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Walking with the Word: Deacon candidates embrace their mission

9/21/2024

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This year brings an important step for the eight permanent deacon candidates in the Diocese of Calgary’s Permanent Diaconate Formation Program. As these men and their wives enter their third year of a four-year journey, they are called to a deeper engagement with the Word of God through the Rite of Institution of Lector, a significant milestone on their path to ordination.

“The Rite of Institution of Lector is the second of three rites in the formation program,” Deacon Laing, member of the Permanent Diaconate Formation (and Mission) Council explained. “This step marks a growing level of commitment for these men as they prepare to serve the Church in a unique way.” The first rite is the Call to Candidacy, and the third, which comes next year, is the Institution of Acolyte.

For Deacon Laing, the beauty of this rite lies in the candidates’ deeper immersion in scripture. "These eight men have accepted the task to become ‘readers and bearers of God’s Word,’” he said. This year of formation, with a focus on sacred scripture, prepares them to bring the living Word to the community in a profound way.

Here is the list of candidates who have just begun their third year of formation (of 4 years) and were instituted as Lectors this fall:
  • Rafael (Rafa) Dadivas (Spouse: Katherine [Kay] Dadivas) – Ascension, Calgary
  • Jeffrey (Jeff) Desrochers (Spouse: Annette Desrochers) – St. Gabriel's, Chestermere
  • Carlo Alejandro (Carlo) Flores Gil (Spouse: Bertha Gonzalez) – Holy Spirit, Calgary
  • Grant Gay (Spouse: Kelsey Gay) – St. Albert the Great, Calgary
  • Jose Cruzel (Cruzel) Lacao (Spouse: Famela Lacao) – St. Thomas More, Calgary
  • Jason Openo (Spouse: Leisha Lesko-Openo) – St. Patrick's, Medicine Hat
  • Roy Rebustillo (Spouse: Maria Paz Lourdes Rebustillo) – St. Patrick's, Calgary
  • Alberto (Abe) Sia Lu (Spouse: Eva Sia Lu) – St. Mark's, Calgary
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A Journey of Transformation

When asked about the personal reflections of the candidates, Deacon Laing shared, “A few have mentioned that this journey in formation has brought them closer to God, to their families, and friends.” It’s clear that this experience is transformative, not only for the men, but also for their loved ones.

Family plays a significant role in the candidates' journeys, as many of them attend formation sessions alongside their wives. The support system extends even further, with the parish community and clergy contributing to the preparation of the ritual. “Every liturgy requires preparation and rehearsal,” Deacon Laing mentioned, emphasizing the work behind the scenes that helped with the execution of the Rite of Institution of Lector.

At the Mass, Bishop McGrattan’s words resonated deeply with the candidates. Deacon Laing recalled part of the bishop’s prayer: “As readers and bearers of God’s Word, you will assist in this mission, and so take on a special office within the Christian community.” The bishop reminded the newly installed Lectors of their responsibility to instruct others in the faith, proclaim God’s Word, and bring the message of salvation to those who have yet to hear it.
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What’s next?

​As the candidates move forward, their formation continues to deepen. “Part of year three is dedicated to the ‘Principles of Liturgy,’ and ‘Introduction to Preaching,’” Deacon Laing said, explaining that these lessons begin to prepare them for year four, which focuses on homiletics—learning to prepare and deliver homilies.

For now, though, the candidates are focused on becoming true bearers of God’s Word, guided by the scripture that continues to shape their vocation. With each step they take, they are drawn deeper into their mission of serving the Church and proclaiming the message of salvation.

Welcoming 5 new aspirants

In addition to the permanent deacon candidates, five aspirants have just begun their first year of discernment in the Permanent Diaconate Program. "The journey to ordination as a Permanent Deacon begins with a year of “Aspirancy” or discernment, followed by three years of formation guided by the pillars of Theological, Spiritual, Pastoral, and Human development," explained Deacon John Walsh, chair of the Permanent Diaconate Formation Council.

Here is the list of the aspirants who have embarked on this path:
  • Kingsley Abdul (Spouse: Bukola) – Our Lady of the Assumption, Calgary
  • Florian Bernardo (Spouse: Ydelle) – St. Albert the Great, Calgary
  • Stephen Doyle (Spouse: Linda) – Our Lady of the Rockies, Canmore
  • Lars Duck Chief (Spouse: Jocelyn) – Holy Trinity, Cluny
  • Paul Smith (Spouse: Deborah) – St. James Parish, Okotoks

These men have now taken their first steps on a journey that will shape their lives as they discern God’s call to serve as deacons within the Church. As they begin this important path, let us remember them in our prayers. 

For more information about the Permanent Diaconate program, visit catholicyyc.ca/permanentdiaconate

Photography by Victor Panlilio, for the Permanent Diaconate team. 
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My Dad, the Deacon

8/9/2024

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My chest ceased into a tight ball that evening in October when Dad told our family he had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.

​Just three weeks previous, his childhood friend had died of stage 4 pancreatic cancer. And in just three weeks my parents planned to move from their Winnipeg home to Calgary to be closer to me and my two siblings and our families.
Dear Lord, I thought, I am so confused by Your timing. After living apart from my parents for 20 years, this anticipated reunion was now being put into question and the future seemed uncertain.  

Nine months later, I am here to say that Dad fought the battle for his life. He underwent a major surgery and six months of chemotherapy. Then in a 24-hour span,  he finished treatment on July 31 and began his new assignment as Deacon Rick Loftson with St. Bernard and Our Lady of the Assumption Parishes in Calgary on August 1, 2024.  ​​
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The Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment 

Back in October, my mother, Joyce Loftson, had noticed my father had unusually bright yellow skin; skin that was becoming increasingly itchy all over.

