August 11, 2010

Deacons mark 30, 35 years of ministry

By John Gleason

On the evening of Aug. 10 the feast of St. Lawrence, deacon and martyr, the Diaconate Office sponsored the annual Deacon’s Day Mass, held this year at St. Joan of Arc Church in Arvada.  Mass was celebrated by Archbishop Charles J. Chaput, O.F.M. Cap.  Auxiliary Bishop James D. Conley was the concelebrant.  All deacons attending renewed their vows during the Mass, after which a dinner was held in the parish hall.  At the dinner, deacons were recognized for their years of ministry in five-year increments. Seven deacons were honored for 35 years and one for 30 years of ordination.  Profiles of the men follow.

35 Years
Deacon E. Gene Mooneyham
Originally from Maryland, just outside Washington, D.C., Deacon E. Gene Mooneyham and his wife Doris have been married 50 years.  They have five children, eight grandchildren and their second great-grandchild will arrive in a few months.

Prior to his ordination in 1975, Deacon Mooneyham worked in the information technology industry. He is proud of the fact that he was one of the first people trained on the old IBM 1401 computers in Washington.

“It was big and noisy and had very little memory,” he said, “but it was top of the line then.”

Both he and his wife were active in Church ministry, so his decision to enter diaconate formation came as no surprise to his family.  The diaconate program was still in its infancy when he decided it was the path God wanted him to take and enrolled. Deacon Mooneyham serves at Light of the World Parish in Littleton.

His favorite part of ministry today is teaching and sharing Scripture, particularly helping people understand how to apply it to their daily life.  Initially, he was intimidated by that, he said, as prior to entering the diaconate he’d been extremely introverted.

“The idea of doing anything in front of other people was hard,” he said.  “But I was encouraged and continued to preach and soon I was doing it all the time.”

Deacon Mooneyham describes his time in the ministry as “wonderful” and “powerful.” He said it’s an extremely meaningful experience.

“It’s rewarding in so many ways,” he said. “The only way to sum it up is to simply call it a blessing.”

Deacon Michael Howard
Colorado native Deacon Michael Howard attended St Patrick’s Grade School and Regis High School, graduating in 1959. He and his wife Barbara have been married for 45 years and have three children and seven grandchildren.  After school, he went to work as a pressman for The Denver Post where he stayed for many years, except for a two-year stint in the U.S. Navy where he served aboard the aircraft carrier Shangri-La. 

Deacon Howard said when he was young he thought about becoming a priest, but life had another road for him to take. However, in the early 1970s he read about the diaconate formation program being organized and felt it was what God wanted him to do.  His wife supported this decision and he enrolled in what would eventually become the second graduating class.  Upon ordination in 1975, he was assigned to Spirit of Christ Parish in Arvada where he began his ministry in marriage preparation and counseling. After he left the Post in 1981, Deacon Howard went to work fulltime for the parish, working in just about every ministry available.

“Everything except saying Mass and hearing confession,” he said with a chuckle, noting the sacraments only priests can do.

Although he speaks fondly about all segments of his ministry, Deacon Howard is quick with an answer when asked what he finds most fulfilling.

“Working with the people and the priests,” he said. “It’s just the best in a ministry of service.”

And even though he’s officially retired, Deacon Howard continues to find ways to continue his ministry of service as he participates in an apostolate called Southern Exposure that builds houses for the poor in Juarez, Mexico.

“I don’t build them,” he explained.  “I do much of the coordination. I go there and meet with Church and city officials to iron out problems.  It’s been a blessing doing this, a great time and a great life.”

Deacon Carlos Padilla
Originally from Antonito, Colo., in the San Luis Valley, Deacon Carlos Padilla and his wife Beatrice have been married for 61 years.  The couple has 12 children, 35 grandchildren and 34 great-grandchildren.
For many years, he ran his own business which encompassed everything from janitorial services to moving furniture and contract mail delivery.  Yet he still found time to become an ordained deacon.

“I was a member of the Society of St. Francis, a group that spreads the fellowship of Christ, which I dearly loved, but I wanted to do more,” he said.  “I read an article in the Register that said, in effect, ‘We want you.’  I talked it over with my wife and then enrolled.”

Following his ordination in 1975, Deacon Padilla worked at several parishes: St. Elizabeth and Sacred Heart in Denver.  He worked at St. Anthony’s Hospital and St. Bernadette Parish in Lakewood, and at Our Lady of Guadalupe and Annunciation parishes in Denver, often working with the Spanish-speaking faithful.

Of all the work he’s provided through his ministry, Deacon Padilla said serving at the hospital was among the most gratifying.

“I’d take Communion to the patients and stay and talk with them,” he said.  “People would share whatever they had on their mind, it was amazingly fulfilling.”

Deacon Padilla said he can’t imagine his life without his diaconal service.

“You want to do it for God,” he said, “and God wants you to do it for others.”

Deacon Maclovio Sanchez
Deacon Maclovio Sanchez, known as “Deacon Max,” is originally from Walsenburg, Colo.  He and his wife Mary Frances have two children, 14 grandchildren and, to use his words, “countless great-grandchildren.”
Retired now from the Midwest Winery in Denver where he worked as a supervisor, Deacon Maclovio said that from the time he was young, he was interested in the religious life.

