4
The Catholic News & Herald
March
Around the Diocese
8,
2002
Deacons and wives celebrate faith together MARY MARSHALL
By
grows
—
Mass
nual recommitment
Tim Rohan
Rev. Mr.
Correspondent Bishop William CHARLOTTE G. Curlin presided over the deacons' an-
As
a retiree, he
is
much of his Our Lady of Grace in
able to devote
time to his parish,
Gabriel
at St.
Greensboro, where he finds his ministry
Church March 2. Attending the celebration were 40 deacons and their wives from
brings fullness to his
the Diocese of Charlotte.
'Together
Reflecting
on the
spiritual
"God put
con, Bishop Curlin said,
his
draw
feel
When
lives.
Be what you claim
to be.
emphathem-
In his homily, Bishop Curlin
selves,
know
must care
their ministry
for
and proclaim
their spirituality.
"You owe
it
to
your wives, your
chil-
dren, the church and the deaconate," said
Photo by Mary Marshall
Second, a deacon must
and
"...pray
word with
know
his
work
the liturgy and proclaim the passion," said Bishop Curlin.
Deacons pose with Bishop Curlin at the deacons' annual recommitment Mass at St. Gabriel Church March 2. From left are Rev. Mr. David King, Rev. Mr. Tim Rohan, Bishop William G. Curlin, Rev. Mr. Vincent Shaw and Rev. Mr. Ben Wenning.
"Bring your heart and love of Jesus to the
way you
stand, genuflect,
and hold your
"Being a deacon has strengthened tremendously," said Rev. Mr.
my
Dan
"As
I
work among the
many
My
Hispanics,
goal
hands."
faith
Recognizing the support of a deacon's wife, Bishop Curlin added a bit of humor
Carl from
Rev. Mr. Carl has served as a deacon for 14
become deacons because of the
saying to the wives, "If your husband doesn't put you first in his life, you call me."
years and
ships
He
emphasized, "Wives keep the heart of
Christ alive in their husbands.
You
are the
heart of your husbands' ministries."
Deacons had the opportunity to mingle before the Mass and at a luncheon served in the St Gabriel School cafeteria following the ceremony.
tremendous
spiritual
taken place in their
They
shared the
changes that have and relation-
faith, lives
ships with their wives.
They
cherished the
knowledge gained througb the years of preparation and the influence of the sacrament in their daily lives.
who
in
has
Greens-
straight path."
Andy Cilone of ImmacuConception Church in Forest City was a member of the diocese's first deaconate class 18 years ago. As a cantor, Rev. Mr. Cilone continues to grow in faith as he shares his talents with other Rev. Mr.
Bishop Curlin, referring to the importance of being healthy.
Mary Church
St.
boro for 1 3 years, said his faith has filled his life with appreciation. "The relationship between my wife, Catherine, and I has expanded through my work as a deacon," he said. 'We feel the presence of God is very apparent in our marriage as is his ability to keep us together and on a
to be Christ."
sized that deacons
I
God
Rev. Mr. Vincent Shaw, served at
challenge
I
closer to
children."
Jesus in their
presence? Jesus must be the focus of your
you
said,
share God's ministry as
We
word
our hands. When you realize your life involves performing God's work in this world, then everything changes.
we
through his works. now pray together whereas previously we prayed separately. Through our prayer support, we set an example for our
in
people see you, do they
life.
Rev. Mr. Rohan's wife, Eileen,
of a dea-
life
believes his faith
daily as a result of being a deacon.
in
St.
is
James Church
Concord.
in
director of the homeless shelter
Concord.
"We're seeing a whole new spectrum who are in need," he said. "My wife, Donna, and I jointly agree that our diaconal presence is prime in addressing of people
Carl added, "Our prayer
has been- strengthened through his as a deacon;
Many
for them.
see their
I
males aspire to relation-
have developed with them." Rev. Mr. Torres said his wife and he understand each other better both spiritually and as human beings as a result of the spirituality that came from being a deacon. "I
I
relate better with
we are very
Rev. Mr. Rafael Torres has served as a
my
children and
beautiful effect
on
my
Center
he
life,"
and they
to others,
in
your own spirituality," he said. "Through family life worshiping together, we have grown spiritually and a greater spiritual involvement with others. We've had two daughters-
have
in-law convert to the Catholic faith and
have
five children,
who
are
all
active in
the church."
in
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Charlotte for six years. "Being a deacon has
had a
"You minister
turn minister to you, which increases
life
supportive of each
at the Hispanic Catholic
parish members.
to set a positive
work
other."
deacon
example
is
grandchildren," he added.
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