By Rita McInerney

Most of the deacons ordained in the archdiocese of Atlanta since the late 1970s are serving in parish ministries, assisting at marriages, baptisms, funerals. They bring the Eucharist to the sick, keep parish properties maintained, teach religious education, work with youth, among a broad spectrum of assignments.

A good number, almost 20 of the 97 deacons making up the permanent diaconate here, are working fulltime, either in their own parishes or in chancery offices at the archdiocesan level.

For each deacon, the primary need is to maintain a balance between family life, work life and the diaconate, according to Deacon Dick Narey, lay ministry diaconate director and permanent deacon since 1978.

He regards a strong prayer life as necessary to “follow the diaconate call. You can’t make it without it.” His won commitment, he said, is contingent on his prayer life. “You have to ask God if you are on the right track. It happened to me. I prayed for six months (about taking on a fulltime assignment at the Cathedral of Christ the King) before realizing this is where I belong.”

Candidates are well screened during their three years of study and formation for the diaconate. They are interviewed several times, evaluated by their pastors, evaluated on classroom performance and tested by the psychologist on the permanent diaconate board, Dr. Sam Anzalone.

Both during their preparation and after ordination, the men are cautioned not to confuse counseling with spiritual direction, Deacon Narey said. They are reminded that they are not qualified for such counseling and are instructed in how to recognize situations where people may be in need of professional help and “as tactfully as possible steer them in the right direction.”

Deacons serving on the board meet informally with Archbishop Eugene A. Marino, SSJ, about every two months, Deacon Narey said. “He gives us guidance and direction. I’m really encouraged by his attitude. He’s been a real friend of the diaconate.”

Following are brief profiles on the remaining ten deacons ordained by Archbishop Marino at the Cathedral of Christ the King on June 24. Twelve were profiled in the July 6 issue of The Georgia Bulletin.

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DANIEL BRADACH, 61 and first deacon from St. Paul the Apostle in Cleveland, hopes to “evangelize a little bit” among retirees in north Georgia. Since he and his wife, Carol, have been living near Sautee he has found there are many “fallen away” Catholics in the Helen area. He will “try and get my feet on the ground and see where the Lord leads me. If I can get one back it would be great.”

One of his first liturgical experiences was a memorable event. He was deacon at the 25^th anniversary Mass at St. Paul’s on July 5 with Archbishop Eugene A. Marino, SSJ, as celebrant. Father Frank Ruff, head of the Glenmary order, was concelebrant.

He is looking forward to visiting the sick of the parish in hospitals and nursing homes. Glenmary Father Ed Gorny, pastor at St. Paul’s and St. Francis of Assisi in Blairsville, admitted that having a deacon “is a new experience. We’re trying to integrate him into the ministry of the parish.” There might come a Sunday, the priest acknowledged, when the weather would prevent him from making the trip over the mountains from Blairsville and Deacon Bradach would be called upon to celebrate a Communion service for parishioners.

Before relocating to the mountains 15 months ago, the Bradachs were members of St. Andrew’s in Roswell for five years. And before they helped start St. Thomas Aquinas in Alpharetta they were active at St. Jude’s in Sandy Springs. They were involved in adult education at the newer parishes.

Deacon Bradach, a native of Illinois, was a member of the class of 1950 at Georgia Tech and a lineman on the football team. He operates a firm that installs small steel storage equipment. The Bradachs have five children from 34 to 20 and four granddaughters.

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WILLIAM KEEN, 50, describes himself as “cautiously excited” about the role of permanent deacon he was ordained for on June 24. He views his task as assisting Father Paul Reynolds, pastor at St. Andrew’s in Roswell, in any way he can. That includes visiting the sick and assisting at baptism and funerals.

He expects to be giving homilies at Sunday Masses every five weeks and will serve as chaplain to the “fledgling” parish Cursillo. He also is hopeful of being able to provide spiritual guidance to parishioners who might seek him out.

Deacon Keen and his wife, Babs, are the parents of six children 28 to six. They have two grandchildren. The new deacon said he received continuing support from his wife and children during his three years of study for the permanent diaconate.

During the five years the Keens have been parishioners at St. Andrew’s, he helped establish the St. Martin de Porres ministry which ministers to street people and also assists Habitat for Humanity, served on the finance committee, and as Eucharistic minister and lector.

Both Keens were raised in northern Kentucky and have been in the Atlanta area six years. A financial planner, Deacon Keen said work is a family affair, with his wife, son, daughter, and their spouses all part of the firm.

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EDMUND LaHOUSE, 59, credits several people with influencing his decision to become a deacon, something he wanted to do for years, he admitted. He was impressed by what the deacons (there are now five) were doing in his parish, St. Thomas Aquinas in Alpharetta. A Cursillista, he grouped with two of them, Bill Keeling and Don Nadeau, and was open to the suggestion that he look into the permanent diaconate.

