 |
|
|
Archbishop to ordain 8 men to diaconate
Experience as husbands and fathers will complement ministry. Candidates include a lawyer, IT architect, and business owners
|
WATCH ORDINATION LIVE: BECOME A DEACON: LIFE AS A DEACON: |
By Denver Catholic Register
Eight men will be ordained to the diaconate on Saturday, June 25, 2011, to minister in the Denver Archdiocese.
Two additional men – Christopher Phelps and Peter McCann – also completed their diaconal studies at the Archdiocese of Denver St. Francis School of Theology for Deacons, and will serve within the Diocese of Colorado Springs. They were both ordained in Colorado Springs Saturday, June 11.
To learn more about each man, click on their names listed below. These interview profiles were also printed in the June 15, 2011 issue of the Denver Catholic Register.
To read the full press release, click here.
To be ordained in Denver:
- Matthew Archer of Arvada
- Colin Coleman [Community of the Beatitudes] of Denver
- Charles Hahn of Arvada
- Steve Hinkle of Arvada
- Tim Kelly of Evergreen
- Jerome Kraft of Ft. Collins
- Chris Pomrening of Aurora
- John Riviera of Windsor
Meet Deacon Candidate Matthew Archer
Full name: Matthew J. Archer
Birth date: Jan. 28, 1970
Home parish: Spirit of Christ, Arvada
Wife’s name and wedding date: Monica T. Archer; June 11, 1994
Children: Kaleb, 13; Joel, 10; Bennet, 7
Q: Describe your educational and professional background.
A: I spent a year at Conception Seminary College out of high school, and later started work on a computer science degree at CU-Denver. I never completed a degree, but I have worked in technology for twenty years, with the last 13 years at IBM as an IT Architect designing technology solutions for major healthcare companies and financial institutions.
Q: What first attracted you to the diaconate?
A: The two great vocations of my life have both come when I was focused on serving others. I met Monica while serving as a core team member for the Spirit of Christ young adult group, and we were married four years later. Seven years after that, I found my vocation to the diaconate while serving with the TEC young adult retreat program.
As to the diaconate, on TEC weekends there is a small team whose whole role is to serve in the background and to pray throughout the weekend for the retreatants. At Mass with them, during the reading of the Gospel, God convicted me for three deeply rooted sins that I had been very carefully avoiding. During the silent prayer after Eucharist, God was asking me, “Matthew, do you love me?” My response was, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.”
Finally, during the rite of dismissal, God forcefully commanded, “Feed my sheep,” and I felt an overwhelming sense of rightness associated with the words of the deacon—“Go in peace to love and serve the Lord.” I knew, beyond all doubt, that God was calling me to be a deacon, but not yet.
This was a bedrock experience for me, and without the conviction that came with it, I probably would have left the program several times over.
Q: What ultimately led you to enter formation?
A: As part of that experience of being called, I also knew it was not yet time. We were still restarting the TEC program for the archdiocese. I knew that God had placed me there for a reason, and that he would make it very clear when it was time to enter formation. It was six years later when, during a two-week personal retreat, God made it incredibly and unmistakably clear that it was time to apply. I was accepted into the program the following fall.
It seems to be the pattern of my life that God has to speak slowly, loudly, and clearly just to get the message through to me. I guess I’m just that slow.
Q: What are you most looking forward to about serving the faithful as a deacon?
A: It is that “Aha” moment when a person encounters the love of God and begins to see himself the way God does. It might be for the first time or the thousandth time, but, in that moment of grace, deep conversion is possible and the person can more freely choose to live a holier life.
Q: What do you find most daunting about serving the faithful as a deacon?
A: I expect that the hardest thing aspect of serving the people of God will be to trust in God’s grace as opposed to my own skills and efforts. Letting God be God is not as easy as it sounds.
Q: Is there a particular apostolate to which you feel uniquely called by God in your role as a deacon?
A: I know many deacons who say that the ministry they’re most passionate about now was the ministry they didn’t expect or desire when they first received it.