Often pancreatic cancer is not caught until it’s in a late stage because it grows hidden without warning signs. But by God’s grace, Dad’s growth was obstructing his bile duct, causing noticeable symptoms. His family doctor ordered up the scans and tests, and he got into the queue for a Whipple surgery. 

Whipple surgery is a major operation to remove the head of the pancreas, part of the small intestine, gallbladder and bile duct. Surgical consultations in Winnipeg began at the same time my parents were packing up their U-Haul. With much prayer and discernment, they decided to go ahead and move to Calgary, giving up their surgery spot, and being placed back on the waiting list in Calgary. 

For me, it felt like a race against time to remove this growth before it spread any further. The move would delay the surgery but ensure Dad had a home in which to recover.
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Deacon Rick Loftson leaving Foothills Hospital end of January after a three week stay post Whipple surgery.
My New Year began on a spiritually strong note, surrendering and leaning completely on the Lord for strength. Following Dad’s Whipple surgery on January 3, he spent three long weeks recovering at Foothills Hospital. Numerous complications can arise from such a major surgery. As an example of the severity of the operation, he required 41 staples to mend the incision the length of much of his torso. 

Dad braved chemotherapy treatment only a month after he was discharged from hospital post-surgery. While the tumor had been successfully removed, we hoped chemotherapy would capture any possible rogue cancerous cells traveling through his lymphatic system. 

There were definitely hard days where Dad suffered swelling, rashes, neuropathy, nausea, loss of appetite, and more. He lost 50 lbs in nine months.
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Sanctification through Suffering  
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I was struck by my parents’ fortitude, courage, humility, and surrender throughout this entire diagnosis and treatment. While Dad couldn’t formally begin his ministry right away in Calgary post-Whipple surgery, he intentionally accompanied his hospital roommate Debbie. As a fallen away Catholic, Debbie began joining my parents for Mass upon discharge. 

In his suffering, Dad taught his family the value of faith and gratitude, never complaining about his lot. He remained hopeful and positive, pushing himself to do small things with great love; like getting up to sit at the dinner table with us when it felt excruciating to walk or nearly impossible to bend his swollen hand to hold a fork from the effect of the chemotherapy drugs.   
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Ordained as a Permanent Deacon by Archbishop Albert LeGatt of Archdiocese of St. Boniface.
Cancer had overshadowed my parents’ move from their lifelong hometown – a huge transition at their age. It’s the place where my mom served as a dietitian for 40 years. It’s the place where my dad owned and operated independent toy stores for two decades, and worked as an accountant in the Winnipeg film industry after completing a late-in-life film degree. It’s where my parents met and raised their children: Christopher, Samantha, and myself. It’s where my Dad had his conversion from essentially atheism to Catholicism in his 40s.

On August 9, 2018, he was ordained a permanent deacon for the Archdiocese of St. Boniface. He credits my mom’s steadfast faith for being the gateway to God working in his life. And he credits my mom’s steadfast support for anchoring and buoying him during his cancer journey.
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“I am very appreciative of (everyone’s) prayers. I feel them,” Deacon Rick said. “I am a lucky man to have Joyce beside me and helping me through all of this. She is one of the many graces God has provided me. I am so thankful for those graces. Life is good.” 

Dad begins his next chapter as Calgary Diocese deacon and cancer survivor. In two weeks, he will get his first scan post treatment to check for cancer. Your prayers truly are appreciated.   
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Written by Sara Francis for Faithfully. Sara is a writer living in Calgary with her husband Ben and their six children. They attend St. Bernard's / Our Lady of the Assumption Parish. 

Photos courtesy of Sara Francis & family.

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Two cities make one deacon

7/17/2024

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One of the pillars of Diocesan Renewal is to form Missionary Disciples in Christ, primarily by practicing the faith and inviting others to encounter God. This is the driving force for the Diocese of Calgary’s newest Permanent Deacon, Deacon Marc O’Loughlin, ordained June 1, 2024.

“It’s time to actually go forth and spread the gospel, living out the servant mysteries as I am called to do,” Deacon Marc vows, “To fulfill God’s will in a way I never imagined possible.” Indeed, Marc’s entire life has been about going forth to places around the world and being a witness of Catholic faith wherever he found himself.

It is interesting to see the myriad ways in which God calls his disciples, and the many ways in which they respond. Among this wonderful variety, Deacon Marc’s diaconate journey is notable, for starters because he was ordained in Vancouver although he lives in Calgary.
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Ordination of Permanent Deacons, Archdiocese of Vancouver, June 2, 2024
​Deacon Marc began his formation with the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Vancouver in September 2019 because he lived there at that time. After moving to Calgary for family reasons, mid-program in June 2022, he received special permission to continue his formation with the Archdiocese of Vancouver because their program did not align with the diocesan program in Calgary. While the circumstances might sound simple enough, the mechanics of becoming a deacon from two places at the same time are definitely unique and somewhat challenging. “It was an unusual circumstance for Archbishop Miller and Bishop McGrattan, but the Holy Spirit found a way, and how they both worked together was an example of their ecclesial mindset,” Deacon Marc said.

​Deacon Marc’s journey to the diaconate actually began much earlier and further afield, in his birthplace of Sydney, Australia. He was challenged while still a teen, by a priest who was a family-friend, to consider the priesthood. Though he did not follow that path, he always felt some calling to serve the Church, even long after emmigrating to Canada with his parents and siblings.

​Deacon Marc recalls vividly the Mass he attended in Vancouver in 2010 when his parish priest read an announcement from the Archbishop that the Archdiocese of Vancouver was instituting a Permanent Diaconate program. “I felt a twinge of wondering if this was for me, and if this was what God was calling me to.” However, a busy work schedule and prospective relocation to Toronto suspended further response. His 25-year career in the pharmaceutical industry requires frequent travel and occasional relocation. 

