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.

ProJo series points to financial issues in Rhode Island's support for those with Mental Illness

Here is a link to a series in the Providence Journal.  Please tag and follow.

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=10152927858704341&id=684709340

Deacon's History: Meet John Edmunds

In our continuing reprints, here is an article from March, 1982 issue of The RI Diocesan newspaper.

 

The new face you often see at Diocesan House, either punching away at a typewriter or bending in deep devotion before the copy machine, belongs to The Rev. John Edmunds, director of our just-launched Diaconate Studies Program.  His task at the moment is to pull together the curriculum, faculty and finances which, God willing, will place our diocese at the forefront of re-establishing the Deacon as a full and complete ordained minister of the church, with functions complementary to-- yet distinct from-- those of bishop and priest.  These are not deacons on the way to the priesthood, but (as in Apostolic times) people set apart by ordination to live and serve Christ and His Church in our Lord's example: "I am among you as One who Serveth."  In parishes, institutions and in the secular world, the ministry of this diocese will be thrillingly enlarged.  And John is the man who is charged with getting all of this going.
Born in Concord, New Hampshire, John grew up in Saint Paul's School, where his father was a master.  His interest in the priesthood began in Saint Paul's lovely Gothic chapel -- "Not the religion, but the aesthetics."  The beauty of the place, the stateliness of the liturgy, and mostly the excellence of the music (under Channing Lefebvre, former organist at St. John The Divine, New York City) all touched him deeply.  Intellectually, an assigned term paper on the Oxford Movement and the Catholic revival in Anglicanism drew him on.  Attending Carleton College in Northfield, MN., he was introduced to Kiierkegaard, and Fear and Trembling familiarized him with an even deeper appreciation of the Christian life.

By graduation time, he had decided to go on to seminary, but the bishop of Massachusetts wanted him to have a more diverse experience and sent him to work in the Youth Ministries Program of the Church of the Redeemer, Houston-- a once prosperous inner city parish which was in  transition.  "This was my gas station ministry," he says.  "To support myself I pumped gas.  The station was a gathering place for poor whites and Hispanics and Episcopalianism, with a pentecostal flavor appealed to the gangs who lived there."  The parish grew and John grew. 

He entered ETS (now EDS) in Cambridge in the fall of 1965, shortly after seminarian Jonathan Daniels was martyred in Mississippi-- a profound experience for the students and faculty there.  John Coburn,( now Bishop of Massachusetts ) was dean at ETS at the time and assigned John to the Mattapoisett General Hospital, a geriatric hospital just outside Boston and also worked on a text for the Diocesan Human Relations Committee while in seminary.

He was ordained a priest and served for several years as curate in South Weymouth.  Then followed 4 years as chaplain at the Pomfret School in Connecticut and an equal time doing Clinical Pastoral Training in the Washington area, first as Chaplain Intern  at the Medical College in Virginia, then as Chaplain of the Delaware Street Hospital and at the Bethany Medical Center.  These provided him with experience in the problems of minorities, criminals and adolescents.

In late 1978, he acquired a house in Barrington, RI, and a position in C.E.T.A. as a director of the East Providence Self Help Program.  When budgetary problems reduced this program , John was introduced to the waste removal problems in Barrington, and became one of the most highly educated  "Sanitation Engineers" ever to work in that community.  (Be it known that "sanitation engineers" go by much less exalted titles in less affluent areas!)  He availed himself of the parish consultants training offered by our Diocese.  Now in addition to his new responsibility, he is currently interim rector of St. George's, Central Falls.

"My vocation is the be a priest and an educator," says Fr. Edmunds, "and I am happy and content  in doing what I am doing right now."

We feel assured that his varied experience has prepared him well, and will watch with prayers and keen interest his leadership in the Deacon's Training Program.



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!

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

Deacon Mary Ann Mello Helps New Work Begin

Hello Everyone,

Deacon Mary Ann Mello has been helping to establish Church of the Advent, which will offer its services to those whose lives are affected by Autism. 