When I entered formation, I had strong thoughts and desires on what I wanted to do (or not do) and where I wanted to go (or not go). Surprisingly, at least to me, over the last six months that has faded. I’ll go where God sends me and trust that he knows better than I where to serve.
A ministry with the dying and families of the deceased has been on my heart lately, but I also have no particular background in this.
Q: How do you plan to balance your ministry to the Church with your responsibilities to your spouse and family?
A: I have a tendency to devote myself deeply to things for which I am passionate. Monica knows this about me, and when I was involved with TEC, we agreed right up front that she could raise her hand whenever she felt I was starting to be absent, and I would adjust my commitment load. That same system worked well during formation, and we plan to continue it after ordination.
That being said, I fully expect time to be a struggle, especially with ministry needs competing with a demanding job, a young family, and Monica as my first vocation. It requires trust that God will make it possible for me to live out his calling. It also requires honest and open communication, plus a willingness to sacrifice.
Q: How do you feel your experience as a husband and father will contribute to your ministry as a deacon?
A: Although every family and marriage is different, there are a lot of common experiences which open the door to relationship. My experiences of being married and raising children bring depth and nuance to the conversation, and they allow me to relate with others who have similar fears and triumphs and struggles.
Q: If there was one aspect of the diaconate that you’d like to clarify for Catholics, what would it be?
A: We struggle with the same fallen, human condition as everyone else, and we are called to the same extraordinary holiness and relationship with God that all of the baptized are called to.
The sacrament of holy orders doesn’t make us holy, or wise, or even particularly knowledgeable. We are the same deeply flawed men we were before the archbishop laid hands on us.
It does, however, bind us to the people of God in the archdiocese for a particular mission and ministry—as servants but not as priests—and our ordination strengthens us and gives us the grace to live out our ministry, just as the sacrament of matrimony gives couples the grace to live out their marriage as a witness to the Church and the world.
Oh, but don’t tell anyone…we have a secret handshake.
Q: Do you have a favorite or unusual hobby?
A: I used to backpack regularly as a youth, and I have rediscovered my love for it by backpacking with my boys. Joel and Bennet are young enough that I still get to play “Sherpa Dad” with much of their gear. When I complained to Monica that I was carrying almost an extra pack’s worth of weight, she very supportively offered that the extra weight wasn’t just in the pack!
Q: Do you have a favorite Scripture verse? If so, what is its significance to you?
A: I have many, many favorite passages, and they change over time. Over the last two years of formation, my prayer has mostly centered around Jeremiah 20:7: “You have seduced me, O Lord, and I have let myself be seduced; you have overpowered me for you were stronger than I.” Most people who recognize the verse have probably seen the incredibly beautiful movie, “Into Great Silence.” For me, it is a reminder that God has called me, and I must give myself over fully. It is not unlike St. Ignatius’ prayer, “Take, Lord, receive...” but with the intimacy of the beloved allowing herself to be seduced by the lover. Along that same theme, Song of Songs and the Gospel of John are also filled with favorite passages.
Q: Do you have a favorite saint to which you feel a special bond? If so, describe why.
A: St. Benedict. The seminary I attended was at a Benedictine Abbey. Although I didn’t continue, I did become an oblate of St. Benedict—a lay person who commits to live out the Rule of St. Benedict in his or her particular state of life—and this Easter marked my 20-year anniversary.
I also have a great affection for St. Thomas the Apostle. I had chosen St. Thomas Aquinas for my confirmation patron because my birthday is his feast day (and because, at the time, I was quite convinced that I was his intellectual equal). But, when people asked me who my patron saint was going to be, and I replied, “St. Thomas,” every last one of them responded, “The doubter?” Twenty-five years later, and I realize I am far more like St. Thomas “the doubter” than I am like Aquinas.
