weather. It’s back to sedentary for me.
How frequently in life do we miss the opportunities to do what is right because the conditions aren’t ideal? Even if there are no obstacles to our goal, but there is a clear path to a lesser goal, do we tend to cave and go the easier route? For instance, I get the urge and desire to take time to pray and then I walk past the couch and the TV remote control. It is not an obstacle to my prayer, but it is a clear path to a less worthy endeavor. Do I have the inner strength to continue on toward my life of prayer?
I will get my 10,000 steps in today even if I have to go to the mall and walk indoors. However, I am going to attempt to do it outside when it warms up a little and the winds die down to a mere 50 MPH. The other obstacle is in knowing when it warms up. I guess I’ll know it is warmer when the ice melts off of the thermometer enough that I can actually see the temperature. I don’t think Wyoming ever got the memo about global warming.
