Listen to Dc. Tim’s homily at archive.org

We believe that our prayers are both heard… and acted upon by our gracious and loving God.  Yet we know that often the answer to the prayer requests may be answered in ways that we neither expect, nor necessarily understand.  Truly, our prayers are in God’s hands!

Join us in adding your requests to our daily prayers:  our deacons will receive your Prayer Request and pray on your behalf for the next 30 days. It’s very easy to make a request… it will take you but a moment.  Then it’s in our helping hands and His.  Here’s the link:  http://www.deacons.us/prayer-request

God Bless!

Have a care also for your deacons, whose ministry of service is associated in a particular way with that of the order of bishops. Be a father and a guide in holiness for them, encouraging them to grow in knowledge and wisdom in carrying out the mission of herald to which they have been called.

Words of encouragement and guidance from Pope Benedict… confirmation of our call to vocation and ministry!

Lord, who shall be admitted to your tent and dwell on your holy mountain?

He who walks without fault; he who acts with justice
and speaks the truth from his heart;

And so began Psalm 15 from the Common of Pastors on this optional memorial of St. John Eudes.  As I read the first few verses, a friend, teacher… and deacon came to mind;  Dc. Myron Kotch. We received news of his passing this morning from the Office of the Permanent Diaconate in the Diocese of Syracuse in a brief email.

I first met Deacon Kotch… Myron to most in our first year of deacon formation:  History of the Early Church.  And what a history course it was!  Dr. Kotch, an Eastern Rite Deacon, brought a depth and breadth of knowledge as a teacher and mentor to those classes.  In his enthusiasm for the Church, both East and West, he pushed us to embrace the best of both worlds; always helping us to see what each brought to the faith.  And could he assign homework!  The groans were tangible as he ended each class with a long list of questions to be written out in preparation for the following month’s class.

Dr. Myron Kotch, Rev. Dc. - 2007 25th Ordination Jubilee

Dc. Kotch was ordained to the SubDiaconate at the Martyrs’ Shrine, Auriesville, in July 1982 and to the Diaconate in October of that same year at St. John the Baptist Ukranian Catholic Church in Syracuse.

Perhaps the highlight of knowing Myron came in our 2nd or 3rd year, when a number of us attended Divine Liturgy at St. John’s in Syracuse.  All that we’d learned about the essential role of the Eastern Rite Deacon in liturgy played out before us in that awesome celebration, with Dc. Kotch there to example for us. For a group of Roman Catholic deacon candidates, the experience helped to move us into a deeper appreciation for the roots of the early Christian Church and the incredible depth of liturgy.

After the liturgy, we enjoyed a sumptuous Eastern European dinner in the church hall. Gracious, kind and welcoming… who could expect anything less from Myron and the faith he embraced:  friend, teacher and deacon mentor.

“For this reason, I remind you to stir into flame the gift of God that you have through the imposition of my hands. For God did not give us a spirit of cowardice but rather of power and love and self-control. So do not be ashamed of your testimony to our Lord, nor of me, a prisoner for his sake; but bear your share of hardship for the Gospel with the strength that comes from God.”

At first glance at the words above from St. Paul to Timothy, it was if St. Paul were speaking direct to my heart at a time that I needed it the most. The words are a reminder that 8 years ago I experienced the “imposition of laying on of hands” from a wonderful Bishop who admonished me to always trust in God. And now, I was being again admonished…that in my Diaconal Ministry, God expects me to boldly bear witness to Him with the spirit of empowerment…that my armor is a spirit of love and self-control. In my Diaconal Ministry, I am called to be a living testimony to Christ and must bear any hardship for the Gospel…because the indelible seal of the Holy Spirit will provide me all the strength necessary. Yes, these words spoke direct to me personally…and it is my hope that my brother Deacons and all Ordained Ministers embrace these words and accept, as I have, the admonishment in a spirit of love and dedication to ministry.

My friends in Christ, whether Ordained or Laypersons, regardless of our faith tradition or Christian affiliation, today’s Scripture is a reminder that each of us has been given a gift from God that must be “stirred into flame.” As people of faith, we are lovingly admonished by Jesus that He has empowered us to love and live with self-control…to boldly proclaim the Gospel, accepting both the hardships of service and strength provided by the Holy Spirit.