Meet Deacon Candidate Colin Coleman
Name: Colin Andrew Coleman
Birth date: Dec. 2, 1966
Home parish: St. Catherine of Siena, Denver
Wife’s name and wedding date: Maria Coleman; Jan. 7, 1989
Children: Nathanael, 20; Lucie, 17; Hannah, 16; Martha, 11; Abigail, 9; Justin, 3
Q: Describe your educational and professional background.
A: Progressive Foods Cooperation: department manager, five years. Produce Leader Ltd: manager/franchise designer, two years. Catholic Diocese Auckland, New Zealand: youth director, two years. Beatitude Catholic Community member, 18 years. St. Catherine of Siena Parish, Denver: religious education director, six years.
Q: What first attracted you to the diaconate?
A: My wife and I both felt a call to “leave all” to follow the Lord in service of the Church, through prayer in eucharistic adoration and Mass, after becoming members of the Community of the Beatitudes and seeing permanent deacons in service of the Church and the Beatitude Community, led us to discern this calling.
Q: What ultimately led you to enter formation?
A: As a couple we felt confirmed in our call for me to enter the permanent diaconate for some time, but there was no opportunity to pursue this in any concrete way, it was only when we had the chance to come to Denver to help in the mission of the Beatitude Community that I was asked by our pastor if I could enter the formation program.
Q: What are you most looking forward to about serving the faithful as a deacon?
A: Bringing the people of God to a greater love of our Lord through the celebration of the sacraments and seeing the Holy Spirit working in their lives through this grace.
Q: What do you find most daunting about serving the faithful as a deacon?
A: Preaching the death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus to a world that appears to be growing more and more apart from this knowledge of truth.
Q: Is there a particular apostolate to which you feel uniquely called by God in your role as a deacon?
A: At the moment I am working as director of religious education for our parish, but I would like to be able to serve the poorest of the poor and the marginalized of our society.
Q: Can you describe how God led you to this particular area of service?
A: Right at the beginning of our parish life as couple we were in an “inner-city parish,” which aided political refugees and immigrants as one of its apostolates, there we had the opportunity to work with them. We also started in our parish a youth initiative to serve the poor, which was attached lo the St. Vincent de Paul Society.
The words of Jesus and Mother Theresa always speak deeply to our hearts: (paraphrased) You and I, we are the Church, no? We have to share with our people. Suffering today is because people are hoarding, not giving, not sharing. Jesus made it very clear. Whatever you do to the least of my brethren, you do it to me. Give a glass of water, you give it to me. Receive a little child, you receive me.
Q: How do you plan to balance your ministry to the Church with your responsibilities to your spouse and family?
A: Making sure I share “real time” in my agenda with my wife and practicing the courage to say no sometimes.
Q: How do you feel your experience as a husband and father will contribute to your ministry as a deacon?
A: By being able to bring real life experiences/examples of the joys, struggles, etc., of family and married life, in regards to living the faith that is brought to us by the Catholic Church.
Q: If there were one aspect of the diaconate that you’d like to clarify for Catholics, what would it be?
A: The difference between a “permanent deacon,” which is what I’ll be ordained as, and “transitional deacon,” which is a step on the way toward priesthood.
The office of permanent deacon has been present in the Church right at the beginning of the history of our Church and has been a vital part of the Church’s missionary zeal, although it did diminish during one period. It was reinstated at the Second Vatican Council.
Permanent deacons are not “quasi” priests; they are here to bring the fullness of, the reality of Christ’s love, with the priest, to the celebration of the Eucharist and word, and in serving the poor.
Q: Do you have a favorite or unusual hobby?
A: Sailing was and is a passion, but at the moment is lying dormant as the ocean is a little faraway.
Q: Do you have a favorite Scripture verse? If so, what is its significance to you?
A: Ephesians 5:8-14: “For once you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord; walk as children of light, (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), and try to learn what is pleasing to the Lord.
Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. For it is a shame even to speak of the things that they do in secret; but when anything is exposed by the light it becomes visible, for anything that becomes visible is light.
Therefore it is said, ‘Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give you light.’”
