ONTARIO CATHOLIC ASSOCIATION OF DIACONATE LEADERS

ANNUAL CONVOCATION, JUNE 6-8, 2008, SUDBURY, ONTARIO

  SUMMARY OF MEETING

On June 6-8, 2008, OCADL gathered in picturesque Villa Loyola, just a 5 minute drive on the outskirts of Sudbury, Ontario for our 7^th Annual Convocation of Diaconate Leaders and their wives.  Our theme for the convocation was

“The Spiritual Charisms for Diaconate Leaders”

Additional information about OCADL and the Convocation appears in the webpage “ABOUT OCADL”, and in various “News” items listed below.

Friday Sessions

On Friday evening, after registration, OCADL president, Dcn. Bob Probert (Pembroke) led us in an opening gathering prayer, which included Paul’s first epistle to Timothy, Chapter 4, verses 14 to 16, and communal evening prayer. Then, Dcn. Bob introduced the rest of the OCADL Executive, consisting of Executive Director Dan Murphy (Toronto), Past President Charlie Johnston (Thunder Bay), and President-Elect George Newman (St. Catharines).  Secretary/Treasurer Rick Mclellan (Ottawa) could not attend as his Diocese was ordaining permanent deacons on this weekend.

Finally, Dcn. Bob introduced our workshop director, Deacon Armand Danis from Thunder Bay Diocese.  Dcn. Armand has an extensive background in the area of spiritual gifts, and is involved in related work at the national and international levels.  

As preparation for the convocation, Deacon Danis had asked for three reference booklets to be ordered from the Catherine of Sienna Institute in Colorado, and to be made available to all attendees when they registered:

  1) Catholic Spiritual Gifts Inventory

  2) Spiritual Gifts Resource Guide

  3) Discerning Charisms Workbook (Navigating the Discernment Process).

These materials have been used for several years of providing workshops to clergy and laity in the U.S. and Canada in the area of discernment of vocations.

Deacon Danis was scheduled to briefly introduce the workshop and give us a ‘homework assignment’? to complete a Spiritual Gifts Personal Inventory on the first evening, with the welcome and keynote presentation by our host Ordinary, Bishop Jean-Louis Plouffe to follow immediately afterwards.  However, ‘Someone’ had a different schedule in mind, as a combination of traffic and serious thunderstorms conspired to cause Bishop Plouffe to miss his flight from Toronto. However, Deacon Danis was able to use the time well, by presenting us with some important foundational material on A spirituality of communion from the apostolic letter of Pope John Paul II Novo Millennio Ineunte and on Grace [CCC 1996-2005].  The presentations were animated with lively sharings of experiences and interactions among the attendees. Afterwards, we made and renewed friendships and spent time in fellowship with each other.

Saturday Morning and Afternoon Session

On Saturday morning, Dcn. Charlie Johnston led us in Morning Prayer, followed by Dcn. Armand’s Keynote presentation: Recognizing the Spiritual Gifts. In this presentation, Dcn. Armand illustrated how the Holy Spirit is the Lord of Life by first leading the wives of the deacons in a reflection on their thoughts and feelings about their experience of the ‘Life in a life’ when they first found out they were pregnant and again, over the time of their pregnancy. Some responses were: hope, pain, longing, vulnerability, love, openness, anxiety, wonder, mystery, surprise, and fear, as well as a sense of joy, responsibilities, life-giving, springtime, and many other responses.  Dcn. Armand encouraged us all to relate these feelings with the feelings associated with the call to witness the Good News with our lives as Christians and deacons, gifted by the interior presence of God, the Holy Spirit, and using the gifts we have been given.  

The next presentation was the exercise of Identifying Possible Charisms of the Holy Spirit in Ordained Ministers by completing and scoring the Spiritual Gifts Inventory we had started the night before.  Then we scored the results, and observed the clustering of charisms into various groupings, such as pastoral charisms, organizational charisms, communication charisms, lifestyle charisms, understanding charisms, creative charisms, and healing charisms.  We identified the cluster where most charisms appeared and gathered in small groups based on charism types to share our experiences which could confirm the presence of each charism.  Then we considered either the next strongest charism cluster or the cluster where we had expected to find our charisms to work in small groups again.  

