RI Deacons to Celebrate 30 Years of Ordained Ministry!

 

Join The Rhode Island Diaconate in Celebrating

30 years of Ordained Ministry!

 

May 30, 2015 2:00 PM

St. Martin's Episcopal Church

50 Orchard Ave., Providence, RI, 02906

 

 

 

On July 13, 1985, Bishop George Hunt ordained the first class of Deacons who completed their formation and academic preparations at the Diocese of Rhode Island School for Deacons.  This was the beginning of the revival and resurrection of the vocational Diaconate in our Diocese.  Since that time, there have been 42 people ordained to this order and several others who have transferred their orders to our diocese for a total of 46 vocational deacons to serve here.  Some of these have moved to other dioceses or denominations, some renounced their orders, and others are deceased.  Today, there are 27 canonically resident vocational deacons in Rhode Island, with nine active and eighteen retired.  All active deacons serve in a parish or mission in collaboration with the Rector, Vicar or Priest-in-Charge.

 

2015 is being designated as a year of celebration for this outstanding ministry in our diocese.  There is a Diocesan wide diaconal ministry event being launched to raise funds for St. Mary's Home for Children, with the current deacons working with parishes and missions to raise funds for this vital work in our community, and to raise awareness of the financial needs of the agency to sustain this work.  The fundraiser was kicked off with the collection of $534 from The Episcopal Church Women's Annual Meeting designating their loose offering collection during their Eucharist for this initiative!  Parishes are being asked to do creative activities to raise money throughout the winter and the spring which will be gathered and presented to St. Mary's at a Festive Eucharist on May 30, 2015 at 2:00 PM at St. Martin's Church, Providence.

Deacon's 30th Anniversary Celebration

 

 

Join the RI Diaconate in Raising Funds

For

St. Mary’s Home for Children

 

On July 13, 1985, Bishop George Hunt ordained the first class of Deacons who completed their formation and academic preparations at the Diocese of Rhode Island School for Deacons.  This was the beginning of the revival and resurrection of the vocational Diaconate in our diocese.  Since that time, there have been 42 people ordained to this order and several others who have transferred their orders to our diocese for a total of 46 vocational deacons to serve here.  Some of these have moved to other dioceses or denominations, some renounced their orders, and others are deceased.  Today, there are 27 canonically resident vocational deacons in Rhode Island, with ten active and seventeen retired.  All active Deacons serve in a parish or mission in collaboration with the Rector, Vicar, or Priest-in-Charge.

2015 is being designated as a year of celebration for this outstanding ministry in our Diocese.  There is a Diocesan wide diaconal ministry event being launched to raise funds for St. Mary’s Home for Children, with the current deacons working with parishes and missions to raise funds for this vital work in our community, and to raise awareness of the financial needs of the agency to sustain this work.  The fundraiser was kicked off with the collection of $534 from the Episcopal Church Women’s Annual Meeting designating their loose offering collection during their Eucharist for this imitative!   Parishes are being asked to do creative activities to raise money throughout the winter and the spring which will be gathered and presented to St. Mary’s at a Festive Eucharist on May 30, 2015 at 4:00 PM,  at St. Martin’s Church, Providence. 

The ritual for the ordination of deacons expresses with particular authority the understanding the church has regarding the ministry of deacons:

 ... God now calls you to a special ministry of servanthood directly under your bishop. In the name of Jesus Christ, you are to serve all people, particularly the poor, the weak, the sick, and the lonely. … You are to interpret to the Church the needs, concerns, and hopes of the world. … At all times, your life and teaching are to show Christ's people that in serving the helpless they are serving Christ himself. BCP page 543

The deacon is the bridge between the church and the world.  Over the last thirty years, deacons in Rhode Island have contributed to their ministry beyond the walls of our churches in many and diverse ways.  A few samples of their ministry include serving the homeless and hungry through the George Hunt Help Center, soup kitchens, food banks and other initiatives. They have provided chaplaincy in hospitals, prisons, for people affected by HIV & AIDS, and on college campuses.  They have provided ministry at the LADD School, visited those in nursing homes, and worked with people suffering with mental illness and addiction. They have ministered internationally in Romania and Haiti, as well as the Dominican Republic. 