I was given this verse at the beginning of my conversion and it has always helped me to not be fearful in confessing my sins, and trusting that no sin is unforgivable if brought to God with a heart that is truly repentant.
Q: Do you have a favorite saint to whom you feel a special bond? If so, describe why.
A: St. Dominic has always been present in my faith walk by his intercession and example; he was a great example of preaching God’s word in truth with mercy and love. He also had great love and strong devotion to Mary, which is essential for all in ordained ministry. St. Dominic also founded a community of brothers that drew strength from their life in community.
Meet Deacon Candidate Charles Hahn
Full name: Charles Austin Hahn
Birth date: Oct. 7, 1951
Home parish: Spirit of Christ, Arvada
Wife’s name and wedding date: Claudia Jean Hahn; May 9, 1992
Children: Tonya Namura, 35; son-in-law David Namura, 35; grandson Carter, 1; Ethan Hahn, 32
Q: Describe your educational and professional background.
A: Associate of Science, Garden City Community Junior College, Garden City, Kan.; Bachelor of Fine Arts, graphic design, Wichita State University, Wichita, Kan.; Associate degree, computer aided design/architecture, Westwood College, Denver. Job titles include positions of middle management in manufacturing, construction, retail and service industries. I’ve owned and operated small businesses and presently am contracted as a computer-aided drafter in mapping.
Q: What first attracted you to the diaconate?
A: Observing the ministry of the deacons in our parish community. Deacon Michael Howard asked if I had given any thought to becoming a deacon. He said, “Promise me you will pray about it.” It began from there.
Q: What ultimately led you to enter formation?
A: Personal prayer along with the encouragement of my wife, family members, priests, deacons and parish community led me to enter formation.
Q: What are you most looking forward to about serving the faithful as a deacon?
A: Being the heart, hands, ears and voice of Christ to his people.
Q: What do you find most daunting about serving the faithful as a deacon?
A: Preparing homilies.
Q: Is there a particular apostolate to which you feel uniquely called by God in your role as a deacon?
A: Some form of spiritual direction related to the charisms of the Holy Spirit and ministering to the divorced and widowed.
Q: Can you describe how God led you to this particular area of service?
A: Having the experience of spiritual direction, I would like to offer the experience to others. I received spiritual guidance and support through my divorce and annulment process. In both cases, I feel called to do the same for others.
Q: How do you plan to balance your ministry to the Church with your responsibilities to your spouse and family?
A: Claudia and I pray for the guidance of the Holy Spirit, and together we will make our decisions in ministry and family life.
Q: How do you feel your experience as a husband and father will contribute to your ministry as a deacon?
A: Having this experience will help me to be understanding, compassionate and merciful in my ministry as a deacon.
Q: If there was one aspect of the diaconate that you’d like to clarify for Catholics, what would it be?
A: I would like to emphasize, that being married, how important and enriching it is to have a good marriage relationship. Without the prayers, support, encouragement and the consent of the wife, a man cannot become a deacon.
Q: Do you have a favorite or unusual hobby?
A: I like to put puzzles together.
Q: Do you have a favorite Scripture verse? If so, what is its significance to you?
A: My favorite Scripture verse changes with my ever-growing relationship with God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
Q: Do you have a favorite saint to which you feel a special bond? If so, describe why.
A: My favorite saint is Mary, the mother of Jesus. And, I must include my father. Both have and hold a unique and important role in the formation of my faith.
Meet Deacon Candidate Steve Hinkle
Full name: John Steven Douglas Hinkle
Birth date: March 6, 1953
Home parish: Spirit of Christ, Arvada
Wife's name and wedding date: Mary Teresa; Sept. 21, 1979
Children: Ashley Marie, 28; Lindsey Ann, 26
Q: Describe your educational and professional background.
A: High school diploma and two years of college. Owner of Ash-Lin Custom Builders.
Q: What first attracted you to the diaconate?
