The Diaconate is a ministry of charity, word and liturgy.
My wife, Helen, and I took some time of discernment before we began our Diaconal journey back in 2008.
We have met, and continue to meet, so many people who enhance our faith in a variety of ways. I was ordained in 2012 by Francis Cardinal George along with 8 cohorts. I was assigned to St. Thecla Parish from 2012 to July 2020 before joining St. Elizabeth of the Trinity.
One special person we’ve met on this diaconal journey was my Spiritual Director, Father Howard Tuite. Father Tuite, who was white, ministered to African American communities throughout his priesthood.
We assisted Father Tuite in his ministry at Provident Hospital in the Washington Park neighborhood of Chicago for the four years of Diaconal formation and two (2) years post ordination. This is a ministry to folks on the trail of homelessness.
Father Tuite died in 2014. Helen and I, accompanied by Deacon Jim Norman, continued this ministry at Provident Hospital for one year following Father Tuite’s death. We were then welcomed by St. Bernard’s Hospital in Chicago’s Englewood neighborhood to continue this ministry on a monthly basis.
We look forward to post COVID19 to continue this ministry. I’m always willing to listen and consider an invitation to a charitable service.
My Diaconal ministry includes assisting at Mass, Baptism, Marriages outside of Mass, wake services. Helen and I particularly enjoy planning/assisting at the Easter Triduum each year. For a number of years, we’ve enjoyed doing Stations of the Cross through
the Eyes of Mary on a Friday during Lent. We’ve always invited and enjoyed the participation of women Lectors in this devotion.
Another highlight over these last 8 years was going on two (2) Pilgrimages to the Holy Land. The Holy Land Pilgrimage is sometimes referred to as another Gospel. Deacon Bill Frere at St. Robert Bellarmine and I planned and hosted our most recent Pilgrimage
in January of 2020. Our Pilgrimage included thirty – four (34) folks from a variety of Parishes throughout the Archdiocese of Chicago… including folks from the Kateri Center at St. Benedict’s Parish of American Indian descent.
It was a marvelous faith-filled journey of a lifetime. We are hopeful to return to the Holy Land on Pilgrimage in 2022.
In our family, we are blessed with three adult children, Jeffrey, David and Siobhan. Jeffrey is married to Grazyna and they have one daughter, Maja. She’s a treasure.
We recently welcomed a puppy, Gretel, into our home. She’s a Bernese Mountain dog.
I/we look forward to praying with you and working together in the ministry of Jesus as we journey forward.