​After moving to Toronto, Deacon Marc witnessed for the first time a deacon preaching and serving at the altar. He said, “I was again intrigued, feeling the same feeling as before but knew that Toronto was not going to be my home for long and that I was not in any position to make a longterm commitment. But the thought nagged at me.”​
After another move in 2016, to his company’s global headquarters in Germany, Deacon Marc's parish priest “out of the blue” invited him to consider the diaconate during a post-Mass conversation. “I was astounded and knew that I simply had to explore this, I just couldn’t ignore it any longer!” However it would still be awhile before the spark became a flame. “God demonstrated utmost patience with me”, Deacon Marc said, referring to a favourite poem of his by Francis Thompson called “The Hound of Heaven” which speaks of God’s relentless pursuit of us. Deacon Marc went on, “We all need to stop and pay attention to the inner voice that’s calling to us, listen for prompts, be open and honest and listen to others. If they tell you to take that first step then just take it and see where it leads. God calls each of us in some way or another. The fruits of our efforts will tell us if we’re on the right track. I am still amazed at the blessings that have come my way while on this journey.”
We all need to stop and pay attention to the inner voice that’s calling to us, listen for prompts, be open and honest and listen to others. If they tell you to take that first step then just take it and see where it leads. God calls each of us in some way or another.”
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Besides God’s “inner” call to Deacon Marc, he heard other voices of encouragement. His wife of 39 years, Leonora, was a constant support to him. Deacon Marc spoke about how Leonora’s faith also expanded during their diaconate discernment. Another supporter was his spiritual director Fr. Bruce John Hamilton. “Trust in what others are telling you,” Fr. Hamilton would repeatedly tell him, “Remember that God doesn’t call the equipped, he equips the called!” Monsignor Gregory Smith, the RCAV Permanent Diaconate Director at the time, also assisted. During a meeting with him when Deacon Marc visited Vancouver in 2017, the Director advised him about the next candidate intake planned two years hence. He gave Deacon Marc some literature on the diaconate and urged him to pray about it and trust in the Holy Spirit.  ​​
I really believe Our Blessed Mother guided me, I’m amazed at how I was accompanied after taking each step." 
Deacon Marc immediately began a period of intensive discernment. He read Scripture and over time began to attend daily Mass. He sought Our Lady’s intercession, committing himself to daily recitation of the entire Rosary, all habits which endure till today. “I really believe Our Blessed Mother guided me,” Deacon Marc said, “I’m amazed at how I was accompanied after taking each step.” Although he was still located in Germany, Deacon Marc persevered. “Everything has been about just taking one step and seeing where it leads.” Almost miraculously, in 2019 an opportunity to move back to Vancouver materialized. “It was yet another sign to me of God’s providence,” he said. Upon his return, Deacon Marc applied and was accepted into the diaconate program, along with eight other men.  
Then the pandemic arrived. Marc confessed, “Covid actually helped because it gave me an opportunity to study remotely and attend classes via Zoom regardless of what time zone I was in.” Post-Covid, year after year, month in and month out, Deacon Marc doggedly rose early or stayed up late to learn with his cohort even when he was travelling for work. After he and Leonora moved to Calgary, Deacon Marc travelled to BC every month for day-long formation studies and retreats. He said, “I felt that was a commitment I could make seeing that the Archbishop and Bishop were committing to me.” That collective commitment culminated in Marc’s recent graduation from St. Mark’s College with a Graduate Diploma in Pastoral Ministry and ordination at Holy Rosary Cathedral with six other members of his cohort. “I’m just so humbled that everyone, including God, stuck with me throughout this journey!” Deacon Marc said, “I am very grateful.”   
I’m excited to begin serving the diocese and really want to be that connector between the clergy and regular people (like me), showing that we really can have a personal relationship with Jesus while striving to become who we are meant to be."
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Ordination of Permanent Deacons, Archdiocese of Vancouver, June 2, 2024
Deacon Marc’s determination, along with time-management and relational skills, may be some of the reasons he has been asked to assist on the Diocesan Renewal Leadership Team and in the Vocations Office at the Pastoral Centre, in addition to serving at his assigned parish of St. Anthony’s. Despite wearing many hats, Deacon Marc finds time to jog or walk, play the trumpet and the occasional round of golf. Deacon Marc's wife Leonora, his grown children and now four grandchildren are his first priority but he also prioritizes Mass (“There’s nothing better!”).
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“I’m a regular guy,” Deacon Marc said. “I love Jesus, I love my family, I like sports…and the occasional beer is also a great thing!” He goes on, “I’m excited to begin serving the diocese and really want to be that connector between the clergy and regular people (like me), showing that we really can have a personal relationship with Jesus while striving to become who we are meant to be. That is His greatest desire for us.”  

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Written by Alice Matisz for Faithfully. ​Alice lives in Lethbridge with her husband Don. She is a member of All Saints Parish where she volunteers to bring the Eucharist to a long term care home. She enjoys reading, writing, baking and painting.

​Photos: Marc O'Loughlin and Archdiocese of Vancouver.
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In memoriam: Deacon Bob Wilson

3/8/2024

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​Deacon Bob Wilson has died at the age of 90. He was ordained with Formation Group One on June 23, 2002 by Bishop Frederick Henry and spent most of his active ministry at St. Mary’s in Brooks. He died peacefully on Tuesday at his home in Brooks, surrounded by two of his four children. Bob is survived by his children and by his wife Rosalie, who is 92 and resides in a Brooks nursing home. Funeral details are being arranged by the family. 
 
Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him. May his soul, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen. 
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Congratulations to the twelve newly ordained permanent deacons!

11/19/2023

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Congratulations to our twelve new permanent deacons, ordained on Saturday, Nov. 18, 2023 at St. Mary's Cathedral by Bishop William T. McGrattan.
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  • Deacon John Arbeau from Ascension Parish, Calgary 
  • Deacon Bruce Barnett from St. Martha’s Parish, Lethbridge
  • Deacon Ferdinand Gayos from St. Albert the Great, Calgary
  • Deacon Randy Gritter from St. Michael’s Parish, Calgary
  • Deacon Thomas Ha from Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Calgary
  • Deacon Brian Kinahan from St. Augustine’s, Taber
  • Deacon Timothy Peter Lilienthal from All Saints Parish, Lethbridge
  • Deacon James Arnold Manzara from All Saints Parish, Lethbridge
  • Deacon Carlos Perez from St. Thomas More, Calgary
  • Deacon Ricardo Rosero from Mary, Mother of the Redeemer, Calgary
  • Deacon Andrew Ross from St. Joseph, Calgary
  • Deacon Reynaldo Tadifa from St. Albert the Great, Calgary

​Please pray for our newly ordained deacons that he may be strengthened by the gift of God's grace to carry out faithfully the work of ministry, and that he may imitate our Lord who came not to be served but to serve. Amen.

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A special acknowledgment is extended to the liturgical ministers, St. Mary's Cathedral, and diocesan staff for their dedicated work in organizing the ordination liturgy. We express our special appreciation to the Permanent Diaconate Ministerial Council, sponsors, and volunteers for organizing and arranging the reception.

Join us in rejoicing as we welcome new permanent deacons, ready and eager to serve Christ and His Church. We're delighted to invite you all to explore our extensive photo album from the Permanent Diaconate Ordination. 
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From Argentina to Canada: Meet Deacon Carlos Lozano & wife Christina

7/23/2023

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On a beautiful Tuesday morning, I sat at a picnic table by the shore of Lake Chaparral, southeast of Calgary, engaging in conversation with our Diocese's newest deacon from Argentina. My hosts on this warm gorgeous summer day were Deacon Carlos Lozano and his lovely wife, Christina Rieter. 

The warmth emanating from the two of them carried us through a two-hour heartfelt bilingual Spanish–English conversation centred on Christ, family, and service. As Deacon Carlos awaits his new mission in Holy Spirit Parish beginning August 1st, he speaks with delightful excitement about his ministry in Argentina and his hopes and dreams for the future.


In May 1996, Deacon Carlos and his fellow deacons chose these words of Jeremiah for their ordination in Buenos Aires, Argentina: “Now the word of the Lord came to me saying, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you a prophet to the nations.” (Jer 1:4-5). Long before that, in 1951, Deacon Carlos revealed that his mother, while he was still in her womb, had dedicated him to our Blessed Virgin Mary. With this profound offering and our Blessed Mother's intercession, Deacon Lozano serves the Lord not only in his marital and family life but also through his permanent diaconate ministry, which now extends beyond Argentina due to his his recent move to Calgary, Alberta. 
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Deacon Carlos (3rd from right) served as a permanent deacon in Quilmes, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Faith & Journey to Canada
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When asked about the source and centre of his faith, Deacon Carlos talks about his love for Christ and how that love radiates outwards into his life, his family, his Church community, his ministry and out into the world. He says, “It all begins and revolves around Christ being the centre of my life, with Mary walking right beside me.” His favourite Bible verse, “just as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve” (Mt 20:28), has guided his ministry through the years, and is the spiritual core of his calling.

Deacon Carlos and his wife moved to Calgary in April 2022 to be near their daughters, Celeste and Cecilia, and their families. Although it has been challenging leaving home and their parish back in Quilmes, they did not have to think twice when the opportunity to move to Canada arose. Now, Deacon Carlos and Christina find delight in spending time with their two grandchildren, Milagros and Franco, taking leisurely walks and showering them with love and affection.
It all begins and revolves around Christ being the centre of my life, with Mary walking right beside me” ~ Deacon Carlos Lozano
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Deacon Carlos & family in Calgary
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Deacon Carlos during his Ordination in 1996
Hopes for the future
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Ever since they moved to Calgary, they have been amazed by the kindness and affection they have received, and they hope to channel this goodness into dedicated service for God and His people. 

Deacon Carlos looks forward to his years in Calgary serving the Lord, beginning with his new assignment at Holy Spirit Parish in Calgary.  Both he and his wife are excited to build a strong community around them. ​They hope to reach out especially to the Spanish speaking population. To all the faithful in the Diocese of Calgary, Deacon Carlos would like to express his gratitude, saying, “Thank you for the warm welcome and pray for me.”
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Written by Cecilia DMello for Faithfully. Cecilia lives in Calgary with her husband Neil and her two-year old daughter Azaelea. She attends St. Joseph's Parish in Calgary and is passionate about bringing young families to/back to Christ. She enjoys reading, painting, crocheting and hiking. Photos courtesy of Deacon Carlos Lozano. 
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20 years of Permanent Diaconate

6/19/2022

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A Few Memories and Reflections on the 20th Anniversary 2022 of the Permanent Diaconate in the Diocese of Calgary 

The primary movement for the restoration of the order of deacons in this century occurred in the death camp at Dachau. The identity of the deacon is conceived in the midst of indescribable human suffering. A “new” diaconate is envisioned as a permanent hope to those who are without hope.
 