A: I was baptized and confirmed in the Catholic Church in 1992. At that time I knew that God had a plan for me, but it took 39 years to except his will. I cannot say no to his will. He put people in my life that influenced me to entertain the possibility of becoming a deacon.
Q: What ultimately led you to enter formation?
A: The calling of the Holy Spirit.
Q: What are you most looking forward to about serving the faithful as a deacon?
A: To be able to proclaim the word of God to the faithful. To serve my fellow brothers and sisters as I have been called to do.
Q: What do you find most daunting about serving the faithful as a deacon?
A: Being able to preach a meaningful homily and living by "word and example" in today's society, which can be very challenging.
Q: How do you plan to balance your ministry to the Church with your responsibilities to your spouse and family?
A: Lots of communication with my wife and prayerful consideration.
Q: How do you feel your experience as a husband and father will contribute to your ministry as a deacon?
A: As a husband and father I have experienced many situations that many faithful Christians have also experienced. This gives me some insight and understanding of where others are also struggling in their daily lives.
Q: If there was one aspect of the diaconate that you'd like to clarify for Catholics, what would it be?
A: That we are not "mini priests." We both come to serve but in different ways: "The Lord came not to be served, but to serve" (Mt 10:28).
Q: Do you have a favorite or unusual hobby?
A: I love to cook. It can be very therapeutic for me. I read cookbooks and, like others, read the newspaper.
Q: Do you have a favorite Scripture verse? If so, what is its significance to you?
A: "Well done, good and faithful servant, enter into the joy of your Lord" (Mt 25:21). This is a reminder to be faithful to the Gospel. Preach it and teach it.
Meet Deacon Candidate Timothy Kelly
Name: Gregg Timothy Franklin Kelly
Birth date: Dec. 19, 1959
Home parish: Christ the King, Evergreen
Wife’s name and wedding date: Candace Whitaker Kelly
First Married: Dec. 12, 1987; Re-married in the Catholic Church: March 24, 2002 (Palm Sunday)
Children: N/A
Q: Describe your educational and professional background.
A: Juris Doctor (J.D.), 1986, Mercer University Law School, Macon, Ga. Practicing attorney for 26 years focusing primarily in business law, contracts and litigation, including civil litigation and both criminal prosecution and defense litigation. Bachelor of Business Administration (B.B.A.), 1982, Southern Methodist University, Dallas.
Q: What first attracted you to the diaconate?
A: A repetitive call to service.
Q: What ultimately led you to enter formation?
A: God kept calling, and I could ignore him no longer. I finally realized God was really calling and I could no longer dismiss the feelings with the sentiment that I must be misinterpreting the messages.
Q: What are you most looking forward to about serving the faithful as a deacon?
A: Exemplifying “Christ the Servant” by the way I live my life to encourage others to follow Christ more closely.
Q: What do you find most daunting about serving the faithful as a deacon?
A: The possibility of being misinterpreted or misunderstood leading to a serious negative impact on someone’s spiritual life. Words are quite powerful, so we must remain extremely vigilant and be careful to choose and use them wisely.
Q: Is there a particular apostolate to which you feel uniquely called by God in your role as a deacon?
A: Helping to heal the hurting, or the disenfranchised and fallen-away Catholics.
Q: Can you describe how God led you to this particular area of service?
A: It’s more a matter of being something I know in my heart by a feeling of being drawn to it rather than a set of circumstances or events that I might try to describe.
Q: How do you plan to balance your ministry to the Church with your responsibilities to your spouse and family?
A: Given that God was present when we were married; I’ll have to trust that he understands that I made a prior sacramental commitment to Candace, and that I will serve him to the very best of my ability while still honoring that prior sacramental commitment.
Q: How do you feel your experience as a husband and father will contribute to your ministry as a deacon?
A: I have learned better over the years how to love, and to let myself be loved, the way God intended. Since loving others is a major component of the Greatest Commandment, I think that will translate very well into every aspect of diaconal ministry.
Q: If there was one aspect of the diaconate that you’d like to clarify for Catholics, what would it be?