Deacons contributed to the governance of the church by serving on Diocesan committees and commissions, and have been delegates to General Convention.  Their commitment spans the church and the world in many ways because they are deacons in everything that they do!

Please join in the fundraiser event for St. Mary’s and plan to attend the Festive Eucharist on May 30, 2015 to celebrate and honor this sacred order.

2nd National Conference for Deacons, June, 1981

2^nd Annual Conference for Deacons

First publication: June, 1981

 

There are 700 vocational deacons in the Episcopal Church today, and the Second National Conference for Deacons, held May 21-23 at the center for Continuing Education at Notre Dame, Indiana, heard the rev. Dr. John. E. Booty challenge deacons to be, “true and lively catalysts of the universal servanthood of all Christians, both in their actions and their inner beings.” 

Dr. Booty,  professor of Church History at the Episcopal Divinity School, Cambridge, MA, pointed to the revival of the vocational diaconate and the mushrooming numbers of deacons in the church as offering and opportunity to personify, sacramentalize and enable the servant ministry to which all Christians are called to at Baptism.

Approximately 100 vocational deacons and friends of diaconal ministry from 39 states and two Canadian provinces attended the conference.  Twenty Five workshops sharing the diversity of ministry of deacons and and the issues of diaconal ministry were at the heart of the conference.  A previous conference in 1979 explored the theological undergirding of the Diaconate.  The conference was a cooperative part of a six year effort  called for by the 1979 General Convention of the Episcopal Church, directed at raising the consciousness of the church about the work and ministry of deacons, setting up pilot programs and evaluating the national effort.  The conference recommended that province-wide deacon gatherings be held in the spring of 1982, and that another national conference  be held in 1983. 

The worship of the conference incorporated the many ways the deacon serves liturgically and was arranged by  The Associated parishes, Alexandria VA., who co-sponsored the conference  with the National Association for The Diaconate, Boston, MA.

The National Center for The Diaconate, formerly known as the Central House for Deaconesses, is a 35 year old agency working to promote the distinctive, vocational diaconate, to educate the church and to support deacons and others in diaconal ministry.  The Center is located at 14 Beacon Street, Boston, MA., 02108.  The Rev. James L. Lowery, Jr. provides executive services to the Center and Gail D. Hinand is the Administrator.

 

Manual on "The Deacon in the Liturgy" published; April, 1981

Manual on “The Deacon in the Liturgy” Published

Original publication date of this article: April, 1981

 

“The Deacon in the Liturgy” by Deacon Ormand Plater has been published by the National Center for The Diaconate to clarify the Deacon’s role in the 1979 Book of Common Prayer’s restoration of diversity of ministries as a cardinal principle of worship.

In the book’s introduction,  Deacon Plater writes, “…although this booklet may appear to be a manual of ceremony for a limited audience, the Deacons of the Episcopal Church, its deeper purpose is to help deacons be what they ought to be in the liturgy, neither ostentatious nor sloppy, but serving with grace and manners, and to help bishops, priests and lay persons realize the value of deacons in  the life and worship of the church.  …The deacon’s role in the liturgy reveals the true nature of the deacon as proclaimer and evangelist, messenger and bearer of good news to the poor, as well as servant in the image of Christ.

For some 700 vocational (permanent) deacons in the Episcopal Church today, the book will serve as a manual and guide.  The deacon in the liturgy is presented in the total context of all of the church’s services and offices, and a congregation can make complete or partial use of the material.