During World War II, a group of Catholic priests, interned at Dachau prison camp, provided support and encouragement to many of the nameless and voiceless victims of injustice around them. Somehow they kept faith alive, sustained hope and witnessed to God’s unconditional love even in an atmosphere that viciously opposed and denied these gifts. One of these priests, Fr. Otto Pies SJ, who was seriously ill when released from the concentration camp, published an article titled “Cellblock 26 - Experiences of the Priestly Life in Dachau” - dealing with the sufferings of priests imprisoned here. He also reports about those topics that were the subject of the discussions among priests who were ready to discharge their responsibilities in the face of death. In conjunction with the increasingly more serious shortage of priests, Fr. Pies poses the question as ‘to whether or not it was time to act upon the nudges that were - apparently - being initiated by the Holy Spirit’ and to permit the diaconate to rise again.
 
Knowing that their aspiration required decisive action, these priests after their liberation, continued to meet and work to awaken in every Catholic a commitment to justice through personal service and advocacy. Many people came to join these survivors, who named their group the Deacon Circle. In time, additional groups convened throughout Germany, France and Eastern Europe.
 
In 1962 Pope John XXIII convened the Second Vatican Council and within this growing awareness of the church’s obligation to be actively engaged in the world, the original members of the Deacon’s Circle, the Dachau survivors and those who had joined them in Munich wrote a letter in 1962 addressed directly to the council fathers in which they state:
 
“Would it not be a living testimony to the church’s concern for the temporal and supernatural needs of all peoples to have ordained deacons engaged in actual necessities of temporal life to the poor and the suffering, bringing  Christ both sacramentally and also in their committed care for the lowly and oppressed into places of neglect and destitution, of hunger and sickness?”

The rest of the story is our history
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Vatican II reconstituted the diaconate in the western Catholic Churches, and taught that deacons are helpers to the bishop at the altar and in the ministry of the word, while caring always for those who might otherwise be overlooked by the successors of the apostles.
 
Three reasons behind the Council’s decision:
  1. a desire to enrich the Church with the functions of the diaconate, which otherwise, in many regions, could only be exercised with great difficulty;
  2. the intention of strengthening with the grace of diaconal ordination those who already exercised many of the functions of the Diaconate; and
  3. a concern to provide regions, where there was a shortage of clergy, with sacred ministers.
 
Deacons are ordained to make visible Christ, the servant of his people. The bishop is responsible for the selection, personal formation, ministerial training and assignment of deacons. 

Prior to my arrival in Calgary, I recall a discernment weekend experience in the Diocese of London. Our topic was to try and attuned ourselves as a selected and balanced group of leaders in the diocese - bishops, ordained priests, religious women, catechists, male and female lay leaders -  to listen to the prompting of the Holy Spirit through prayer and discussion led by a Jesuit priest whose expertise was discernment in the Ignatius Tradition.  Our question was straight forward: “Should We Introduce the Permanent Diaconate in the our Diocese.” At the end of our session, marked more by turbulence than peace, we held a vote - 60% yes, 40% no. Bishop Sherlock decided that the margin was not large enough to proceed and it would only divide the diocese. I was one of the 60%. My main argument was that our local church would be stronger with the fullness of the Sacrament of Orders - bishop, priests, and deacons.
 
Before the subject was revisited several years later, I was transferred to the Diocese of Thunder Bay in Northern Ontario in March of 1995. Fortunately, they already had introduced the permanent diaconate. We were a very large missionary diocese (geographically), many indigenous peoples, few clergy and  heavily reliant on the religious communities and the international community to staff our parishes and missions.  Both groups tended to be serving on a contract basis. Our married deacons were local - many were born and raised in the north, involved in business industry, recreation, etc. They and their wives who were part of the formation sessions were a terrific addition to our pastoral care delivery system. I was now more committed than ever.
 
Arriving in Calgary as the local Bishop, I was surprised that one of the most frequently asked questions, in addition to “when are you going to build us a church?”, was “What do you think of the permanent diaconate?” “I’m all in favour. It’s simply when and how?”
 
There was no permanent diaconate program west of St. Boniface. I recall an exchange at the one of the Western Conference of Catholic Bishops Meetings. I announced  that we were establishing a permanent diaconate program in Calgary and one of the senior bishops interjected “That here in the west we have opted for lay formation.” I replied: “I didn’t think that it was an either/or proposition, we can do both. Beside, I’m simply telling you, not asking for permission.”
 
First west of St. Boniface Diocese but happily, not the last!
 
There was also local opposition from many individuals and groups in the Diocese but not strong enough to stop the forward movement of the Holy Spirit. The biggest decision was to pick Developers and Coordinators who were of “good standing, full of the Spirit and of wisdom whom we may appoint to this task” (Acts.6:3). Fr. Bill Trienekens and Sr. Maria Nakagawa’  graciously accepted the appointment and set about building our program, selecting and forming our candidates, individually and communally. They have rendered enormous service to our local church! As my mom would say “And the proof is in the pudding.”
 
We were assisted in many way by the Archdiocese of Toronto who readily shared their experience and helped us walk in the direction of our hope.
 
In God’s providence, we were also assisted by the timely publication in 1998 of the two Vatican Documents:
  1. Basic Norms for the Formation of Permanent Deacons - Congregation for Catholic Education
  2. Directory for the Ministry and Life of Permanent Deacons - Congregation for the Clergy
 
I suspect that these two documents will influence the development of the Order of Deacon for years to come and therefore will directly influence how the faithful are shepherded by bishops and priests with the help of deacons. Practically, the deacon’s responsibilities are explained, the professional demands of his ministry are regulated, his juridical status and spiritual life are described. Most fundamentally, however, his identity is clarified.
Identity

In the first years after the restoration of the permanent diaconate, pragmatic considerations often seemed to shape its purpose and identity.
 