A: The deacon’s true purpose; but then that will necessarily cover more than just one aspect of the diaconate.
Q: Do you have a favorite or unusual hobby?
A: I love to scuba dive, which I’ve been doing for many years; and I have been known—quite some time ago—to sky dive. I hold an A License and have made 24 skydives.
Q: Do you have a favorite Scripture verse? If so, what is its significance to you?
A: I love the Scripture reading from the Liturgy of the Hours … a translation of Galatians 2:19b-20. Since we deacons-to-be have voluntarily chosen to exercise our God-given gift of free will to stop misusing the life God gave us, to return it back to him from whence it came, and to him who truly owns it anyway, to use as he sees fit that we may work his will on earth, this passage seems particularly relevant:
“I have been crucified with Christ, and the life I live now is not my own; Christ is living in me. I still live my human life, but it is a life of faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”
Q: Do you have a favorite saint to which you feel a special bond? If so, describe why.
A: I’m quite partial to my confirmation name-sake, St. Ambrose—the reluctant bishop of Milan. Ambrose was also a lawyer who, unsuccessfully, tried to talk his way out of having to give up so much of his established lifestyle to devote himself to the Church.
But, once he made the decision to submit to God’s will, he did so with great fervor and staunch dedication. His devotion led him to become one of the few doctors of the Church. I hope that I can live up to half of his example.
Meet Deacon Candidate Jerome Kraft
Full name: Jerome Robert Kraft
Birth date: Jan.15,1948
Home Parish: St. Joseph Church, Fort Collins
Wife’s name and wedding date: Brenda Jean Kraft; Dec. 31, 1971
Children: Robert Jerome Kraft, 37; Christine Marie Nira, 35; Stephen Joseph Kraft, 34; Lisa Alene Kraft, 31; and nine grandchildren
Q: Describe your educational and professional background.
A: I graduated with a Bachelor of Arts from University of Central Florida. Started my career as a counselor with the Florida Division of Corrections, worked as an automotive technician with Nissan for 25 years and am currently working as a technician for Pestrite pest control in Windsor.
Q: What first attracted you to the diaconate?
A: My parish priest planted the seed, from the ambo one weekend when he made the request for deacons.
Q: What ultimately led you to enter formation?
A: I made a novena to Our Lady of Grace and asked her to bring me closer to her Son. I felt like I wanted to follow Christ, but wasn’t sure what direction it should be. Eventually I realized that my Lord was calling me into the diaconate.
Q: What are you most looking forward to about serving the faithful as a deacon?
A: I am looking forward to being able to witness marriages and baptize. In truth, I am excited to serve wherever there is a need.
Q: What do you find most daunting about serving the faithful as a deacon?
A: Representing the Church in the best way possible
Q: How do you plan to balance your ministry to the Church with your responsibilities to your spouse and family?
A: All of my children are grown and on their own. My wife is also very active in church, but we make sure that we find a few hours each week to spend with our children and grandchildren.
Q: How do you feel your experience as a husband and father will contribute to your ministry as a deacon?
A: Especially for marriage prep, my 40 years of marriage gives me a lot of background and experience to pass along to couples as they prepare for marriage.
Q: If there was one aspect of the diaconate that you’d like to clarify for Catholics, what would it be?
A: That the priest and the deacon work hand in hand in service to the bishop.
Q: Do you have a favorite or unusual hobby?
A: I like working with stained glass and being able to picture my faith in what I create.
Q: Do you have a favorite Scripture verse? If so, what is its significance to you?
A: James 4:7-8: “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and he will draw near to you.”
These verses are telling you to focus on God, and if you do, he in turn will draw near to you.
Q: Do you have a favorite saint to which you feel a special bond? If so, describe why.
A: St. Frances of Assisi. I am a member of the Secular Franciscan Order and I believe that this was one more step that brought me closer to following the Lord’s call.