 

Rhythms of Grace at Advent is a new worship offering by the Episcopal Diocese of Rhode Island.   It is a liturgical program developed by the Rev. Dr. Audrey Scanlan and Linda L. Snyder to serve the Autistic community and their families. An empty church and a diocesan desire to serve the under-served presented a great opportunity for the church to use its resources to reach out to the Autistic community and their families in our own diocese.  The program seeks to provide an alternative way to meet their spiritual, physical, and emotional needs.  While the Autistic community is the focus, the liturgy is appropriate for all people who wish to experience another expression of how we can worship God and serve God’s people.

 Advent, Coventry (formerly St. Matthias) is centrally located in Rhode Island.  The property has been vacant and unused for several years. The church’s location, ample sanctuary space, and redesign potential made it an obvious place to begin this new offering!  Currently, the sanctuary is being reconfigured to host this unique and interactive worship experience.While much work is still required, a soft start is planned for June.

 

A number of families, professionals, and clergy will  work through  the  program  to ensure it has the correct balance to best serve those who God brings together to form  this new   community.  A large-scale opening service is planned for September.  If you are interested in volunteering for a work Saturday or have any questions, feel free to email the Rev. Dennis Bucco at father.dennis@hotmail.com or the Rev. Deacon Mary Ann Mello at deaconmaryannmello@verizon.net.

To find out more about the Liturgy “Rhythms of Grace” you can check out the website at http://www.rhythms-of-grace.org. We have been greatly inspired by the support and enthusiastic encouragement by so many people in the diocese that we are glad to be able to provide you with this update. Thank you for all you interest and prayers.

 

Maryann writes on their blog,

 

"We are putting down a floor in a church nursery and this is something I have never done before. I have also never helped to start a ministry before either. All new to me. Part of putting down a floor is making sure that the old flooring underneath is level and strong, so whatever type of floor you lay on top, lays flat but also has a balanced support system underneath.

I think that is what we are doing at Rhythms of Grace at Advent, laying a firm foundation and building a support system for this ministry before we open the doors. I am finding that it does take time and patience just like laying down the floor board by board but once it is finished it will be this sweeping space where anything can happen, anything can grow, anything can be.

For me, part of the foundation of this new ministry is listening to a community that is underserved and offering a place of freedom and comfort to be able get to know and hear God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit in a way that includes our own unique way of communicating, in our own language.  Happy Pentecost!

Peace,

Mary Ann"

 

You can follow their progress, and let anyone you know who may have need of their services by clicking here.

 

In Memorial, Paul Pickens, Deacon

Hello everyone,
Today it is my sad duty to let you know that Paul Pickens has passed on to the next chapter of life.  His obituary is below.

"Father of all, we pray to you for those we love, but see no longer: Grant them your peace; let light perpetual shine upon them; and, in your loving wisdom and almighty power, work in them the good purpose of your perfect well; through Jesus Christ our Lord." Bishop Knisely

Hermon, NY: Paul G. Pickens of Trout Lake Road died June 8 at his home surrounded by his loving family. He had been a resident of Lincoln, RI prior to moving to Hermon three years ago. 

Paul was born in Toronto, Ontario, Canada in 1942, son of the late Jim and Stella McCullough Pickens. Survivors include his wife, Lynne Santosuosso Pickens, daughter Rebecca Pickens and her husband David Nelson of Hermon, three grandsons: Elias, Josiah and Walden Nelson, a brother Bob and Cheryl Pickens of Mallorytown, Ontario; sister Kathryn and Harold Ribble of Whitby, Ontario; brother in law John and Janet Santosuosso of Lakeland, FL; sister in law Jane Ball of Philadelphia, PA; several nieces and nephews. 

Paul graduated from Barrington College with a Bachelors Degree in 1965 and earned his Masters of Social Work from Simmons College in 1968. He served as Executive Director of Vocational Resources and as President of Goodwill Industries of Rhode Island for 25 years. He was also a psychotherapist with Plaza Psychiatry of Woonsocket, RI. He was past treasurer of the Rhode Island AIDS Project, past president of the Association of Community Service Executives, and past president of the Rhode Island Rehabilitation Association. 