In the final presentation on Saturday, The Spiritual Gifts for Diaconate Leaders, we considered how these charisms or gifts could be used in our diocesan ministry as diaconate leaders.  Ideas included human, spiritual, and pastoral formation of candidates, prison ministry, family ministry, social justice ministry, Parish renewal, self-awareness, vocation discernment, A.C.T. (Association of Christian Therapists), liaison with Bishops, retreats, and many other areas.

OCADL Business Meeting

Next on the agenda, president Dcn Bob Probert chaired the Annual OCADL Business meeting.  Highlights consisted of: (the complete minutes of the Business Meeting are available from any member who attended the meeting)

Opening Remarks:

- i)Thanks to Dcn Paul Labelle, our host deacon, Dcn. Denis O’Donnell for his preparatory work, and to Bishop Jean-Louis Plouffe, our host Ordinary.

- ii)We expressed our pleasure with Villa Loyola, the venue of the convocation

- iii)Congratulations to Dcn Bert Cambre who celebrates the silver anniversary of his ordination this year.

- iv) We recognize the passing of a senior member of OCADL, Deacon Bill Rankin of Hamilton Diocese, and extend our sympathy and prayers to his wife Yvette and family.

Business Arising:

- v) From OCADL 2007 (Peterborough), Dcn. Charlie Johnston reported on the status of the CCCB interaction via Dcn. Terry Platana concerning the discernment process before ordination, and proper formation of candidates. This is part of a 1998 Vatican request for a Ratio Studiorum, in which the previous Toronto model was included; programs under study currently include Halifax, Montreal, Toronto (including St. Catharines and Ottawa), Winnipeg, and Calgary.  A general agreement was given by a number of attendees to share the rationale of their formation curricula based on the 1998 Norms [and this will be part of OCADL 2009, Pembroke, May 29-31, 2009]

Executive Reports

Financial Report

- vi)  Since the Secretary/Treasurer could not attend, the following does not include official figures and is for guidance only.

The balance reported by our Treasurer was approximately $4,000.00.  Expenses include an executive conference call, our website, postage, travel for our Executive Director, and the Convocation for 2008.  The costs of OCADL 2008 were approximately $1200 over income.  Our new balance is approximately $1700.00.

President’s Report (Dcn. Bob Probert)

- vii)  OCADL memberships increased by about 10% in individual permanent deacons, and by 3 new Dioceses (Peterborough, Military Ordinariate, and Sault Ste-Marie).  We now have  membership of 11 out of 13 Dioceses in Ontario.

- viii)  The new OCADL website ocadl.com is up and running - check it out(!) and send ideas and contributions to bob.probert@gmail.com.

- ix)  OCADL 2008 planning was executed early by the executive â?? key to success was to set location, date and theme as early on as possible.

-  x)  A goal of OCADL is to promote better lines of communication to Bishops in Ontario, with other Diaconate Leaders in North America, and among ourselves via web (Probert) and Newsletter (Johnston).  An ad-hoc committee of Past Presidents, Dcns. Probert and Johnston, will work on this.  Dcn. Probert is sending a report of this convocation to our OCCB Liaison, Bishop Nicola de Angelis, who was unable to attend this convocation due to a previous long-standing commitment.

Executive Director’s Report

-  xi)  Executive Director Dcn. Dan Murphy re-emphasized that OCADL was founded as a support organization for diaconate leaders, and should continue along this line. Dan is willing to stay on as Executive Director, and we all are grateful for that.

New Business

- xii)  Election of new officer: President-Elect: John Vallely (London) was acclaimed.

- xiii)  Location and Date of 2009 Convocation

 As was decided at the last convocation, OCADL 2009 will be held in Pembroke (in the Eastern Region) on the last weekend in May (May 29-31, 2009). Bishop of Pembroke, Most Reverend Michael Mulhall will be keynote speaker, host Ordinary, and principal celebrant and homilist for the closing Mass (May 31, 2009 Pentecost Sunday.)

 

 

- xiv)  Location and Date of 2010 Convocation

Deacon John Vallely proposed London for OCADL on or about June 4-6, 2010.  The proposal was unanimously accepted.  (Trinity Sunday is June 6, 2010).

- xv)  Registration Fees - Moved by Dcn. Charlie Johnston, and approved, that the registration fee be modified by the Executive to more adequately take into account the actual Convocation expenses to OCADL. Since OCADL  is non-profit, the understanding is that OCADL will subsidize the cost.

