BEACON. The Deacon Beacon Newsletter strives to inform the diaconate family of all the news, events and information going on in our community.

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1 DEACON BEACON NEWSLETTER October, 2015 Office of Continuing Education The Diocese of Cleveland The Deacon Beacon Newsletter strives to inform the diaconate family of all the news, events and information going on in our community. Deacon Wives Core Group: 2014/2015 Diana Guritza (Dennis), Betty Kraynik (Phil), Marie Kushner (David), Kathy Long (Tom), Muriel Martin (Jim, deceased), Barbara Cunningham (Mark) Shelley Meade (Ken), Marilyn Senn (Tom), Shari Tomazic (Gary), Bonnie Winterich (Carl). Liz Yoho (William). You can access the Deacon Beacon on the Cleveland Diocese Website: / A to Z Index-Diaconate Office/ News & Events Click picture to read Deacon Beacon Transitional Diaconate Ordination October 24, AM - At the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist Institution of Acolytes February 13, TBA Institution of Lectors March 12, TBA Diaconate Ordination May 7, AM- At the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist Priesthood Ordination May 21, AM At the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist Diaconate Picnic August 21, PM At the home of Mark & Barbara Cunningham Wolf Rd. Bay Village, Oh Section of a fresco in the Niccoline Chapel by Fra Angelico, depicting Saint Peter consecrating the Seven Deacons. Saint Stephen is shown kneeling. (Circa ) Strengthening our diaconate community by reaching, touching and encouraging.

2 Reverend John G. Vrana, STD Director of Spiritual Formation for the Diaconate Formation Office Fr. Vrana was born and raised on the west side of Cleveland and attended Catholic grade school at St. Ignatius of Antioch and SS. Philip and James until the sixth grade. He attended St. Charles Borromeo for 7 th and 8 th grade. Fr. Vrana shared that, although he would agree that it was not a conscious choice, he always seemed to see himself as a priest without truly understanding what that really meant. As a youth, he enjoyed serving Mass and remembers saying Mass with his sisters as the congregation. When he was in eighth grade his parish priest came into his classroom and asked if any boys wanted to visit the new Borromeo Seminary High School. He raised his hand and the visit followed. He entered the seminary as a freshman high school student; twelve years later, on his twenty-sixth birthday, May 20, 1967, he was ordained a priest. His first assignment was at St. John Nepomucene Parish on Fleet Avenue in Cleveland. After two years (1969), he was told by Bishop Issenmann that he would begin preparation to teach at St. Mary Seminary. His graduate work was at St. Paul University in Ottawa, Canada and then at the Catholic University in Louvain in Belgium where he earned a Doctorate in Theology. Initially, he taught moral theology and, in 1981, he was named Spiritual Director for St. Mary Seminary and began teaching courses on spirituality. During the same time, he also served as the bishop s Delegate for the Catholic Charismatic Renewal in the diocese. He enjoyed his experiences at the seminary, which included teaching the men who were preparing for the newly formed Permanent Diaconate in the diocese. These men were so excited to be on the cutting edge of this new venture in the church and in the diocese. His seminary assignment concluded in December 1989 when he returned to parish ministry. He served as parochial vicar and administrator of various parishes and was pastor at St. Martin of Tours Parish in Maple Heights from He is presently assigned as Senior Parochial Vicar at St. Michael Parish in Independence. He was asked by Bishop Lennon to serve as Director of Spiritual Formation for the Permanent Diaconate and graciously assumed that position effective August 6, Fr. Vrana shared that he looks forward to getting to know those who are presently involved in the formation process and their wives. From his past experience, he has found this group of people dedicated to the Lord and to his church and he is eager to be of service.

