Deacons celebrate quarter-century of service

“Each of us has, in one way or another, fed lambs, tended sheep and fed sheep with the Word of God,” declared Deacon Lawrence J. Duffy to a congregation of men celebrating 25 years of diaconate service in the Diocese of Metuchen.

Bishop James F. Checchio was principal celebrant of a Mass in Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish, Bernardsville, which commemorated the Ordination Class of 1998. Members of the class and their wives gathered in thanksgiving for their vocation over the course of 25 years of ministry. Father John C. Siceloff, pastor of the Bernardsville church, served as concelebrant.

On June13, 1998, Bishop Vincent De Paul Breen ordained twenty permanent deacons and one transitional deacon.  Over the ensuing 25 years, four of the men of the class have died (and were remembered during the Mass’ Universal Prayer), while others have relocated. Eleven of the members of the class and eight wives joined in the Mass, including Deacon Duffy, director, Mission Services for St. Joseph’s Health, Paterson, and Deacon Benigno Ruiz-Diaz, who served as deacons for the Mass. Deacon Duffy, who organized and arranged for the Mass, also served as homilist.

In his homily, Deacon Duffy reminded the men of the questions asked by the Bishop at their Ordination examining if they resolve to live the life and ministry of a deacon.  To the first three questions each man replied, “I do.”  But to the last question, “Do you resolve to confirm your way of life always to the example of Christ, whose Body and Blood you are ministers at the altar” their answer was, “I do, with the help of God.”

Then, after the Prayer of Ordination, each man knelt before the Bishop who presented them with the Book of the Gospels as he instructed the new deacon, “Believe what you read, teach what you believe and practice what you preach.”

In the Gospel for the vigil Mass that evening, the Lord tells Peter, “Feed my lambs.” Deacon Duffy recounted the many ways the deacons have exercised and fulfilled that instruction and their promises over the past 25 years: perhaps by leading an RCIA program, teaching CCD, baptismal or marriage prep, hospital visits, bringing the Eucharist to the homebound or conducting wake services and committals. “Let the words of Jesus penetrate our hearts and inspire us to continue the good works we do with even more enthusiasm,” he prayed.

He concluded the homily by remembering the women who have walked beside the deacons every day of their diaconate. He read a Prayer for Marriages written by a deacon, “and dedicated to that special person who is with each of us this day.”

Deacon John Kenny who serves at St. Bartholomew Parish, East Brunswick, commented on the blessing that the diaconate has been over the years.  His wife Judith Ann added, “The experience has been a blessing for our entire family.”

After the Mass, Deacon Duffy and his wife, Denise, hosted a celebration for the class and Bishop Checchio at their home.