Deacon Ormande Plater, Ph.D. serves as assistant at Saint Anna’s Church and as medical chaplain at Touro Infirmary Medical Center, both in New Orleans.  A native of New York City, Deacon Plater’s undergraduate work was done at Vanderbilt University.  He received a doctorate in English Languages and Literature from Tulane University.

The book is available from The National Center for the Diaconate, 14 Beacon Street, Boston, MA, 02108, for $6.

 

CONFERENCE SCHEDULED

We also take note that the National Center for the Diaconate and Associated Parishes will jointly sponsor a conference titled, “The Deacon” May 21-23 at the University of Notre Dame.  Registration, due in writing on or before May 14…..For further information, contact either the Rev. James L. Lowery, Jr. or Ms. Gail D. Hinand, 14 Beacon Street, Boston, MA, 02108.

Rev. Deacon Heddie Neale

With sadness, we mark the passing of The Rev. Heddie Neale into the next chapter of Life.

Dear brothers and sisters;

We've learned that the memorial service for Heddie Neale is to be held at 3 PM on Sunday Oct 19th at St. Luke's in East Greenwich. A reception will follow at the church and will offer us a time to support each other and Heddie's family.

Clergy who wish to, are invited to vest and process as part of the service. White stoles please.

+Nicholas

--


The Rt. Rev. W. Nicholas Knisely, DD, SOSc

Bishop
The Diocese of Rhode Island

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

I find it difficult to write to you this afternoon.  I trust that all of you have heard the news by now, either through the Bishop’s email to the clergy, the newsletter from St. Luke’s or by other means that Heddie Neale died last evening.  Heddie went to be her Lord after a brief illness in the hospital.  I spoke with her daughter this morning, and she informed me that all of her children were able to gather around her.  She also mentioned that Heddie shared “I am ready to go home,” a final witness of the faith that she lived in all of her affairs.

The rain is coming down outside of my windows, and I am wondering if God isn’t shedding a few tears over the loss of one of His beloved deacons.  But I also know that He embraced her mightily as she entered into His eternal kingdom.

I first met Heddie through Cursillo back in the early 80’s, but was reintroduced to her at our School for Deacons when I enrolled.  We became friends quickly, and shared many wonderful memories during our formation process.  I was privileged to have her be one of my presenters at my ordination, and will hold that memory close to my heart.  She was an inspiration and an icon into the true meaning of the Diaconate.  She modeled dedication and commitment to the process as well as the vocation.  I am grateful for all that she did for me, and all that she did for this Diocese and those she served through her ministry.

I have not heard of the funeral arrangements as of this writing, but hope to know soon so we can all try to gather in celebration of a humble, gracious, gentle, and inspiring servant.

Peace be with you, and may light perpetual shine upon Heddie.  We love her and miss her already!

Jan
The Ven. Archdeacon Janice Grinnell

A New term for Our Deacon Students

Thanks to Ed Dean, here are the pictures of the first weekend of Deacon School.  Best wishes to all students!

What's New through Diaconal Ministry at Saint Augustine's Parish

The Deacons’ School: An Historic Account

The following comes from The Rev. Shirley Woods, who became the first Dean of the School for Deacons, Diocese of California in 1979.  She, with the help of Fr. Richard Fabian, writes about deacons:

DEACON: Enabler, Facilitator

--Enabler: One who provides opportunities and makes possible the work of others.

--Facilitator: One who paves the way, gives instruction and makes hard work easier.

The Great Enabler was Jesus.  When questioners came to Jesus with problems, He did not hand out answers from the Teacher’s Answer Book.  How many times did He preface His answer with, “What do you think of this case?” or, “Have you not read…?”  Jesus had the skill of stating the problem in new terms or in such a way that the answer became apparent to the listener, who could then reply and then act for himself.  The Christian experience is one of liberation; it does not demand the rote following of commands and fiats.