He served faithfully as a deacon at Christ Church, Lincoln, RI for 25 years. He was a recipient of the George F. Moore award, the Louis E. Baker Award, and the Bishop Higgins award. He authored The History of Christ Church Lonsdale 1833 - 1883, The History of Episcopal Charities, and Transition: Building Bridges from School to Work for Young Rhode Islanders with Disabilities. 

 He was a member of the board of the Church and Community Program of Canton serving on the Personnel Committee; he served on the Town Council of Hermon, and was a volunteer for the Sustainable Living Program. 

Paul was an avid horse lover and was well loved by all of the children and their parents to whom he gave pony rides. 

Mr. Pickens will be remembered at a Memorial Service to be held Saturday June 21 at 10:30 AM at the First Presbyterian Church of Canton. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to First Presbyterian Church, 17 Park St., Canton, NY 13617 or Christ Church Memorial Fund, 1643 Lonsdale Ave., Lincoln, RI 02865.

Precious in the site of the Lord is the death of His Saints.

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.

Barbara Mays-Stock: 20 years of Service as a Deacon

(Editor’s note:  Since I write the blog entries, I will write about myself in the first person in this edition.)

This March 20, I will celebrate my 20^th anniversary of ordination to the Sacred Order of Deacons.  On April 19, I will also celebrate my 60^th birthday, so it seemed a perfect time to write a blog entry about my ministries in the Diocese of Rhode Island.

I was ordained on March 20, 1994.  As a committed lay person, and then as an ordained deacon, I had begun to do Chaplaincy for people whose lives are affected by HIV/AIDS in the late 1980’s.  Our work centered in offering both spiritual and physical help to those afflicted by HIV.  During that time, my work included being a hospital chaplain, as well as working with the State Prison Chaplaincy Department and hospices throughout the state.  I worked with The RI State Council of Churches to establish the AIDS Task Force for the Council, providing monthly services throughout both Christian denominations and in the Jewish and Muslim communities in the state.  This continued to be the focus of my diaconal ministry for over 10 years.  After that, I began working with at-risk families through my work at Head Start, eventually becoming the head of the Statewide Fatherhood Initiative.  Our work brought together family centered non-profit agencies and state agencies that included departments of Education, Taxation, Job Training, and Human Services.  We worked to provide needed education to young fathers, so that they could begin to address their child support arrearages and get back into the lives of their children.  Spiritual components often included special services and safe haven for our patients or parents so that they could re-focus on developing positive relationships. 

As I learned skills in embroidery and sewing, I was able to learn to make fair linen and vestment embellishments, and have, from time to time, offered them in memoriam or as a special gift to parishes.  Also, I was honored to have been asked to make the wedding cake for our now retired bishop, Geralyn and her husband, Tom.

 


More recently, I have focused on gathering people with talents for sewing, knitting and crocheting, especially in parishes, who make infant hats, afghans, quilts, as well as sweaters, scarves and hats for adults in need and in the military.  We have also produced many Prayer Shawls.  I am now, in addition to my on-going fiber arts ministries, helping to develop technology opportunities for our deacons.  I started and run this blog, which provides us and the wider community information about members of our community.  In my time at the Cathedral, I oversaw the website, printed media and the Cathedral newsletter publications, as well as their Social media on the Net.  I am excited to continue to help bring the diocese into a new and helpful era of technology support for their various ministries.

I have served in a variety of parish settings, the most recent being as deacon at The Cathedral of Saint John, until it closed in April of 2012.  Having served at the Cathedral twice as deacon and earlier as a student, a large majority of my ministry occurred while on assignment there. 

One of the most exciting projects that I was able to engage the Cathedral parish in was the making of a story quilt, which, through knowing what the squares mean, helped bring escaped slaves to freedom prior to the Civil War.  This quilt was made and dedicated at The Cathedral, to acknowledge the 200th anniversary of the legal end of allowing the importation of Africans to be sold as slaves in this country.  I truly miss my time and ministry there.

I am currently unassigned in a parish setting.  However, this does not mean that I am not functioning as a deacon in the world!  In addition to the electronic media work mentioned above, I am currently working on "The 60th Year Project," which is the making of 60 quilts for babies at risk, to celebrate my 60th year.  Who says deacons can't have fun with life?!