“After school I went to the seminary in Antonito, Colo., and studied for two years,” he said.  “Then I was drafted and spent two years in the army and when I was discharged I found the desire wasn’t there. Still I wanted to be involved somehow.”

A member of St Joseph Church in central Denver, he found out about the new diaconate program from his pastor.  Sensing this could present the opportunity to work in the parish he discussed the matter with his wife and entered the program.  Following his ordination in 1975, Deacon Sanchez worked with the Spanish-speaking community in baptism and marriage preparation.  He assisted the priest at the Gardens of St. Elizabeth and was assigned as part-time chaplain at Denver General Hospital.

Deacon Sanchez said one of the most fulfilling aspects of his active ministry was preaching in Spanish at missions given in Denver. 

“There are so many ways that you can give back in this ministry,” he said.  “In your community or your parish; it’s just a matter of getting started.”

Deacon Samuel Trujillo
Originally from the San Luis Valley, Deacon Samuel Trujillo and his wife Dorothy have called Brighton home for more than 60 years.  The couple has six children, 16 grandchildren (with one on the way) and seven great-grandchildren (with another on the way).  Now retired from a career as a carpenter and general contractor, Deacon Trujillo has always looked at his diaconal ministry as one of giving, but one that gives in return.

“I was in the second class of deacons,” he said, “and after I was ordained, it seemed like I was doing a little bit of a whole lot of things.”

Following his ordination, one of Deacon Trujillo’s first jobs was as prison chaplain at the Adams County Jail, but he spent a good deal of time in parish work as well.  Being bi-lingual he was kept busy with baptisms, weddings and funerals at St. Augustine Church in Brighton, Our Lady Mother of the Church in Commerce City and Our Lady of Grace Church in Denver. Although retired from active ministry, Deacon Trujillo said he’s ready to help whenever asked, saying that he gets much out of doing so.

“I admit that at the beginning, I was a little unsure of what to do,” he said.  “But being a deacon took my fears away.  This ministry has been a wonderful time for me and my family.

“For anyone who is contemplating God’s call,” he added, “remember that for all you put into it, you’ll get so many blessings in return.”

Deacon George Reinert
A native of Boulder, Colo., Deacon George Reinert, 92, is the most senior deacon in the Denver Arch-diocese. He is proud of the fact that vocations in his family of six boys runs strong as three of his brothers became Jesuit priests. 

The deacon and his wife Helen (who died in 2000) have five children, 13 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.

Upon graduation from Regis Jesuit High School in 1939, he went to work for a time in the family clothing store before becoming director of development at Regis High, and later, St. Joseph Hospital.

“While I was working at St. Joe’s, St. Thomas Seminary began offering classes to lay people and it was at one of these classes I heard a priest from San Diego talk about diaconate formation,” he said.

Sensing God’s call, Deacon Reinert moved to California, enrolled in formation and was ordained for the Diocese of San Diego in 1975.  Following ordination he worked as director of development for the Archdiocese of Phoenix for many years before returning to California to work as a hospital administrator for the Brothers of St. John of God in Ojai.  He relocated to Colorado 10 years ago and, although now retired from active ministry, helps out at the Gardens of St. Elizabeth in Denver.

“I think that if anyone is considering a call to the diaconate they should remember that the word ‘deacon’ means servant,” he said, “(It’s being) a servant to your people and your bishop.  Keep that in mind. It’s a very worthwhile calling.”

Deacon George Fitterer
Now retired and living in Colorado, Deacon George Fitterer is originally from Chicago.  Married to wife Arlene for 54 years, the couple has four children and six grandchildren.
A manager for 43 years for Sears, Deacon Fitterer said his decision to enter the diaconate was a short one.

“They asked me,” he said, “and it seemed to be a good idea.”

Ordained in the Archdiocese of Chicago, Deacon Fitterer spent his ministry working with the sick and the dying in hospitals.

“I was a certified Catholic chaplain,” he said, “and my calling was to minister to those who were near death.”

After he retired from Sears, he and his family moved to Colorado where Deacon Fitterer continued his hospital ministry at St. Anthony’s Central in Denver.  He retired from active ministry 15 years ago but still helps out if needed.

“To do this job, you have to have a great love for the Church,” he said.  “And for anyone considering this path you have to remember that in this ministry, it’s always more about listening rather than teaching.”

30 Years

Deacon Charles Lamar
A native of Long Island, N.Y., Deacon Charles Lamar is currently business manager for St. Mary Parish in Breckenridge.  He and wife Carolyn have five children and two grandchildren.  Before getting into parish work, Deacon Lamar had an extensive corporate career, working for US West, United Airlines and Scott Paper.

Ordained in 1980 for the Archdiocese of Wilmington, Del., Deacon Lamar soon moved to Chicago where he continued his work in men’s and youth ministry, religious education and family life.  Moving to Colorado in 1987 he worked at Light of the World Parish in Littleton before relocating to Summit County in 2002. 

His favorite part of diaconal ministry?

“Working one-on-one with couples and individuals,” he said.  “Today, I’m working with the poor, helping them get back on their feet. I work with young people to prepare for marriage and with people in the annulment process.  It’s extremely gratifying.”’

In discerning the diaconate, one should keep their family in mind, Deacon Lamar said. “You should consider family and wife in the process,” he said.  “You can’t walk into ministry without being conscious of their support.”