We often hear the plaintive question, “What can the deacon do that no one else can do?”  The answer is another question: “What is it that the deacon cannot do that others can do?”  The answer (to the latter question) is, “Precious little.”  The deacon is the palace official, member of the kitchen cabinet, the man behind the scenes, whose job it is to see that all runs smoothly.  It is true that upon occasion one might see a deacon all dressed up in a brocade dalmatic (most likely it is borrowed).  But usually the deacon is standing in the background, giving orders with a nod, a raise of the eyebrow, or a gesture, making sure that everyone else in the show does his part.  So also out in the world.  Our deacon friend may not be the keynote speaker at the meeting, but it is he who found the keynote speaker.  He also found the table, the lectern and the chairs.  (Let us hope that he found a group of young people to set up the chairs.)  Should the speaker be late, the deacon will get up and tell a few jokes or lead us in a song.  It is true that the deacon may occasionally end up giving the speech.  Just so, the deacon is often found on a mid-summer day when everyone else is off on vacation, presiding at a funeral.

I have heard deacon candidates in worrisome voices, trying to tot up their talents and abilities.  They make lists: (1) can visit convalescent homes; (2) can take old ladies to church; (3) can babysit young children.  When the list is finished, the candidate in frustration is ready to throw the whole idea out the window.  Deacons don’t really want to take old ladies to church and babysit young children.  The list should read, (1) Can bring together persons who would profit by visiting convalescent homes, and train them; (2) Can organize convalescents to visit each other; (3) can organize car pools; (4) can raise money to buy a church bus; (5) can organize a group of nursery school teachers.  In other words, “Can run things.”  Perhaps another word should be added: “Unobtrusively.”

Those first deacons in the Book of Acts were not asked to cook meals; they were asked to round up the food and distribute it.  I hear a lot of inquiry , “What is the difference between a deacon and a lay person?”  Or, more bluntly, “What can a deacon do that a lay person cannot do?”  The unimaginative answer is, “Read the Gospel.”  But everyone knows that almost anyone can read the Gospel, and the4 deacon feels he has been thrown a sop.  The deacon’s job is to organize the laity, to get them moving.  It has been noted that the laity often have other fish to fry; the deacon will find that he has to do the job himself if he doesn’t get his organization into gear.  One deacon cannot visit all the convalescent homes, but One Deacon has become a facilitator for helping others to visit.  One deacon is only a drop in the bucket so far as rehabilitating alcoholics goes, but One Deacon has a study to define the problem and to set up a center for dealing with the problem.  A deacon can offer sympathy to a parent with a mentally disadvantaged child, but One Deacon has set up classes for such children and has taught others  how to teach them. 

Jesus said, “The man who holds out to the end is the one who will see salvation.  This good news of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the world as a witness to all the nations.”

Via The Rev. John Edmunds,

who will become the first director

of the School for Deacons in Rhode island

Next time:  Learn more from our history, as we hear about The Rev. John Edmunds and his background and vision for the School for Deacons

Celebrating 30 years of Ordaining Deacons in RI!

Over the next year, the Diocese of Rhode Island will celebrate that we have been ordaining deacons for 30 years.  It is a very special time for us, as we look back on the rich and sometimes colorful history of the Diaconate here in RI. 

In addition to our other blog entries, we will reprint articles and photographs from  our Diocesan newspaper, beginning in 1980, covering the establishment of the School For Deacons, the directors, teachers, students and others who, from time to time, weighed in on the establishment and development of the Permanent/Vocational Diaconate here in Rhode Island.

The photographs are taken directly from the pages of the archived newspapers, so may appear a bit grainy, but will be great to see just the same!

We hope you find these articles interesting, informative and inspirational, as we do what deacons don't always have a lot of time to do:  look back and be amazed at our incredible and rich history.

