ROMAN CATHOLIC DIOCESE OF CALGARY
  • Blog
  • About
  • Give
  • News & Events
  • Ministries
  • Contact Us
  • Parish Finder

Sacred Service

8/28/2023

1 Comment

 
The vocation of the permanent deacon is a great gift of God to the Church. Called to serve, the permanent deacon is a public and living icon of Christ the Servant within the Church. 

The upcoming ordination of the 12 candidates to the permanent diaconate by Bishop McGrattan on November 18, 2023, stands as a living testament to how Christ continues to raise ministers within the community for the purpose of mission. Much like the first apostles, this diverse group of 12 candidates has responded to Christ’s call in accordance with their unique circumstances, consistently exhibiting humble hearts, generosity, and a zeal for mission: 

  • John Arbeau, Ascension Parish, Calgary 
  • Bruce Alan Barnett, St. Martha’s Parish, Lethbridge
  • Ferdinand Gayos, St. Albert the Great, Calgary
  • Randy Victor Gritter, St. Michael’s Parish, Calgary
  • Thomas Hing Cheung Ha, Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Calgary
  • Brian Kinahan, St. Augustine’s, Taber
  • Timothy Peter Lilienthal, All Saints Parish, Lethbridge
  • James Arnold Manzara, All Saints Parish, Lethbridge
  • Carlos Perez, St. Thomas More, Calgary
  • Ricardo Rosero, Mary, Mother of the Redeemer, Calgary
  • Andrew Ross, St. Joseph, Calgary
  • Reynaldo Tadifa, St. Albert the Great, Calgary
Brothers and sisters, choose seven men from among you who are of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we will appoint to this duty.”  (Acts 6:3)
The establishment of the diaconate took place with the ordination of the seven deacons described in the Acts of the Apostles. Renewing the practice of the early Church, the Second Vatican Council restored the order of deacons as a proper and permanent rank of the hierarchy. This restoration began in Canada in 1969 and in the Diocese of Calgary since 1998.
How did you find your calling? 

When candidates were asked how they were introduced to the diaconate, answers varied widely. Some had long harboured a calling. Others were invited by their parish priest. Interestingly, two candidates were personally tapped by Bishop Emeritus Henry, who seemed to employ a direct recruitment approach! 

Candidate Carlos Perez recalls, “During the Couples for Christ annual Evangelization Rally… Bishop Emeritus Henry asked me to talk to my pastor on how to go through the process of applying in the permanent diaconate program… It was quite unexpected and seemed  mysterious… I didn't even know at that time what exactly a deacon was.” 

Similarly, candidate Thomas Ha shares his experience a few years ago, “I passed by Bishop Henry at the Chinese New Year Banquet when he invited me to follow Christ through the Diaconate program. It was like Jesus asking the apostles to follow him by the shore of Lake Galilee, and I responded!”
Picture
Carlos & Melrose Perez
Picture
Thomas & May Ha
When candidate John Arbeau was asked by a priest years ago,  “My initial reaction was why are you asking me, as I didn’t think I was the person!” But with formation, training, and prayer, he adds that “I have matured and grown in my spirituality to understand the service of a deacon.”

Meanwhile, candidate Randy Gritter, formerly a staunch Protestant, underwent a significant conversion to Catholicism before he felt the call to the permanent diaconate. “I initially learned about the diaconate as a Protestant. We had deacons who were specifically tasked with aiding the poor in our community," he shares. His then-parish priest, Fr. Julian Studden, was highly supportive of his vocation. 

When Gritter applied for the second time, he discovered that Fr. Studden had been appointed Vicar of the Diaconate. He interpreted this as a sign that God was guiding him through this door.

Stay tuned to future issues of Faithfully for more detailed vocational stories of each candidate.
Picture
John and Kerry Arbeau
Picture
Randy & Mary Gritter with their family
The formation journey
​
​“I believe you don't wake up one day and decide you want to be a Deacon. “ says candidate Ferdinand Gayos. He adds, “If we haven’t learned serving, it may be a difficult and uphill climb going through the formation. The Deacon's heart is formed first in serving our own family, our parish community and the wider community.” 

Deacons share in Christ’s threefold mission of teaching, sanctifying and leading the People of God. While the unifying principle of diaconal ministry is the service of charity, which shapes their service of the Word and of the liturgy, the three responsibilities are inseparably united. 

Quoting Galatians 2:20, candidate Reynaldo Tadifa shares, “It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. If I want to be the image of Christ to others, I have to recognize the gift of my own Baptism as a means of dying to my old ways and rising to a life of sacrificial love, just as Christ did for all of us, and let me be a channel of spreading his mercy, love and compassion to others.“

Under the leadership of Bishop McGrattan, the Diocese has developed a new formation program for the permanent diaconate that is both grounded in the nature of diaconal ministry and adapted to the pastoral needs of the multicultural and multiethnic Diocese of Calgary.  

The permanent diaconate formation program is based on four dimensions: human, spiritual, theological and pastoral. The overall purpose is to help candidates to mature spiritually and to develop the personal and pastoral skills which will enable them to be servants of the Word, of the liturgy and of charity.

Over a period of 4 years, candidates spent an average of 35 hours per month in formation weekends, supervised pastoral education, personal study and spiritual formation.
Picture
Ferdinand Gayos & wife Malou Ponon
Picture
Reynaldo & Pam Tadifa
Picture
Brian & Linda Kinahan
During the formation years, our deacon candidates also experienced strong prayer support from their fellow parishioners and mentors. All credited their spouses and families above all for encouraging them.  