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.

 

Deacon Joyce Thorne Strives to Help the Unemployed

While the Rev. Dcn. Joyce Thorne has been ordained since May 22, 2010, her outreach and ministry to those in need has covered several decades.  She has worked for Rhode Island Housing, where she helped people who were to become first-time home owners to attain their goal.  She has been a part of the congregation of The Cathedral of Saint John for most of her adult life, and was involved in outreach there. She helped with the Meal Site that was begun there by parishioners and Deacon Ida Johnson.  She also had a hand in the creation of a quilt to recognize the end of the importation of slavery in this country, along with parishioners and Rev. Dcn. Barbara Mays-Stock.  Joyce had an ongoing presence at the altar, serving in early years as part of the Altar Guild, and later as subdeacon and lay reader.

But it wasn’t until she attended the ordination of Deacon Ricky Brightman that she began to sense her call to the diaconate in a more direct way.  “I was sitting at the ordination, and at several places, I felt a presence, a hand on my shoulder, though I knew there was no one next to me.  I began to feel drawn to ask about the Diaconate.”

She had discussions with Deacon Ricky and eventually spoke to the Dean, Maria DeCarvahlo about the idea.  But it was when she spoke to Dean Harry Krauss that he told her to consider involving herself in the Discernment Program offered by the Diocese.  This program is set up to help people find where God is calling them to serve.

When Deacon Joyce began attending classes, she was one of two students going through the process, but in the end, she finished alone.  “That was hard,” said Joyce, “because there was no one to bounce ideas to, or to hear what they were thinking.  It was a little bit lonely. “

Joyce had two ideas for her ministry as she went through the process.  First, she thought of working at a nursing home, listening, helping, talking and being a presence.  When that choice was not accepted, she decided that her other option was to utilize the opportunity that she had to obtain regular information about job postings and make them available to parishioners, friends, and ultimately provide a Diocesan wide service of information and networking.   “In this declining economy, it seemed that I could offer this every day and help those who needed this information to find work,” she said.

Deacon Joyce brings her ministry into the church in specific ways.  First, she let all the priests of the Diocese know that this service was available and there are 10 or 12 priests who have asked that her daily emails be sent to their parishes for any who might need them.  Then, she began to receive emails from priests, asking to add some of their parishioners directly to her email service, which she has done.  She is still looking to do more with this and asks that if anyone would like to be added to her list, for them to contact her at lbmp1805@cox.net.  Deacon Joyce is currently assigned at Saint Luke’s Church in Pawtucket, and can be reached there as well.  In addition to her diaconal work, Joyce was elected to serve on the Commission on Finance at the most recent Diocesan Convention.

Deacon Joyce has also been working on the new database at the Diocesan House on a voluntary basis, and is helping Episcopal Charities to update all important data for their mailings.  She enjoys her time at the Diocese.  “I think it’s great to be there, because there is always so much going on.  I see new young people, meet new priests coming into the Diocese and I have learned that what is involved in running the diocese is remarkable.  It’s an eye-opening experience to see all the work that is done there to protect and serve all the parishes of the Diocese, and it is clear to me that they really do care,” she said.

Deacon Joyce’s journey into her life as a deacon had some twists and turns.  Her family did not always think that it was something that she could do, but came to support her in the end.  Two of her grandchildren died while she was in training to become a deacon.  “It was my faith in God that kept me going.  If I had not had that deep faith, I would have thought at that point that God had just given up on me.  I know that God has taken my right hand and walked with me throughout all of this, and that God would never leave me,” she said.

Deacon Joyce celebrated her 72^nd birthday in January, and since this is the mandatory age of retirement for deacons, she requested that the Bishop allow her to continue her work as a deacon.  National canon law allows the Bishop at his/her discretion to allow a deacon to serve going forward.  There is then a yearly meeting and review with the deacon going.  Joyce says, “I feel great, and don’t want to give it up because I feel that I can be of service.  I will continue to do this on a yearly basis until I can’t anymore, but until then, I hope to continue in my diaconal duties.”

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.