The Venerable Janice Grinnell in the latest edition of Diakonia

Hi Everyone,
The Association for Episcopal Deacons (AED) sends out a quarterly magazine to the national church, to highlight the work of deacons throughout the church.  As it happens, our own Archdeacon, The Ven. Janice Grinnell, has the page one story, which is all about her campus ministry!  I am giving you the direct link to the latest edition of Diakonia below.  Enjoy reading about the efforts of deacons and particularly those of our own Archdeacon.


http://origin.library.constantcontact.com/download/get/file/1102230245650-195/Vol36_Aug14.pdf

Rhode Island Deacons Celebrate!

The community of RI Deacons and their families held a picnic on July 12th to celebrate the life and ministry of those who have faithfully served and retired as Deacons in the Diocese of RI.  The modern era of the diaconate in RI began with the first ordinations occurring on July 13, 1985.  A celebration of this essential ministry is being planned for the summer of 2015.

RI Deacon's Retreat April 11-12, 2014



The deacons of Rhode Island will have a retreat on April 11-12, 2014 at The Episcopal Conference Center, 872 Reservoir Road, Pascoag.  It will begin on Friday evening at 6:00.  Bishop Knisely will be there for the evening with the deacons. 

After that, a period of silence will begin which will continue until after breakfast Saturday morning.  Beginning at 9 AM, a time of reflection will be led by Sister Elizabeth Broyles.  She is from Holy Cross Monastery in Hyde Park, NY, is an ordained priest and is very supportive of the diaconate.

Adjournment will be at 3:00 PM Saturday afternoon.

The deadline to register is March31.

 

Click here for the flyer and application. Click here for the guidelines for obtaining funds for the retreat fees.

Ash Wednesday brings our Archdeacon out for Ashes To Go!

It was a cold and blustery day, but the Rhode Island Archdeacon, The Venerable Janice Grinnell was at the train station at 5:45 AM, along with Rev. David Dobbins, rector of Saint Augustine’s parish in North Kingston and Pastor Mary Hansen-Joyce.  They were there to distribute ashes for the many Rhode Islanders who commute each day, oftentimes leaving their homes as early as 5:00, to get to work in Boston.  There being no time for these Christians to get to church on Ash Wednesday morning or evening because of their commute, this opportunity is given each year for them to receive their Lenten ashes, as a reminder that they “are dust and to dust they shall return,” and to call them to enter into the season of Lent in a mindful and prayerful way.

 

Here are some pictures of them as they met commuters and then, later in the morning, met students on the campus of the University of Rhode Island.  “We were there from 9-11 and had 71 people receive ashes on campus,” Jan said. She and Rev. Dobbins also held Ash Wednesday service at St. Augustine’s at 7 PM, where the Archdeacon preached the message.

 

A Program for Diaconal Formation

In Province One, a school has been developed in Massachusetts that has opened its doors to those who are called to be deacons throughout the Province.  Bishop Shaw has said that he wants to be open to helping others move along in the formation of their deacons.  At the present time, there are 12 students in process, seven from Massachusetts, two from New Hampshire and three of them are from the Diocese of Rhode Island.  Jim Kelleher, Grace Swinski and Ed Dean represent Rhode Island as students in this new collaborative effort.  They attend weekend classes once a month and engage in a community and prayer life that is designed to bring them all together for learning and spiritual development.

 

 The formation of deacons has taken on a variety of faces throughout its 30 years in the Diocese of Rhode Island.  Deacons have been ordained here under different schools of thought and practice.  Since its beginning, there have been three bishops involved in the process, and each has branded the diaconate in their own particular way.  And as the diaconate in Rhode Island has continued to grow and develop, such has also been the case throughout Province One (New England), and, in fact, for the national church as a whole.  We struggle with who a deacon is, why they are called into service and how to educate and equip them for their future role in the church and the world.

 

  Deacon students in the Massachusetts program, with Archdeacons Grinnell & Zifcak

 When asked, Bishop Nicholas Knisely had this to say about the new opportunity for our Rhode Island deacon students:

“As three dioceses in Province 1 are in the process are revitalizing their diaconal ministries, the Dioceses of New Hampshire and Rhode Island have been welcomed into the existing formation program of the Diocese of Mass. This is happening at the same time that a working group is being formed to find ways that all the Province 1 dioceses will find common ground regarding diaconal formation. 