Speaking of his wife’s unwavering support, deacon candidate Brian Kinahan mentioned, “This has been her journey as well. And, although we've had long conversations about where this journey is taking us, and she has had her uncertainties about it, she has never stopped praying for me, and listening to me during my own doubts.” 
“Speaking with the deacons who have come before us, they are glad that we are having the experiences that we are having. It has also been helpful on this journey to get help from their experiences, from their journey and from what they have learned and done,” says candidate Jim Manzara.

Candidate Ricardo Rosero-Gonzallez shared that his understanding on being a deacon has evolved, stating that as a deacon, "I represent the Church whereever I am.”  This was echoed by candidate Peter Lilienthal, who added, “The ministry of presence is key to this role, and being able to let the Holy Spirit work through me.”      

Strong bonds naturally formed between the 12 deacon candidates and their families during the formative years. 

“Our diaconate class of 12 families was very close. We were not immune, over the 4 years, to the struggles and griefs within the path of life,” says candidate Bruce Alan Barnett. “We all experienced the "oneness" of the Body of Christ in our prayers, compassion and empathy shown many times through the journey.” 
Picture
Ricardo Rosero & Gladys Alvarez
Picture
Jim & Helen Manzara
Picture
Peter and Cyndi Lilienthal
But are these deacon candidates prepared for the upcoming  ordination as permanent deacons? Deacon candidate Andrew Ross shares a sentiment that would resonate deeply with his fellow candidates, “God knows, those around me know, and I know that I am far from perfect – but I am ready. Ready to embrace the spirit of humble service and selflessness, to work to fulfill my ministry with readiness and dedication.”
​

Commending this year’s class of graduates, Deacon Walsh (Director of Formation for the Permanent Diaconate program) said, “Each one of these men, along with their spouses, have  gone through a beautiful transformation of the heart….Not only have they grown, but they have helped those of us who have helped facilitate them through the process.” He added that the candidates actively contributed to their own and each other’s transformation into servants of Christ. 

Our Diocese is blessed to welcome them into sacred service this November! 

Picture
Bruce (left) and Pat (right) Barnett
Picture
Andrew & Irene Ross

Written by Alice Matisz and the staff of the Catholic Pastoral Centre for Faithfully.
1 Comment
Leisha
8/28/2023 05:29:10 pm

What a beautiful gift these couples are to The Church and their communities. Grateful for their ministry and for them answering their call to the vocation of the Diaconate. Praying for you all.

Reply

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    Author

    Catholic Pastoral Centre Staff and Guest Writers

    Archives

    September 2023
    August 2023
    July 2023
    June 2023
    May 2023
    April 2023
    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018

    Categories

    All
    Advent & Christmas
    Art
    Bereavement
    Bishop Emeritus Henry
    Bishop McGrattan
    Book Review
    Care For Creation
    Catechetics
    Catholic Charities & Development
    Catholic Education
    Catholic Schools
    CCCB
    Christian Unity
    Climate Change
    Consecrated Virgin
    Conversion
    Covid 19
    Culture
    CWL
    Development & Peace
    Devotions
    Diocesan Event
    Discipleship
    Ecumenical
    Elizabeth House
    Environment
    Euthanasia
    Evangelization
    Faithful Living
    Faithfully
    Family
    Feed The Hungry
    From The Bishop's Office
    Fundraising
    Funeral
    Grieving
    Health
    Health Care
    Homelessness
    Indigenous
    In Memoriam
    Interfaith
    Jubilarians
    Lay Associations
    Lent
    Lent & Easter
    Liturgy
    Marian
    Marriage
    Mary
    Mass
    Mental Health
    Migrants
    Miscarriage
    Mission Mexico
    Movie Review
    Music
    One Rock
    Online Formation
    Ordination
    Parenting
    Parish Life
    Pastoral Care
    Pastoral Visit
    Permanent Diaconate
    Pope
    Pope Francis
    Prayer
    Pray For Peace
    Priesthood
    Prolife
    RCIA
    Reconciliation
    Refugee
    Religious Education
    Religious Freedom
    Religious Life
    Resources And Guidelines
    Sacred Art
    Safe Environment
    Saints
    Scripture & Reflection
    Seniors
    SFXC
    Social Justice
    Stewardship
    St. Joseph
    Synod
    Vatican
    Vocation
    Youth And Young Adults
    Youth Ministry

    RSS Feed

GET TO KNOW US
Our Bishop
Offices & Ministries
​Our Staff
Read our Blog
Catholic Community
​Lay Associations
CONNECT WITH US
Contact us
​Careers
​Parish Boundaries

News & Events
Faithfully
Volunteer Screening
NEED INFO ON
Becoming Catholic
Marriage Preparation
​Vocations
Annulment 
Sacraments Prep
Catholic Funeral
GIVE TO
Diocesan Ministries
Together in Action
Feed the Hungry
Elizabeth House
Your Parish Church​ 
​Other Ministry
REPORT ABUSE

Catholic Pastoral Centre  | 120 - 17th Ave SW, Calgary, AB  T2S 2T2 | ​Phone: 403-218-5500 | communications@calgarydiocese.ca
Charitable Number: 
10790-9939-RR0076​. Donate Now.
Photo used under Creative Commons from aronbaker2
  • Blog
  • About
  • Give
  • News & Events
  • Ministries
  • Contact Us
  • Parish Finder