Meet Deacon Candidate Christopher Pomrening
Name: Grzegorz Name: Christopher Martin Pomrening
Birth date: May 17, 1961
Home parish: St. Michael the Archangel, Aurora
Wife’s name and wedding date: Guadalupe; Sept. 6, 1986
Children: Julio, 28; Gloria, 25; Erich, 22; Ishobel, 17; Teresa, 14
Q: Describe your educational and professional background.
A: C. R. Laurence Co. Inc., branch manager; Advantage Learning Systems, director of operations.
Q: What first attracted you to the diaconate?
A: I saw a group of men who had dedicated their lives to something so much larger than themselves and what outstanding people they were. They became a model of Christ that I could relate to because of the great commonality of experience that we shared. I also had a strong sense of being called to the diaconate through teaching religious education to high school age young people.
Q: What ultimately led you to enter formation?
A: I had felt that God was calling me to the diaconate and I met with Father James Fox, who was then my pastor, who encouraged me to apply. My wife was also very supportive and encouraged me to apply as well.
Q: What are you most looking forward to about serving the faithful as a deacon?
A: To meet people wherever they are in their lives and draw them closer to Christ in the same way that the deacons I know have done for me.
Q: What do you find most daunting about serving the faithful as a deacon?
A: I don’t know if daunting is the right word. I believe that I will be tested and challenged in ways that I can’t possibly imagine. I pray that through grace and the action of the Holy Spirit I will be able to meet those challenges and be the servant God has called me to be.
Q: Is there a particular apostolate to which you feel uniquely called by God in your role as a deacon?
A: I would like to work with young people.
Q: Can you describe how God led you to this particular area of service?
A: When I was discerning my call to the diaconate I was also teaching high school age religious education. The need we have to serve these young people is very great. Also, whatever those young men and women may I learned from me, I learned much more from them.
Q: If married, how do you plan to balance your ministry to the Church with your responsibilities to your spouse and family?
A: This fall my middle daughter will be attending school out of state so it will be just my wife, our youngest daughter and me at home. It will be very important to set aside time for just our family and make sure that we spend that time together doing something we all enjoy to maintain our connection to each other.
Q: If married, how do you feel your experience as a husband and father will contribute to your ministry as a deacon?
A: As a husband and parent you learn empathy and how to love unconditionally. I think these are very important qualities to bring to diaconal ministry.
Q: If there was one aspect of the diaconate that you’d like to clarify for Catholics, what would it be?
A: That, while both priests and deacons are called to serve God, we are configured to Christ in different ways. The deacon functions as “Christ the Servant” while the priest functions as both “Servant and Christ the Head.”
Q: Do you have a favorite or unusual hobby?
A: I am a licensed pilot and certified flight instructor.
Q: Do you have a favorite Scripture verse? If so, what is its significance to you?
A: James 2:18: “And I will demonstrate my faith to you from my works.” This reminds me that it is never enough to say I have faith; I must always do something with it.
Q: Do you have a favorite saint to which you feel a special bond? If so, describe why.
A: While I don’t have a favorite saint, I have a deep affection for all of them. They were ordinary people who answered God’s call in an extraordinary way. This should provide hope and inspiration for all of us.
Meet Deacon Candidate John Riviera
Name: Johnie Jay Riviera
Birth date: May 15, 1950
Home parish: Our Lady of the Valley, Windsor
Wife’s name and wedding date: Theresa Riviera; May 1, 1971
Children: Angela Riviera and Katie Riviera
Q: Describe your educational and professional background.
A: After receiving a two-year commercial arts certificate from the Omaha Art School, I soon entered into a 25-year career in the telecommunications industry. I worked in public relations as a graphic designer, also as a corporate television producer/director/editor and eventually went into information technologies as the manager of a 14-state internal cable network. I retired in 2000 and started a small business designing and producing computer graphics.
Q: What first attracted you to the diaconate?