There are a number of reasons that I'm excited about this. Chief among them is that it allows us to start immediately forming new deacon classes here in Rhode Island, and will soon bring new energy and ministry to the diocese as a whole. It also allows us to work with other dioceses in New England toward finding a common vision and understanding of what diaconate means in the 21st century. As this vision emerges, all the bishops are hoping that it will create a network of deacons that will naturally look for ways that we can all coordinate ministry across diocesan lines as appropriate. Third it brings us a great deal of resources for formation, both in terms of class work and community that we simply wouldn't be able to do by ourselves here in Rhode Island.

 

Stay tuned about all of this. I'm hoping that Rhode Island will again be in the forefront working on the creation of new shared materials for our Province, and God willing, for the wider Church.”

 

The Venerable Pat Zifcak is the archdeacon in Massachusetts who oversees deacons-in-formation, so she is entirely involved in this diocesan program.  The archdeacon says that the program started about 15 years ago, and that Bishop Shaw began his journey of development of this program by looking at the program that was in place in Rhode Island.  There were conversations with the Canon to the Ordinary, Julia Slayton, and soon a program for deacons was envisioned.

 

The program today is very similar, with minor changes, and it has continued to be very strong, according to the archdeacon, right up to the present.  There are currently about 37 deacons in Massachusetts, and all except those who came after ordination from other dioceses have been ordained after completing this program.

Archdeacon Pat

 

 

In Massachusetts, a period of discernment begins the process for those who feel called into the diaconate.  During that time, the aspirant meets with their congregation and clergy, and also engages in a program meant to clarify to what ministry (laity, priest or deacon) he/she is being called.  The second phase is to meet with the bishop, Standing Committee and Commission on Ministry (COM), to further discuss and clarify.  Also, there are conferences, followed by applications being sent in August each year.  By September, the subcommittee set by the COM makes their decisions, in November interviews are held and postulants are notified before Christmas about entering the program.  The Rhode Island applicants would, of course, go through this part of the program in-house in our Diocese.

Preparing for dinner and sharing conversation with the deacon students

The program is a three year cycle and entry points are in September each year.  The students and staff gather for their weekends at the convent of the Sisters of St. Anne in Arlington, where they are supported, encouraged (and fed!) by the sisters while they are there.

The Sisters of St. Anne made a wonderful dinner for us!

For more information on discerning a call to the diaconate, speak to your parish priest and ask how to proceed.  You may also call the Bishop’s office and ask for a brochure called, “Diocesan Program for Diaconal Formation.”  This brochure outlines in detail the structure of the program and gives good insight into the Massachusetts program. As always, deacons throughout our diocese are very happy to sit and answer questions if you are simply looking to inquire into what our deacons in Rhode Island are doing.  And of course, follow this blog to "meet" the deacon students and deacons in Rhode Island, see what they are doing and where they are located.

 

I would like to thank the Sisters of St. Anne and the staff and students who welcomed me, along with the Archdeacon from Rhode Island, The Venerable Janice Grinnell to their January weekend.  We enjoyed the opportunity to meet the postulants and their supportive staff.





Deacon Dorothy Brightman Receives St. Stephen Award

The Rev. Dorothy (Ricky) Brightman was awarded the Saint Stephen Award for her service as a deacon, at Williamsburg, VA., in June, 2013.  The St. Stephen Award is a national recognition by the Association for Episcopal Deacons and is given to a person(s) who has exemplified a ministry in a diaconal sense of service.  It is an award for those who have, by living lives that preach the Gospel, ministered as deacons, supported the diaconal community, or, in other ways, have contributed extraordinarily to the awareness of the ministry of deacons.

