On June 7, Bishop Jean-Louis Plouffe gave the OCADL 2008 attendees an extremely interesting personal view of the history, context and possible direction for the permanent diaconate in the Diocese of Sault Ste-Marie. What follows is not an exact literal transcript, but rather a faithful sense of the history and vision the Bishop shared with us. Please read on to receive a truly stirring vision of both diaconate and Church in the Third Millenia.
Bishop Plouffe with OCADL 2008 gang
“An Overview of the History, Context and Development of the Permanent Diaconate in the Diocese of Sault Ste-Marie”
Speech to Ontario Catholic Association of Diaconate Leaders
OCADL Convocation 2008
June 7, 2008
by
Most Reverend Jean-Louis Plouffe, Bishop of Sault Ste-Marie
[Bishop Jean-Louis Plouffe was ordained in 1965, and served as an Ottawa priest for 22 years. He was elevated to the Episcopate in 1987, as Auxiliary Bishop of Ottawa, and then was appointed in 1989 by the Holy See as Bishop of Sault Ste-Marie Diocese. Bishop Plouffe has degrees in Liturgy from Bruges University in Belgium, and in Canon Law from the Gregorian in Rome.]
[The following is a transcription from notes by Dcn. Bob Probert, Past President and Chair of the 2008 Convocation of OCADL, and is not necessarily an exact word-for-word representation of his Excellency’s presentation. However, it's pretty close(!) and has been vetted by the Executive in attendance and referred to his Excellency for correction.]
Historical Context
It all started with Bishop Alexander Carter who ran a program of formation for Ministries (Reader, Acolyte, and Permanent Diaconate) at Espanola. It was quite a daring initiative on his part to start up a formation program for candidates who came from all over the Diocese and beyond. Candidates and their families were billeted in Espanola one weekend per month, and given a type of seminary experience. Between weekends, there were regional study gatherings. There was also a scripture-based preparation program of two years before candidates were received into the program, and the Ministries program itself was 10 weekends per year for three years. Candidates practiced ministry at the parish of the Good Shepherd in Espanola and in their home parishes. The program ran for 25 years!
However, the format eventually didn’t seem to be really appropriate. Then, Bishop Carter (and others) thought that at some time permanent deacons would become the first married priests. Two unspoken attitudes appeared to be at the base of the program:
1. “These men will be ready if and when it (married priests) happens”
2. If you were not ordained a deacon, you failed the course.
These attitudes may still be present in some of those who were prepared in that program, even though we know now that “permanent deacon” is its own vocation! [separate from “priest”]
Present Context
What kind of Deacon do we need in this diocese? Looking back at Church history, deacons evolved according to the needs of the Church. For example, like St. Lawrence, deacons used to be financial administrators, and were sometimes resented by priests.
Now we have Ukrainian Catholic priests who marry and there is no problem with that, but we will not see married Roman priests in our lifetime.
In Sault Ste-Marie Diocese, what are {men’s, bishop’s, people’s} expectations?
We are challenged at the level of the calling – the VOCATION!
We did our best with our 26 native deacons for our 12,000 – 13,000 native Catholics. We consulted the native community and only ordained those well accepted and respected by their community. We found that the vocation comes with life experience, and this is easier to identify in this way, but we were also very careful!
In SSM Diocese, there are two cultures – and we can group them roughly along the lines of Highway 11 and Highway 17. In a few days, on July 4, I will ordain a permanent deacon on St. Joseph’s Island, a father of 9 children. I won’t box deacons in. The focus so far has been a parish focus, but I am trying to set up a diocesan or regional focus.
How should the Diaconate Develop in SSM?
1. What do we want Permanent Deacons to Do? We want deacons to be “deacons”not just an assistant to the priest. The ministry of deacons has evolved. We need to do something about the 85% of Catholics who do NOT attend, but consider themselves fully Catholic.
For example, we had 41,000 out of 220,000 at Mass from mid October until mid-November. We did “Mass counts”in each parish over that time. Our first Ministry is to reach out to that 85% and try to help them reconnect with the Church. Most are young parents with children in Catholic schools.
2. Stress the calling – to BE a deacon: caring, compassionate, praying, and walking with the people. In the best cases of permanent deacons, their BEING spoke more than what they could say or do. We give a good opportunity to discern their vocation, since some may not have to be deacons to carry out a service ministry. Some are religious leaders in their community.
3. “The calling remains alive if it’s fed” – candidates and deacons need ongoing support. Where do you find time to pray – it’s absolutely necessary?
Keep on feeding the call – candidates and deacons must be alive inside. As diaconate leaders and bishops, we need to help your deacons to reach out. We must remain hopeful and trusting. But remember: we’ve been saved – we’re not the saviors. Many are a “product of the transition”, and try to be a “saviour priest”. Then, any priests after him feel discouraged.
As Bishop, I have time to see the trends — the world is totally different after Vatican II.
4. We need a lot of MERCY and COURAGE in our lives; if depressed or exhausted, we can become legalistic and unintentionally treat others poorly — strike one, you’re out. We should try to “close one eye and keep the other one open”. In other words, the deacon should help the priest to listen to his heart. Especially, when it comes to young people, if “no”is received as being rejected, we lose them.
5. There is a widespread resurgence of spirituality — it’s how we do it — sow seeds –that matters. We do what we can — the Spirit is the one who makes the seeds sprout. Always leave the door open. Fences to protect our certainties can become a wall between us and people as well as a wall between us and God.
Young people are truly sensitive — the slightest thing can feel to them like rejection. When we accept, God and the people are the winners — young people should perceive that God’s arms are always open. Our aim is to be more human –the journey of life is to walk in balance, in integration. “THE” human being is Jesus, our brother –everyone needs to see in each of us a true brother in humanity, like Jesus.
To sum up, we require a lot of MERCY and a lot of COURAGE to be more human like Jesus!
Some Related Considerations
Unlike some of the other provinces, only 34% of the population is Catholic in Ontario. The Bishops of Ontario set out a 5-year pastoral plan in September, 2007, including the deacons’service of liturgy, faith development, and charity as one of the three ordained ministries of the Church. In addition, here we also have a Diocesan Order of Service, lay ministers who are mandated, not instituted as acolytes.
Just a closing word on deacons – I am not at all “against deacons”. Some people may have thought that, since there has been in SSM Diocese a “hiatus” in ordinations, NOT a “moratorium”. I am so happy that on July 4, I will be ordaining to the permanent diaconate a father of nine on St. Joseph’s Island. In terms of deacons in SSM Diocese, there are 60 of 111, who are active deacons –and I have never had any problems whatsoever with any deacons. (The formation here is from either St. Augustine’s or St. Dominic’s in Ottawa.)
Thank you for inviting me, I am very happy to be here with you.
Most Reverend Jean-Louis Plouffe, Bishop of Sault Ste-Marie.
[Presented June 7, 2008 at Villa Loyola Spiritual Centre
Sudbury, Ontario]