- xvi) Diocesan Diaconate Reports

Representatives of each (Arch)Diocese reported on the health of diaconal ministry and programs, and plans for the upcoming year to promote diaconal ministry and to support diaconal life and ministry.  (Numerical statistics and details covering all dioceses will be posted on the website as part of the preparation for OCADL 2009)

Saturday with the Bishop

Our host Bishop, Mgr. Jean-Louis Plouffe, arrived at the end of the business meeting, joined us for dinner, and then gave a stirring presentation (available at ocadl.com) on the permanent diaconate in Sault Ste-Marie Diocese - past, present and future. Then we celebrated Sunday anticipatory Mass presided by his Excellency, Bishop Plouffe in the Chapel at Villa Loyola. Following Mass, the Bishop joined us for more fellowship and sharing.

Sunday

Dcn. George led Morning Prayer in the Chapel.  The morning session began with Dcn. Armand leading us in 2 exercises, first, how were we affected personally; secondly, how might we apply this (and offer this) to our ministries, both in the Parish, and in the Diocese.

1. We personally found this: surpassed expectations, worthwhile, appropriate, useful, affirming, satisfying, communion among group, valuable, focusing, stimulating, enhaced self-awareness, sanctifying, empowering, awakening.

2. Where to apply this: those ministering to troubled adults and youth, those transitioning in life and discerning God’s will, diaconate leaders from other regions should be invited to come, parish renewal, human, spiritual, and pastoral formation for clergy and candidates, social ministry, prison ministry, ACT,  catechists, other assoc.

 

Possible Follow-up Actions: [includes a list submitted by Dcn. George Newman]

  1. Produce a directory of all Ontario deacons and their ministries.

  2. Produce a directory of deacons in hospital and jail ministry which might be helpful to parishioners with a family member needing a visit.

  3. Produce an outline of formation topics by year.  How each PD program is certified.

  4. Produce a listing of Resource Persons for each formation topic and for women’s programs (and a list of women’s topics)

  5. Produce a list of Spiritual Directors and Retreat Leaders.

  6. List on-line topics and books for Continuing Ed./ Ongoing Formation

  7. Produce an Ontario calendar to include; ordination dates, study weekend dates, retreat dates, days of reflection in case we wish to attend. On web, links to NADD, Diocesan, other sites.[check upcoming events on website ocadl.com!]

Possible themes for the upcoming convocation in Pembroke, May 29-31, 2009:

Spiritual Gifts discovered this year - how did you put them into action?

Creating a missionary heart in the diaconate

‘The Spirit in Flight’

In future, look at linking up a social justice network of deacons

Evangelization to distanced Catholics, perhaps in 2010 - how to evangelize

Reaching out to non-practicing Catholics, reaching out to other cultures

Wives’ program - add as a new item to Diocese Diaconate reporting form

Ministry to diaconal families

What’s happening in formation in Ontario - rationalize or standardize?

Agreement so far for next year’s theme is ‘The Spirit in Flight’ - in other words, where is the Spirit taking each of us as diaconate leaders,  and what has been the effect of spiritual gifts on various diaconal ministries, and the relation to formation activities/programs?  This will be refined (and has been focused) over the year of preparation.

This has evolved into the following theme:
“Called, Formed and Strengthened by The Spirit” i.e., how do we recognize those who are called, how do we form those who are recognized, and how do we help those who are formed (have completed their formation and are now ordained) and their wives? How do we use the charisms we have been given as leaders in coordinating the admission of aspirants to formation, formation of candidates for the Permanent Diaconate, and ongoing formation of permanent deacons?

As Jesus said, “Come and see!”

Please watch this site for more OCADL 2009 information and registration details appearing soon.

Closing Presentations

At the conclusion of the meeting, Deacon Bob Probert presented tokens of the gratitude of the attendees to Deacon Armand Danis for his very professional and helpful direction of our Convocation Workshop on Identifying the Spiritual Gifts for Diaconate Leaders. Next, Probert and his wife Mary Lois presented to Deacon Charlie Johnston and his wife Linda, gifts to express the gratitude of OCADL for his outstanding service to this organization over the past four years (four since he served two years as Past President!). Then, we expressed our gratitude to Deacon Dan Murphy, our faithful Executive Director and his wife Jean. And thus the convocation was very successfully concluded!