In some places, it seemed that the diaconate was intended, in particular, for catechists and delegates of the Word, so that familiar ministers and leaders of small communities would, through becoming deacons, make ordained ministry visible in their communities and throughout their diocese.
 
The new directory makes clear that local church cannot simply put the new label of deacon on the familiar reality of catechist without changing the life of the Church. The diaconate is a gift from God which changes not just the deacon but all of God’s people.
 
The diaconate was restored just when the Church’s relationship to the modern world was changing. The line between openness to the world and becoming “worldly’ was often not clear, and this lack of clarity influenced pastoral policy and, at times, teaching. Consequently, the permanent deacon, ordained but with a secular job, was sometimes hailed as the Church’s agent in the workplace and marketplace, as if this were not the vocation of every baptized Christian. Behind this seeming openness to the world lay a clericalism that assumed that only the ordained make the Church present in the world. The selection of candidates was often limited to those whose secular profession was proof of their position in the world and therefore of their value as deacons.
 
A second moment in the development of the restored diaconate brought forward candidates who were already visible in their parish communities as lay ministers and helpers in numerous church activities. Generous men who were obviously of good character and servants of the Lord and his Church sometimes were invited to become deacons as a kind of acknowledgment by their pastor that they were exemplary Catholics and helpful members of their parish. The diaconate became almost unique tied to parochial service.
 
The Directory comes providentially at a new moment in the developing understanding of the diaconate and the consequent criteria for the selection of deacon candidates. Full time work in the world certainly does not disqualify a man from the diaconate nor does prior ministry or service in a parish. But the Directory explains clearly that a deacon makes Christ the servant visible through ordination for a particular Church, a diocese, and not only for a parish. The relationship to the local bishop is central to the deacon’s ministry as servant to those who might otherwise be overlooked or neglected, especially the poor, as the local Church assembles around her bishop. The deacons’ sensitivity to the sick, the handicapped, the religiously illiterate, the victim so prejudice of every sort, the despised and those estranged from the community of believers will lead him to bring them to the altar of Christ. The greatest service a deacon offers is to invite others to the table where they can learn who Christ is by becoming members of his body. Having gathered the poor around the altar of Christ, the deacon proclaims the Gospel, which is always good news for the poor.
MINISTRY
(para 23-42) the Directory’s description of his service of the word, of the altar and of charity cannot be separated. Even though one or the other may be more emphasized in the course of a deacon’s ministerial life, he is always called to all three.
 
SPIRITUALITY
(para.43-62) Ordination as a deacon is a call to convert, to conform one’s heart and mind ever more closely to Jesus Christ, servant of his people; service as a deacon is a call to constant conversion so that a deacon’s ministry is not just a function. His spiritual life begins in relationships that are his by reason of ordination.
 
FORMATION
(para 63-82) the Directory gives special attention to the ongoing or continuing vocational and professional formation of deacons.

Deacons ordained in 2002:
Dcn. Paul Coderre – Sacred Heart, Strathmore
Dcn. John Hagan – Retired, Calgary
Dcn. Paul Heffernan – Holy Spirit, Calgary
†Dcn. Albert Henri – Deceased
Dcn. Allan Hinger – now in the Diocese of Prince Albert, SK.
†Dcn. Louis Lapointe -- Deceased
Dcn. Alex Martinez-Lievano – Holy Spirit, Calgary
Dcn. Clarence Otteson – now in the Archdiocese of Edmonton
Dcn. Robert Risling –Holy Family, Medicine Hat
Dcn. Albert Riendeau—Retired, Calgary
Dcn. Robert Wilson – Retired, Brooks
Dcn. John Wu – Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Calgary
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Written by
Bishop Emeritus
Frederick Henry
​for Faithfully

June 2022
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Trusting in God

8/10/2021

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PictureDeacon Larry & Theresa Driver
Despite some tough health issues and challenges in recent years, Deacon Larry Driver has survived through the power of prayer.
 
In the fall of 2008, he went in to get an annual physical for his driver’s licence and the doctor noticed he had a large lump on the left side of his throat. It turned out to be Stage 4 melanoma cancer in his lymph nodes on his neck. But that was the primary. After an appointment in the cancer clinic, it was discovered cancer on his left tonsil. After surgery, he had both chemotherapy and radiation treatments.
 
Today, he describes himself as being “pretty healthy.” Although he’s a Type 2 Diabetic and taking some medication, but from a cancer point of view he’s clear.
 
Faith is what he carried him through the ordeal.
 
“I learned what prayer is all about at that point. Over the time, I had people praying all over the world for me to get better and to know that if you need help you ask people to pray for you . . . You need people to pray - to speak to the good Lord. The more people you’ve got praying for you the better your chances are of getting help. Not that He doesn’t help you but it’s the intercessions that we go to Mary and Joseph and the saints for. The more people you’ve got working for you the better it is,” says Driver.
 
Driver, who turns 70 in October, started the program in 2001 to become a Deacon in the Calgary Diocese. He was ordained on June 14, 2004.
 
Driver was attending St. Mark’s in Calgary where he saw Deacon Amadeo served as a deacon. ”It struck me as interesting that he was able to work there.” Closer to 2000, Larry asked Bishop Henry about the permanent diaconate.
 
Bishop Henry recalled this particular conversation with Driver. “Shortly after my arrival in the diocese, and upon meeting Larry, his first question to me was “What do you think about the permanent diaconate?” My reply was “I’m definitely in favour of it.” He was the first to raise the issue with me in the diocese. His question was actually repeated by others many times in the first six months.”

PictureDeacon Larry at St. Francis de Sales Parish
Driver has been a Deacon from the beginning at St. Francis de Sales in High River.
 