Today, will you join with me in stirring the flame of our faith…and to proclaim with courage that hope, joy, and peace is attainable only through accepting the love offered by Jesus Christ? GRH

GHarper

The emotions ran deep as each was ordained to the order of Permanent Deacon.  Outside the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, family, friends and dozens of well-wishers gathered to congratulate our new deacons. These men and their wives completed a rigorous 6 years of preparation and formation.

Today, they entered their ministries with full hearts and a commitment to service that was clear to the hundreds who participated in the Ordination Mass. They join over sixty deacons whose outreach encompass ministries in health care, for the elderly, schools, community programs for those in need and prisons.  They are preaching the Gospel news in word and deed each day in communities throughout the Diocese of Syracuse.

Welcome!

My journey to Ordination as a Deacon is quickly drawing to its conclusion.

With only eight days remaining, I am beginning to see the light at the end of the tunnel as an Aspirant in my final 4th Year of the Deacon Formation Program, Roman Catholic Diocese of Syracuse, New York, USA. Along with seven other men and our wives, we are fulfilling a journey of spiritual growth, faith and fellowship as we prepare to move into ordained ministry in our parishes.

I ask that you keep me, as well as my classmates, in your thoughts and prayers as we go before the Bishop on May 15, 2010.

Peace, Love & Joy
Donnie

Posted on Saturday, May 08, 2010
Donald Mula, Candidate for Ordination
Permanent Diaconate

“Why Men Get Together” (From Catholic Men’s Fellowship Cincinnati)

Saturday, February 27, 2010 men from all over the Diocese of Syracuse will gather to share, pray and experience the fellowship of being a Catholic man. Ignite 2010 Catholic Men’s Conference will offer three nationally acclaimed speakers:  Jesse Romero, Fr. Larry Richards and Sean Forrest as well as our own Bishop Robert J. Cunningham.

Plan to attend and be part of a day-long experience geared for men, enriching our faith experiences and helping to build God’s Kingdom!

Deacon Tim McNerney’s homily at St. Paul Church in Norwich, New York on the Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time is based upon Jeremiah 17:5-8 and the Gospel of Luke, Ch 6:17,20-26. If you’d would like to listen to Dc. Tim’s homily, click the link below.

SERMON ON THE PLAIN

Dc. Tim McNerney, Webmaster

Looking Back:

November 13-14, 2008 – We arrived in Haiti, then traveled the mountain ranges 35KM from Port-au-Prince to Chauffard, Haiti with Fr. Julien from Immaculate Conception Parish.  Roads are comprised of two elements:  rocks and ruts!

November 15-17, 2008 – We continue our fact-finding mission in Haiti, detailing the incredible need that his mountain village of 1,500 people has for food, medical, education and spiritual support.

Field Notes:

- Regroup committee to determine augmented programs St. Michael & St. Peter can provide.
- Try to purchase batteries for solar power storage asap; perhaps a small refrigerator also.
- Establish interest in annual or more frequent visits
- Send e-photos taken and mail printed photos of students

November 4-10, 2009 – Three MD’s, three nurses, my two daughters, Emily and Catherine, and I arrive back in Chauffard, Haiti to setup an on-site medical clinic for the residents, many of whom have never seen professional medical practitioners in their lifetimes!  Because shipping to Haiti is so problematic, the team hand carries all medical supplies on-board the planes to Haiti.  The medical supplies where made possible by the generous donations from St. Michael & St. Peter parishes in Syracuse, NY.

Today:

Our news from Chauffard, Haiti (the epicenter) is mixed.  Thankfully, our pastor survived as did our main church, school, and rectory.  However, two of our mission churches were totally destroyed, and three were severely damaged.  The death toll is unknown yet.  We understand there are likely to be many homeless also.

In Port-au-Prince, Matthew 25 House and its resident missionaries are all fine; they are operating an emergency medical clinic  and shelter out of the house.  Our young interpreters from our November mission are also fine, although one’s home collapsed around her in the quake.  She said she felt God carried her outside the house to safety.

I am hoping to go to Chauffard next month to find out more and to adjust plans for how we help them in light of all this.  In the meantime, we keep them all in our prayers, and we can send money to meet the incredible need there.

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Anyone wishing to contribute to our mission church in Chauffard Haiti may do so by sending checks to: St. Michael & St. Peter Church – Haiti Mission, 4782 W Seneca Turnpike, Syracuse, NY 13215.

Greg Cross