A Memoir of 50 years as a deacon!

A Memoir of 50 years as a deacon!

The call came in a most unexpected way.  A man who wanted to become a candidate, but was rejected, made two stops at my house insisting that I make an effort to enter the candidacy.  Through some hurdles such as no college degree, four priests at my parish, and the imminent need may not have been crucial, my desire became a reality.  

In 1978 a trip to Rome was being organized to thank Pope Paul VI for the inclusion of renewing the permanent diaconate into the documents of Vatican II.  Prior to the trip Pope Paul VI passed away.  Once Pope John Paul I was elected the itinerary changed and now we were going to thank him for the same inclusion in the documents.  One month later, Pope John Paul I also passed away.  Around 100 deacons and their wives were on their way to Rome without a Church leader.  The highlight of this trip occurred on Saturday morning while sitting in St. Peter’s basilica as 113 cardinals processed into the basilica for the Conclave Mass.  You could sense the aurora that was all around us.  Sunday, while we were flying back to the United States, we heard Pope John Paul II was elected as our new Pope.

After 50 years, what can anyone relive the greatest events that Holy Orders can bestow upon the flesh and blood of one who has the Holy Spirit's anointing?  Remember what Jeus told his disciples who were rejoicing about their success as ministers.  “Nevertheless, do not rejoice because the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice because your names are written in heaven,”  (Lk 10: 20).

During these years different ministries became a ladder to new areas of evangelization, each in its own particular essence.  Two of these allowed the gift of ordination to excel in promoting the Holy Spirit’s desire or reaching souls who otherwise would not have occurred and the ultimate results could have been spiritually disastrous.

One evening during my rounds at Mercy Hospital in Pittsburgh, I was on my way to the chapel for a communion service to be followed by taking Communion to designated Catholics.  Late as it was on my way down the ramp there was one last room I intended to avoid because of the late hour.  The Holy Spirit stopped me and insisted I enter this patient room.  There was only one woman there and as I approached her bed asked if she wanted to receive Holy Communion when I came back.  The tears and emotion were overwhelming as she said, “Father (I wore a collar at that time) I am not allowed to receive any sacraments,” which had been for 13 years.  Without going into circumstances leading up to this, I told her I would send the chaplain for her confession and if he didn’t arrive before I came back with Holy Eucharist she was to receive the communion.  She was to be released the next morning, and without the Spirit’s prompting this woman may never have received sacraments again.  The chaplain told me I did the correct thing; she confessed and received Jesus Christ for the first time in 13 years.  

As I told one of our recent deacons “do not be surprised what the Holy Spirit may lead you to do.”  Without my being there at that evening’s ministry this woman would have denied herself of Christ through the very sacraments that are crucial to Roman Catholics.  

Recovery from substance abuse and alcoholism for many has become the one ministry that has captured my heart.  On a Saturday morning, the first day of a three year ministry as a chaplain for women in early recovery (POWER) a young woman came over and sat next to me on the porch steps.  Her first words were, “Hi, my name is Mary and I’m HIV Positive.”  The next words threw me when she continued, “I was told there are three things you can never be forgiven for, and I’ve done all three.”  I embraced her and assured her God has already forgiven her and whoever told her that was completely wrong. During the remainder of her stay in this facility she became a staunch participant during my sessions and proved herself to be one of God’s servants.  Later, once she left and was living with friends in Ligonier, PA I was informed that she passed away from full-blown Aids.  One more soul that the Holy Spirit Placed before me to send her back home where she belonged; eternal presence with Almighty God.

One last mark of receiving Holy orders is the opportunity to bring others into the fold of ordination.  As a Master Catechist for the Diocese of Pittsburgh for three years, during a teaching at a Pittsburgh parish in Moon Twp, PA, one of my students came up to me after class and inquired about the diaconate.  I heard later that he went into the candidacy and was ordained a deacon during the next class in the Pittsburgh Diocese.  

White ministering in Midland, TX a family at the parish I was employed with, St. Anne’s in Midland, TX, one man whom I was in touch with a number of years after returning to Pittsburgh, said my ministry inspired him to also enter the diaconate in Midland.  

Looking back over 50 years, which one or more examples of wearing the cloak of Holy Orders has the greatest memory?  Could I choose the opportunity to preach almost every Sunday for over 24 years of active ministry?   Or the classes I taught in the RCIA or as a Master Catechist.

Perhaps it was the woman who without the Holy Spirit stopping me from by-passing her room 

Was now able to begin receiving the sacraments once again.  Or was it Mary, the woman who was told a heresy that God won’t forgive her sins.  She is now in heaven, I guarantee it.  Or the two men who through the graces given me through Holy Orders are now doing the same type of ministry; reaching out and guiding others to God through evangelizing via their own ministry

“Therefore, do not rejoice that the spirits are subject to you, rejoice that your names are written in heaven”  

Ralph B. Hathaway, June 8, 1974