3 A Reflection for All Souls Day: My God, I know this place. I am home. Why do Catholic Christians commemorate the dead during the month of November? Abbot Odilo of the great French Abbey of Cluny introduced the festival of All Souls in 998 for members of his own religious order. Later, in the 14th Century, All Souls was adopted by Rome for the entire church. It is dedicated to the memory of all the faithful departed. All Saints Day and All Souls Day set the tone for the month of November. All Souls are our family and relatives, our neighbors and friends, our ancestors, that cloud of witnesses who accepted the godly realism of their lives, shared it with others already on earth, and continue to do so now before the throne of the Lamb in heaven. For this reason, they are truly blessed, and give us a reason to hope, to believe, to struggle and to live.the feast of All Souls and the month of November is a source of consolation for each of us. The consoling doctrine of the Communion of Saints allows us to feel ever close to those who have died and gives us much hope in moments of despair and sadness. The holy souls in purgatory see ever more clearly what we intuit from afar. They are already within reach of eternal life, the loving arms of Jesus; but they are not yet closely within his embrace. The sting of death has been removed, but they are still sensing the pain of love which only complete union with Jesus can heal. The healing process is accomplished by the same love which makes the separation momentarily very painful. Our prayers for the faithful departed increase faith and love within us; they draw us to look upon the Son with ever greater longing. In a very moving, personal reflection on his imminent death in 1996, the late Cardinal Joseph Bernardin of Chicago wrote the book The Gift of Peace several weeks before going to God. At the end of his personal testament he wrote: Many people have asked me to tell them about heaven and the afterlife. I sometimes smile at the request because I do not know any more than they do. Yet, when one young man asked if I looked forward to being united with God and all those who have gone before me, I made a connection to something I said earlier in this book. The first time I traveled with my mother and sister to my parents homeland of Tonadico di Primiero, in northern Italy, I felt as if I had been there before. After years of looking through my mother s photo albums, I knew the mountains, the land, the houses, the people. As soon as we entered the valley, I said, My God, I know this place. I am home. Somehow I think crossing from this life into eternal life will be similar. I will be home. Let us spend our earthly pilgrimage filling our minds with the thoughts of heaven, so that when we finally cross over into eternal life, the images we see may not be foreign, startling or strange. Let us pray that we, too, may be able to say: My God, I know this place. I am home. Fr. Thomas Rosica, C.S.B., C.E.O., Salt and Light Catholic Media Foundation

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10 Catholic Conference of Ohio The official representative of the Catholic Church in public matters affecting the Church and the general welfare of the citizens of Ohio 9 E. Long St. Suite 201 Columbus, Ohio

11 Most Rev. Dennis M. Schnurr Archdiocese of Cincinnati Chairman Most Rev. Joseph R. Binzer Auxiliary Bishop of Cincinnati Most Rev. Richard G. Lennon Bishop of Cleveland Most Rev. Frederick F. Campbell Bishop of Columbus Board of Directors Most Rev. Jeffrey M. Monforton Bishop of Steubenville Most Rev. Daniel E. Thomas Bishop of Toledo Most Rev. George V. Murry S.J. Bishop of Youngstown Most Rev. John Kudrick Bishop of Byzantine Eparchy of Parma Most Rev. J. Michael Botean Bishop of Romanian Catholic Eparchy of Canton Most Rev. Bohdan J. Danylo Bishop of St. Josaphat Ukrainian Eparchy, Parma

12 Defending Life Protecting the Poor & Vulnerable Promoting Marriage & Family Life Seeking the Common Good Supporting Catholic School Parents & Students Caring for The Environment Supporting Work & the Rights of Workers Protecting Religious Liberty Catholic Conference of Ohio Staff Executive Director, Carolyn Jurkowitz Associate Director, Department on Education, Larry Keough Associate Director, Department on Social Concerns, Jim Tobin Director, Ohio Catholic School Accrediting Association, Theresa Bowser Government Programs Coordinator for Catholic Schools, Ray Cook