“I’ve been fortunate enough that the Bishops have left me in this parish so far for my Diaconate service,” he says.
 
Driver is originally from the Grande Prairie area. After graduating from the Grande Prairie Composite High School, he had jobs in labour, trucking and warehousing until 1975 then he was hired on by the City of Calgary’s Emergency Medical Services Department and moved to Calgary in July 1975.
 
“The City trained me as a paramedic at SAIT and I graduated as a paramedic with honours from the class and then I worked for the City until 1978. I moved back to Grande Prairie but that didn’t work out. So I came back to Calgary, was rehired and finished up my 32-year career with the City of Calgary,” says Driver, who retired in July 2007.
 
Being a Deacon fits in with his career being a paramedic.
 
“You’re there. You’re helping people. I could see that. But I also saw it as a faith journey to increase my faith and help others through that journey of faith,” says Driver, who has had an interesting personal journey of faith.
 
He was raised Anglican but over time he found the Roman Catholic faith more to his liking and he became a Catholic in the late 1980s with the help of Father Cooney, who eventually became a Bishop.
 
Driver has two daughters who both have two children - three boys and a girl. The family has played an important role in his success in becoming a Deacon as well as in his battle against cancer.
 
“My wife has been a super support through all of this and as much as she’s not on the altar she’s definitely been the one that has supported me the most in this,” says Driver.
 
Therese says it was only natural for her to support her husband on his journey to becoming a Deacon.
 
“If that’s what they want and feel called to do, who am I to stop them and if I don’t support them they can’t go on,” she says. “He felt the calling and was prepared to do what had to be done. It certainly didn’t harm me at all. It certainly gives me an understanding of what’s expected, of what the ministry is and it affects the family. You have to know that ahead of time. It does have an impact on the family and everything you do.”
 
Through Larry’s health challenges, the power of prayer became very important, adds Therese.
 
“To trust in God. If it’s meant to be it will happen, if it’s not then that will happen too. We trust in God and do the best we can and let God work the way He works. It’s God’s work one way or the other and we were prepared either way. If you’re going to survive this, great, if not then we’ll deal with it. So were our kids. They were all on board and you do what you have to. I grew up in hard times and you just do what you have to. That’s all there is to it.”


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Written by Mario Toneguzzi for Faithfully. Mario is a veteran writer living in Calgary with his wife Marlene and their three children. They attend St. Peter's and St. Stephen's Ukrainian Catholic Church in Calgary. Mario was recently named one of the Top 10 Business Journalists in the world.  Photos courtesy of Deacon Larry and Fr. Mariusz Sztuk.
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My first year as a Deacon

2/11/2020

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PictureDeacon Dale Laing at St. Thomas More, Calgary
It’s been more than a year since I was ordained as a Permanent Deacon in the Catholic Church, and what a year it has been! Guiding me during the four-year formation journey was a combination of prayer, effective mentoring, spiritual direction, self-reflection and practical experience.

An instrumental topic to me, and that of my spiritual director, has been the transformation of one’s ego. Every person he says, “whether they are aware of it or not, is engaged from the moment of birth in a titanic struggle to lead a life led by the spirit, or, a life led by the attractions of this world. He is fond of saying, “throughout our entire lives, but most especially a man in formation must grow increasingly aware of these two forces, each clamoring for our attention. One force leads to life, and the other to death”.

The battleground in this great seesaw for our soul is a person’s ego. It can serve as both sword and shield, our greatest ally, or, our greatest enemy. The successful path to life sees the pouring out, a little at a time from our old self (ego), then, filling the void with the love of Christ. Thus, guided by this new mixture of love, we gain greater strength to support our future actions and ministries.

All throughout my life, but especially during my diaconate formation, I came to fully realize the necessity of allowing this constant pouring out and re-filling, as a catalyst to mold myself anew.  Following that which promises life, I opened my heart wide to the workings of the Spirit and allowed my self-identity to shift toward the truth of Christ. Infused with a clearer sense of the necessity of living my life closer to God, I invited my wife and my family to join me in this new reality of love. 

My spiritual director says that formation for a new deacon never stops and once ordained, the deacon must continually be open, and vulnerable, to the revelations which Christ wishes to share with him. A new deacon must continually desire to hold his ego aloft, so that with Christ’s blessing, it may receive further refinement from the Holy Spirit. This willingness to constantly seek to have his ego molded by the Spirit of Christ, this change of heart, is at the very core of diaconal formation he says. Without it, no man can truly serve successfully in the capacity of deacon.
​
This continuous transformation of one’s ego is key for us all. We must let go of doing things our own way, and supplant them with God’s way. One must pour out the old self (one’s former worldly attractions) to receive the new from God. Gradually, our willingness to seek Christ over that of the world is God’s goal for us.

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Written by Deacon Laing for Faithfully
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Gingco’s journey from an underground movement to his ordination

12/3/2018

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​With a servant’s heart, Joseph Gingco was pleased to help run the audio-visual equipment when his parish hosted an information meeting about the permanent diaconate back in 2013. Joseph, who has a Bachelor of Computer Science degree from the Philippines, knew his skills would prove helpful. Besides that, the life-long Catholic was curious about the topic.
​
Five years later, one of Calgary’s newest deacons believes God used that opportunity to serve to answer one of his prayers.
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"I will seek you"

​When Joseph and his wife moved to Canada, he promised God, “Lord, when we are in Canada, I will seek you. I think Fr. Myles Gaffney’s intention with me was that I would help him that day as he was in charge of vocations in the Diocese and was the director of the Permanent Deacon program. In my heart, I believe God was just waiting for me to open the door.”