For priestly influence there was his uncle, Monsignor Robert Callahan. The two have been close since his boyhood years in Connecticut. Just last fall he spent a week in his rectory at San Diego, an experience he cherishes. And Father Dan O’Connor, formerly pastor at St. Thomas Aquinas, was “probably as influential as anyone,” he said.

He has talked with his pastor, Father James Fennessy about his duties and expects to continue ministering to the elderly, sick and shut-in of the parish in hospitals and nursing homes. His wife Mary coordinates the Eucharistic ministers who visit the sick. She has been scheduling lectors for the past 10 years.

Deacon LaHouse served as building committee chairman for the new Community Life building at St. Thomas Aquinas, was on the parish council for two terms and served as president of the parish St. Vincent de Paul. About his feelings now, he “seems to be getting more enthusiastic every day.” In the years ahead, he sees the church in Atlanta undergoing many changes and expects more roles will be filled by deacons.

He and Mary are the parents of four children, 37 to 26, and have four grandchildren. He is general manager of the southeast branch of the Aetna Life and Casualty Co. They have been in Atlanta almost 11 years.

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WILLIAM LAKIN, 57, has been interested in the permanent diaconate since its restoration in 1967. As a Marine he had helped chaplains complete required paper work and set up for liturgies among other tasks. The retired Marine said his involvement could be described as being a “big brother” in the good sense of the term.

Deacon Lakin and his wife, Joan, have seven children, from 35 to 24, and 11 grandchildren. They have been members of St. Joseph’s parish in Athens for nine years. He was born in Jersey City, N.J., and she is a native of Boston. Lakin believes that, “if he had not married he would have become a priest – a funny thing to say with seven children,” he added.

Joan and William Lakin are Eucharistic ministers and lectors in the parish. Both have been active in religious education, at times starting programs on Marine bases where Lakin was stationed. Joan Lakin teaches the first grade religious education class at St. Joseph’s.

As deacon Lakin is involved in ministry to the elderly which includes visiting shut-ins, convalescent homes and hospitals. He also trains others for this ministry.

One part of the parish’s involvement with the elderly is a group of approximately 25 senior citizens called Young At Hearts who attend Mass and lunch together each First Friday. Others from the Athens community, including members of the Council on Aging, join them for this get-together.

For Deacon Lakin, ordination to the permanent diaconate is “the greatest gift that I’ve received. It gives me greater opportunity to serve everyone.”

In the few weeks since his ordination he has baptized an infant and assisted at a funeral. He hopes in the future, parishioners will “see in me one they can seek out for spiritual direction. The avenues of communications are open,” he said.

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JAMES D. O’BRIEN, 46, acknowledges that he couldn’t have become a deacon without the support of Janet, his wife. “She’s part of the team effort.” She received her certificate for attending the two-year lay ministry program and was the only woman to attend all classes during the final year of formation, he said.

The O’Briens are 10-years members of St. John Neumann parish in Lilburn. He served as chairman of the CCD program for three years, as lector, extraordinary minister, and has been active with the parish SVDP.

He said his duties with the parish are being developed. He sees a need to bring together the various groups in the large parish for the sake of community and envisions the six deacons being catalysts. For example he would like to see the singles join for a communion service with the senior members. “They’re all part of the same community and should be coming together to show we are all under the Lord’s guidance.” He is keenly interested in helping new parishioners experience a sense of community.

His interest in the diaconate began when he heard Deacon Ray Shaw give a homily on vocations. He struggled for six months with a feeling of unworthiness but doubt made his decision to begin the program. Now he is confident the Lord will use him well. “My gift from the Lord has been my mouth,” he admitted.

The O’Briens have five children from 24 to 10 and one grandchild. He is regional manager for an engineering company that makes those flashing blue lights for police cars. The family has been in Atlanta since 1969. He is a native of Chicago.

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DAVID RAUTH is one of three permanent deacons to be ordained from St. Catherine of Siena in Kennesaw. The 61-year-old father of eight has been a parishioner there for seven years. Prior to that he and his wife Joyce belonged to St. John Vianney parish in Lithia Springs for 13 years.

A convert to Catholicism, Rauth is a native of Jackson, Mich. He met his wife, who is from Fort Myers, Fla., when he was in the Navy. After they married, he decided to reenter the armed services and joined the Air Force. When the permanent diaconate was restored in 1967 an Air Force chaplain suggested to him that he become a deacon. In 1985 his present pastor, Father Leo Herbert, repeated the suggestion. Rauth and six others from the parish ministry; three completed the studies, becoming the first deacons from the fast-growing Cobb County parish of 1,400.

Deacon Rauth has been active as a lector, usher, Eucharistic minister, as well as serving on the building and finance committees. He looks forward now to more involvement as a deacon, visiting parishioners in the hospital, assisting with baptisms, marriages and funerals, and acting as chaplain for parish groups.

