Today I’m “officially” launching Men Praying, an Advent program of prayer for men in our Roman Catholic Community in Norwich, New York.  We’ll be gathering tonight to begin praying the Liturgy of the Hours, the sacred prayer of the Church offered every minute, of every hour, everyday 24/7 by ordained ministers, religious and laity worldwide.

As I build resources for the program, please visit A Country Deacon, where the resources I’ve gathered are located.  Join us in “building up the Kingdom” through the spiritual discipline and praise of the Divine Office!

Year 2 for the “Priest & Deacon Convocation” here at the Edgewater in Alexandria Bay, NY. A “sell-out crowd” according to one of our veteran diocesan priests.

Gathering here with the vast majority of our ordained clergy affirms our shared community. Morning and evening prayers… our daily eucharistc celebrations… in prayer our dedication to Jesus, church–the people we serve-is stregthened.

Convocating: gathering with purpose, confidence in our shared ministry and mission.

Donnie…  A friendly, bear of a man.  Italian to the bone with a heart… a heart that is big enough to totally surround you with love.

When Donnie and I first met–both of us in the 20+ weeks of Pastoral Prep Classes–he must have asked me every question about the Deacon Formation Program in the diocese that he’d ever had! No problem… I was more than willing to share.

He’s now less than a year away from ordination.  I know he’s ready:  I can hear it… no feel it when we talk.  What a permanent deacon he will be!  Even though he was two years behind me in the “1st Year Class”, he was light years ahead of me in thinking about his call to vocation.

Donnie wrote a very moving note to “His Band of Brothers” a year ago. I was just a month away from my ordination and thinking about all that lay ahead.  When I received his note, his words moved me:  both emotionally and physically.  Within a day or two of Donnie sharing his experience, I put together my “Deacon Kit”.  I carry it with me all the time.  It has everything that he mentioned, and more…

Thanks to Donnie for letting me share this.  Post a comment or drop me an e-mail. I’ll share it with Donnie and with his class.

LINK:  Are you ready and are you prepared?

Just a week ago, our grandson Thaddeus was baptized at St. Bartholomew the Apostle Church. [See On the occasion of...] A joyous time!  Today, the newly baptized child found his voice in church…

After Mass... a rest for the boy!

A baby’s cry in church can be such a distraction… or a blessing.  Today, Thaddeus’ Mom was Lector and this was one 3-month old that convinced all of us that HE KNOWS Mom’s voice!  As Loretta began to read from the Book of Acts, her amplified voice from the lecturn evoked an immediate, sustained and loud cry of recognition from our grandson!

When Fr. Doug finished proclaiming the Gospel, before he even began his homily, he addressed those of us gathered at 9:00 Mass:  “If you had any doubt that a child doesn’t know his mother’s voice, that was Thaddeus when Loretta began the reading!”.  His recognition of the event was a blessing in itself, as he recognized the presence of all in Christ’s presence–proclaiming and praising God in their own voice.

After Mass, we enjoyed some time with friends just talking and joking about the little guy’s new “voice” during the service. Of course, we all knew that at the bottom of it all was Thaddeus’ hunger.  A boy must eat, after all!

A special moment in the young boy’s life:  an entrance into the family of God, our church community with a voice raised high and long!

"Deacon Grandpa Tim" Baptizes Thaddeus

Mother’s Day, 10 May 2009

What a day it was!  Even now, 4 days after the Baptism of our first grandchild, Thaddeus Nolan, I’m unwrapping the mystery of the sacrament, savoring each petal of the flower of redemption of grace with which our grandson was blessed.

More to come in the days ahead…  understanding, remembering, owning this amazing time with family and friends.

[View a Slideshow of the Baptism]

Two years can be a very long time when you’re the bishop of a Roman Catholic Diocese, past the mandatory retirement age of 75 and in frail health. This morning, though, the Most Reverend James M. Moynihan, shepherd of the Diocese of Syracuse since 1995, announces the appointment of Most Rev. Robert J. Cunningham, effective May 26, 2009.

Below is a link to the news announcement from Danielle Cummings, Dir. of Diocesan Communications:

Danielle E. Cummings
Assistant Chancellor/ Director of Communications

EMBARGOED UNTIL 6:00AM
April 21, 2009

On behalf of Bishop Moynihan, I am pleased to inform you of the following:
A press conference with Bishop–designate Cunningham has been scheduled at 10am today in the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Downtown Syracuse. You are welcome to attend as guests. Please enter the main doors of the Cathedral.

Bishop Cunningham News Release

PS – You will find a personal reflection on the news at the Permanent Deacons Blog.

What a glorious day!  Jesus Christ is risen… but the women at the tomb… THEY SAID NOTHING. Mark’s compact Gospel, Chapter 16:1-8 more than captures the scene of the three women at the tomb.  It provides a profound insight into the collision between our human senses and the spiritual mystery, the new reality of the resurrection.

My homily for the Easter Vigil and Sunrise service can be found at the Deacons USA blog.

As I sat here “polishing” my Easter Sunday homily, the Google Notifier on my desktop alerted me to a few incoming e-mails. Pausing for a moment, I took a look… among them my weekly blog visits stats from SiteMeter.  Cruised over to them, along with my WordPress blogs stats and saw yet another incoming visitor from A Cascade Catholic, Diaconate Aspirant Al Ardon’s great blog out there in the Cascade mountains, Kingston, Washingon.

Al had shared with me some of his thoughts, hopes and frustrations awhile ago as he began his deacon formation AND his blog. Well Al, if your blog is any indication of how our Great and Gracious God is guiding you, it looks to me like we’ve got one more solid, spiritually grounded Permanent Deacon standing in the wings–just waiting for the Bishop’s anointing hand on his head.

Bravo, Al!  Keep blogging, studying and becoming the deacon you are called to be.  May God Bless YOU and your family during this glorious Easter season!

PS – Thanks for the great music on your blog!

Homily for the 5th Sunday of Lent
(Reading I – Jeremiah 31:31-34, Reading II – Hebrews 5:7-9, Gospel – John 12:20-33)

Today we find ourselves deep in the season of Lent.  I realize that many of you have given up a favorite food or activity as a Lenten sacrifice, or perhaps you’ve added special  observances, such as the Stations of the Cross.  And you feel that you are truly in the spirit of preparation. Regardless of what you’ve done or haven’t done, today is an excellent time to pause for a moment and ask yourself this question,  “Why have I made this extra effort, and how is my spiritual health as I approach Holy Week and the joyous Easter season?”

[Continued in Ministry...]

Although Field of Dreams was perhaps a bit too much of the “feel good”, the message of the 1989 film based on the W.P. Kinsella book has always resonated with me:  a man with a vision, too compelled by the urgency of the idea to give it up.  A modern day metaphor for the biblical prophet?  Perhaps.

[Continued in Diakonia - What's in a Word or Syracuse Deacons Blog]