A: As I look back, I didn’t realize at first that I was being drawn to the diaconal ministry. I just knew I was being called to serve the Church in some way. What motivated me into looking into the diaconate formation was a Cursillo weekend I attended in February 2004. I walked away from there with a very strong desire to more fully enter into the Church. It was at the end of that Cursillo weekend that I made a personal promise to Jesus.
Q: What ultimately led you to enter formation?
A: A good friend who was dying of cancer was the catalyst. He was a fun-loving man yet very serious about his relationship with God. He was a great example of humility and piety for me. He knew I was considering the diaconate and he continuously encouraged me.
Q: What are you most looking forward to about serving the faithful as a deacon?
A: I love the Mass. I look forward to celebrating as a deacon, doing my part in making the liturgy as beautiful and reverent as it deserves to be for those who come to worship.
Q: What do you find most daunting about serving the faithful as a deacon?
A: The most daunting part about serving as a deacon will be maintaining a good balance in everything. I want to love and serve God and his people well, as well as love and honor my vows to my wife and my commitment to my family, while keeping our business operating well.
Q: Is there a particular apostolate to which you feel uniquely called by God in your role as a deacon?
A: I am particularly drawn to the homebound and hospital ministry. I am honored to serve in that capacity. I especially love bringing the holy Eucharist and the word of God to those who desire it.
Q: Can you describe how God led you to this particular area of service?
A: As my friend who had cancer was approaching the end of his life, a fellow minister and I brought Communion to him at his home. I was honored to serve him. It was also healing for me. Soon after that he was admitted to the hospital. My wife and I went to say our final farewell to him the night before he died. We visited with his family and we all prayed the Divine Mercy Chaplet together. That was a very comforting and healing experience, one that I want to continue.
Q: How do you plan to balance your ministry to the Church with your responsibilities to your spouse and family?
A: My plan is two-fold. (1) To honor my promise to Teri to maintain balance between our marriage and the diaconal ministry. I will continue to honor the vows I made to her 40 years ago. (2) To listen for and be attentive to Teri for the warning signs if things start to get out of balance. Teri is not shy about reminding me if I take on too much, she runs the check and balance system efficiently.
Q: How do you feel your experience as a husband and father will contribute to your ministry as a deacon?
A: I believe my experience as a husband and father will help me to minister in a real life/real world way. Forty years of marriage equates to a lot of experience not only in married life but also in raising children and working to provide for a family. I understand the ups and downs in a marriage, the trials that come in raising a family and the concern around financial matters. This experience gives me a good perspective to draw from.
Q: If there was one aspect of the diaconate that you’d like to clarify for Catholics, what would it be?
A: I’d like to make clear that the diaconate is not just about academic growth; it’s also about spiritual conversion. It took me a while to understand that. I am not coming out of the diaconate a theologian, a philosopher, a biblical scholar or someone who knows all there is to know about the Church. The diaconate for me is more about personal conversion in my holiness. I am being ordained a servant. I am a simple man who has looked at my many flaws and limitations, accepted them, and I am now more aware of and grateful for the many gifts God has given me.
Q: Do you have a favorite or unusual hobby?
A: I dabble in photography, especially of nature. I also enjoy fishing and taking a nice motorcycle ride on a perfect day.
Q: Do you have a favorite Scripture verse? If so, what is its significance to you?
A: Yes, the last seven words of Mark 8:27: “Who do people say that I am?” Jesus asked his disciples this question along the road to Caesarea Philippi. For me it has special meaning. Deacon George Morin brought this verse to our class’s attention in spiritual formation. Taken out of it’s original context, it is a question I ask myself often when I am about to do something wrong, but more often after I‘ve said or done something I shouldn’t have. This question reminds me that I will soon represent the Church and all Christianity where my words and actions will be known to all who hear and see.
Q: Do you have a favorite saint to which you feel a special bond? If so, describe why.
A: St. Peter the Apostle. I love him for a variety of reasons that I identify with, but mostly because he was a simple man, a fisherman, uneducated, yet God called him to be an apostle and the first pope of the Church.
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||