 

When asked to characterize Ricky’s ministry, The Ven. Jan Grinnell, Archdeacon of the Diocese of RI said, “Shortly following her ordination in 2006 Ricky Brightman was assigned to St Luke’s, East Greenwich a strong midsize suburban parish. Her commitment to aiding the poor and those in the inner city were soon evident. She carried a can of soup in procession rather than the Gospel book. She invited, cajoled and nudged folks to join her at soup kitchens in Central Falls, the George Hunt HELP Center in Providence and constantly reminded everyone that God is in needy places and needs our help. Even after she left, at the call of a new Rector most of these activities continued.”

Ricky began her journey of service in the Diocese of Rhode Island under the leadership of The Rev. Dn. Ida Johnson.  As a layperson, Ricky served the needs of the homeless and hungry in the city of Providence at The Cathedral of Saint John, which was the focal point of Deacon Ida's ministry.  Ricky says that she emulated her mentor, and that Deacon Ida said that you will "Spiral from there like flowers in the garden.  Who knows where you will be planted?" 

Ricky started with the Soup Kitchen and began looking for other opportunities where she could serve.  In earlier years she had drifted away from the Episcopal Church because she found no models of female leadership or involvement, except as Sunday School and Choir teachers and directors  As the Director of Community Service at Moses Brown School for ten years,  Ricky had become familiar with the needs of the many poor, hungry, poorly housed, excluded and ignored people living in the Providence area.  The model of direct hands-on service that she found in Deacon Ida and other Deacons was a turning point for Ricky, and was an added bonus that brought her back to the Episcopal Church.

Eventually, in May of 2006, Ricky was ordained a Deacon.  She had found her vocation in her church and as a leader, doing those things for which she had and continues to have, great passion. Ricky has worked at The George Hunt HELP Center in Providence, which has provided a safe haven during the day for those who live on the streets or for people who need help or just an empathetic ear.  Clothing and food were distributed there to those who had needs.  Ricky and her colleagues welcomed and accepted many people and helped them to feel good about themselves.  Sadly, the George Hunt HELP Center closed at the end of August, 2013 for financial reasons, but the homeless are still with us in all areas of our state.  Ministry to this population is important and is now addressed in different ways through programs such as Mobile Loaves and Fishes and Church Beyond the Walls. 

Ricky has been part of the birth of a new ministry in our Diocese that is just emerging.   The Episcopal Service Corps has approved the application from Rhode Island to plant the Jonathan Daniels House which will be up and running in the South End of Providence by September, 2014.  This facility will offer a year internship to four individuals who will work in a social service agency, and who will live together from September through June.  As they work in the city, helping those in need, they will form a community at Jonathan Daniels House, where they will live, worship and pray together.  Their work week will be 30 hours in length.  During this time together, they will discern what they will do with their lives.  Ricky has been a part of this ministry from its inception and continues to bring her own brand of no-nonsense reality and faith to its birth.

Ricky currently serves as deacon at Church of the Epiphany in Rumford, alongside presbyters, Jennifer Pedrick and Edmund Harris, another key player in the development of the Jonathan Daniels House. In addition to these ministries, Ricky serves currently with Church Beyond the Walls, which offers Holy Eucharist on Saturdays in Burnside Park in Downtown Providence.  After the Eucharist, a meal is also shared with the congregants. 

Ricky serves as Chair of the Diocesan Mission Task Force and serves on the Hispanic Mission Committee. It seems as if the seeds of Ricky's work will continue to be sewn, even beyond her own work.  That is probably the best thing that can be said about a deacon.

When asked why she recommended Ricky to receive the St. Stephen Award, Archdeacon Grinnell said, “Ricky is a wonderful example of a deacon with a prophetic voice for the poor and the oppressed through her bold actions within and outside whatever parish she is serving.  She empowers the laity to join in her ministry and offers ways to make this sustainable when she moves on.”

The community of Deacons in Rhode Island offers its congratulations to Ricky on her accomplishment and prays that her ministry may continue for a long, long time!