Deacon Joseph Gingco was ordained by Calgary Catholic Bishop William McGrattan on Saturday, Nov. 17, 2018. Watching closely were his wife Nirmla and their children, Ian Jay, Lemuel and Leianne Marie.

Joseph and Nirmal were married 26 years ago in the Philippines. Soon after the birth of their first son, they moved to Saudi Arabia, where Nirmla, a registered nurse, found work in a private hospital. That hospital was pleased to also hire Nirmla’s tech-savvy husband.
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Raised in devout families that include a priest (Joseph’s brother) and a nun (Nirmla’s aunt), the couple connected with an underground movement of Christians while in Saudi Arabia. In a country that bans all religions other than a strict form of Islam, they attended secret services in people’s homes, closely following guidelines about how they arrived at and left the home churches.
​
​The young family, which included a second son born in Saudi Arabia, moved to Canada on July 8, 1999. Here, Joseph and Nirmla found work in their chosen fields. Church was a central part in the family’s life and all three of their children were altar servers and sang in a church choir. Joseph and Nirmla served as extraordinary ministers of the Eucharist at Sacred Heart Church and got involved with members of a Charismatic community. The family has attended St. Albert the Great Church since 2013 and that’s where he’ll serve the Church.
Joseph admits the diaconate formation program was challenging, especially since his entry into the program coincided with a major emergency surgery and three month’s convalescence for Nirmla. Juggling a critical role as her caregiver, three kids and a full-time job—plus online courses and monthly seminars—often seemed daunting. 

Looking back, he’s grateful for all that he learned and says his “tech guy” communications skills took a giant leap forward. Looking ahead, he admits to excitement and trepidation as he figures out how to serve the Church and his family.

Beside him, Nirmla smiles. She shares Joseph’s commitment to the Permanent Deacon program—and their family. Now working as an RN in cardiac care at the South Health Campus Hospital after years in palliative care at the Rockyview, she admits to being less of a worrier than her husband. And that strength serves Joseph in his new vocation. Following Nirmla’s lead, “I’m learning to trust Him and not worry so much,” says Joseph.
​
The journey may be new and uncertain, but their faith holds true. They will follow Jesus, the Holy Spirit will guide and God will provide.

​Written by: Joy Gregory
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Wedding day | Joseph & Nirmla Gingco
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Boy-meets-girl-becomes deacon

12/3/2018

4 Comments

 
Susan Laing remembers the Saturday afternoon in the mid-1990s that her husband decided to attend mass with her and their three children. Although they met at a dance held in a Catholic church she attended in Calgary—and were married in that same church— formal conversion to Catholicism was never on Dale’s short list of things he needed to do to be a good husband and father.

Baptized in the Anglican Church, Dale attended the United Church while growing up in Calgary’s Parkdale community. By the time he accepted a co-worker’s invitation to a dance to meet her sister, he was secure in his belief in God, but not given to the practice of faith. Over time, Dale saw the value of Susan’s witness to the Catholic faith. He joined the RCIA program and was confirmed in 2003.
​
The couple remembers how some parishioners were surprised to learn Dale had joined the RCIA process at St. Thomas More. Susan, a cradle Catholic, was active as an RCIA sponsor, while Dale was on the Finance Council. Over the years, they were involved in many ministries ranging from church cleaning to hospitality after mass (serving coffee). 
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“I looked for ministries we could do as a family,” recalls Susan. Consequently, “A lot of people just assumed I was Catholic,” says Dale. After Dale was confirmed, the list of ministries they were part of grew to include service as lectors and commentators, Extraordinary Ministers of Communion and coordinating First Conciliation. Dale has also been involved with Together in Action and the Society of St. Vincent de Paul.

Dale remembers the day his formal conversion took another sharp turn. “About two weeks after I was confirmed, my daughter and I were coming to mass together and she asked, ‘So what’s next on your spiritual journey now that you’re Catholic?’” His response: “maybe I’ll become a Deacon.”
​
Now a grandfather of three, Dale was ordained a Permanent Deacon of the Calgary Catholic Diocese on Saturday, November 17, 2018. He looks forward to serving at St. Thomas More parish, where Susan has attended Catholic mass since the couple married in 1982.
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God's call

The call to become a Permanent Deacon began soon after Dale’s confirmation. “I dismissed it out of hand, but over the years, the thought was whispered into the ears of my mind, sometimes even at 2 a.m.,” says Dale. Eight years ago, another deacon serving at St. Thomas More approached him after mass and asked him if he’d thought about becoming a Permanent Deacon. 

Suddenly, the whisper had a voice—and that voice revealed the path to a new vocation.

Both spouses are part of the rigorous formation process that leads to the husband being ordained as a Permanent Deacon. The first weekend of that process “was a bit overwhelming,” admits Susan, who works in the business office at Bishop McNally High School. “All the way through the process you’re discussing what you’ve learned and processing what that means in your own lives. But after a while, you learn to trust in God’s plan for you. It gets easier.”

Her husband agrees. “You absorb ideas from sitting in the pews and listening to the readings and homilies. But the Permanent Diaconate process goes so much deeper and it changes how you understand the Church and its teachings.”
​
Dale, who manages one of the many parts departments at the City of Calgary, says he’s still learning what his new role at St. Thomas More demands. Sitting in the church narthex, he points to a display of flags that represents the diversity of a parish whose people come from more than 80 different nations. The soft-spoken grandfather of three knows this is a special place—and having raised three kids in the pews of this church, he’s excited about what lies ahead.

“I can now see the progression of God’s hand in my calling, from a simple thought to midnight urgings, to other people recognizing the light of Christ within me, to my joining my voice with that of Mary in saying ‘Yes’ to God’s call,” says Dale.

Written by: Joy Gregory
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