Of his ordination he commented, “I felt I had accomplished something and now I’m ready to go on with something else in the area of service as a deacon.”

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ROBERT SMITH, 51, had an opportunity in 1984 to enter the lay ministry program leading to the permanent diaconate. He didn’t because his two sons were still in grade school and he didn’t want to take time away from them. When they entered high school he was of another mind. After talking again with Father John Ozarowski, then pastor at St. Andrew’s in Roswell, he felt he had something “to offer in the service of the Lord, particularly in one-priest parish,” and began his study.

Throughout his three years of preparation leading up to his ordination June 24, his two sons, along with his wife, Lenora, were “extremely supportive.” The boys, he added, were his greatest critics – in a constructive way.

During the family’s six years at St. Andrew’s, he has worked with the altar boys, in adult education, Liturgy, and as “general parish go-fer,” he said.

Deacon Smith, a manager for AT&T, has been in Atlanta for six years. He is originally from Portsmouth, Va., and is a product of Catholic education through college.

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WAYNE D. SMITH, 47 this month, has his work cut out for him at Sacred Heart Church. He is the first deacon ordained for the downtown Atlanta parish where the Smiths have been members about six years.

Father Daniel O’Connor, pastor, said Deacon Smith will be baptizing and witnessing marriages, working with both parents and couples to prepare them for these sacraments. He will also be helping with the youth group, a natural for him with three offspring between 20 and 17. Visiting the sick at the two large hospitals in the parish area, Crawford Long and Georgia Baptist, will be his ministry.

“Other than that, we’re not going to try and over-work him,” Father O’Connor remarked.

Deacon Smith enrolled in the lay ministry program at the suggestion of one of the parish priests. He was not “knocked off a horse,” but rather led gradually on his faith journey, he admitted. It wasn’t until the third year that he decided to go on and prepare for the permanent diaconate.

He has found the parish supportive and was warmed by their generous response to his first homily the day after the June 24 ordination. Both he and his wife, Patricia, have been active in the religious education program at Sacred Heart.

Deacon smith is an engineer with PBT, a rapid transit construction firm which built the MARTA system. The family has been in Atlanta 20 years. He and his wife are natives of Pittsburgh, Pa.

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THOMAS D. SILVESTRI, 45, started thinking about prison ministry during his final year of preparation for the permanent diaconate. He saw this as an area where there was a definite need because of an absence of Catholic chaplains in the state prison system.

The week after his ordination June 24, he contracted with the state to minister to prisoners at Jackson State Prison one day a week for the next 12 months. He began his chaplaincy after two-day orientation, on July 3 and 10. The prison is about 80 miles from his home in Tucker.

His journey to the diaconate began during the Renew program at Holy Cross, the parish of Thomas and Janice Sue Silvestri for the nine years they have been in Atlanta. While participating in a small group session he was encouraged to think about the lay ministry program by Deacon Dick Narey.

Interested, Deacon Silvestri entered the program without being sure just how far he would go with it. “But the Spirit works in strange, mysterious ways,” he admitted. He found the program to be a challenge, to be enlightening. Deciding it was one answer to the definite need for service in the Church, he continued on and completed the final year leading to ordination.

In the parish, he said, he will be available for baptisms and other rites performed by deacons.

The new deacon, a data processing consultant, and his wife have a son, two, and a daughter, four. He is from Chicago, she from South Bend, Ind.

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JAMES STEWART had a “long period of discernment” before becoming a deacon June 24. It extended through an assignment in Guatemala which prevented his ordination with the large class of 1987.

Deacon Stewart, 56 this month, was assigned from Guatemala City by the Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta. A biologist, he taught at a small private college and did malaria control work at a CDC center in the city. For those two years the Stewarts worshipped most of the time at a Maryknoll retreat house also attended by people from the American Embassy.

Earlier, in the 1970s, friends had “planted the seed” for the diaconate while the Stewarts were on CDC assignment in Colorado. The priest there, Father Tom McCormick, has a strong diaconate program that kindled his interest, the new deacon recalled.

He will be serving as assistant spiritual director for the Cursillo led by Sister Margaret McAnoy, IHM, in the archdiocese. In that ministry, he will plan Leaders School programs and team formation for the men’s weekends and lead Communion and prayer services for Cursillistas. He also expects to be working with Al Gallagher, an associate director of the diaconate program, in administration and teaching.

Deacon Stewart admitted to being nervous during the ordination Liturgy “until I got down on the floor during the litany of the saints. Everything seemed to clear up then.”

James and Gwen Stewart and their two daughters have been in Atlanta for more than 20 years and have been parishioners at Holy Cross in Tucker most of the time. They are natives of Texas.

Paula Day contributed to this article.

Correction

In the July 6 issue of The Georgia Bulletin it was incorrectly reported that Mrs. Doris Diamon, wife of Deacon Ernest A. Diamon, was a member of the Church of Christ. Mrs. Diamon is a member of the Church of God. We regret the error.