13 Catholic Church in Ohio 1,964,274 Catholics (17% of the State Population) 773 Parishes 122,700 Students in 385 Catholic Schools 13 Colleges/Universities 65 Social Services Centers serving over one million persons annually 84 Hospitals, Nursing Homes & Care Centers 190 Cemeteries Life Issues All human life should be protected from conception through natural death. We encourage the enactment of effective laws that will provide maximum protection for unborn persons, as well as support for pregnant women and birth fathers. We support adoption, helping families and individuals with special needs, and alternative stem cell research that does not destroy a human embryo. We remain opposed to assisted suicide. Poverty Issues We encourage programs that prioritize the needs of the poor and vulnerable. Public assistance policy should reduce poverty and dependency, strengthen family life, and help families transition from poverty through work, training, and assistance with childcare, health care, housing, food, mental health related services, eldercare and transportation. Public policies should also provide a safety net for those who cannot work. Education Issues Ohio provides over $300 million each year in tax-funded scholarships and supportive services benefiting young people attending Catholic and other chartered nonpublic schools. Such support comes from Auxiliary Services, Administrative Cost Reimbursement, EdChoice, Ed Choice Expansion, Cleveland Scholarship, Peterson and Autism scholarships, transportation and connectivity programs. Death Penalty Issues We support efforts to end the use of the death penalty in Ohio. We believe life without parole is fair and effective. We encourage enactment of the reforms recommended by the Ohio Supreme Court Task Force, especially the recommendation that would end the death penalty for persons with serious mental illness.

14 Our nation s tradition of pluralism is enhanced, not threatened, when religious groups and people of faith bring their convictions into public life. The Catholic community brings to the political dialogue a consistent moral framework and broad experience serving those in need. USCCB Marriage & Family Life The family based on marriage between a man and a woman is the first and fundamental unit of society and is a sanctuary for the creation and nurturing of children. It should be defended and strengthened. Respect for the family should be reflected in every policy and program. Care for Creation Our Church teaches that out of respect for God s creation we ought to respond prudently to issues related to climate change and environmental degradation. We seek to provide input into Ohio s legislative study committee on alternative energy standards, monitor fracking issues, and encourage policies that protect Ohio s water and other natural resources. Health Care Affordable and accessible health care is an essential safeguard of human life and a fundamental human right. We work in conjunction with the 35 Catholic hospitals in Ohio. We seek to effectively address issues related to quality care, cost, coverage and access. We support Ohio s Medicaid expansion and reauthorization. We believe we should be able to provide health care without compromising our religious convictions. Dignity of Work Employers should create jobs that uphold the dignity and rights of workers to productive work, to decent and just wages, and to the choice of whether to organize and join unions. We hold that workers are called to provide a fair day s work for a fair day s pay, to treat employers and co-workers with respect, and to carry out their work in ways that contribute to the common good. Immigration Issues The Gospel mandate to welcome the stranger requires Catholics to care for and stand with immigrants, both documented and undocumented. Until comprehensive reform in enacted at the federal level, Ohio should show judicious restraint in pursuing additional state enforcement legislation. Increased state enforcement of immigration laws by local law enforcement officers should be proportional to the need, avoid profiling, and respect the human rights and dignity of all persons. Special care should be given to preserving families and assuring humane treatment throughout the process.

15 Catholic Conference of Ohio 9 E Long St. Suite 201 Columbus, Ohio

16 Saint Mary Seminary and Graduate School of Theology presents the 2015 Mullen Lecture Rev. Joseph T. Lienhard, S.J. Professor of Theology Fordham University The Bronx New York Speaking on St. Augustine as Preacher Rev. Joseph T. Lienhard, S.J., earned his A.B. in Classics at Fordham University in 1964, and the following year earned his Ph.L., magna cum laude, from Woodstock College. After earning Master s Degrees in Classics from Fordham and in Theology from Woodstock, Fr. Lienhard moved on to the University of Freiburg where he earned his Dr. theol. in Fr. Lienhard taught at Marquette University in Milwaukee from 1975 until 1990 when he became Professor of Theology at Fordham where he teaches today, and serves as the Associate Chairman for Graduate Studies. He has taught at John Carroll University, Boston College, St. Joseph Seminary at Dunwoodie (where he is now an adjunct professor) and at the Gregorian University in Rome. Fr. Lienhard participates in many professional societies, having served as President of the Academy of Catholic Theology, as President of the North American Patristics Society, and for twenty years as a member of the Council of the Association international d études patristiques. He has provided editorial advice to eight professional journals or series of books, including Theological Studies, Augustinian Studies, and Paulist Press s Ancient Christian Writers series. He has won three different awards for excellence in teaching from three different institutions of higher learning. Fr. Lienhard has written more than 70 scholarly articles and has written, edited or translated many books, the latest of which is Splendors of the Creed in 2013 and his Commentary on Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy written in 2001 and which has been translated into Italian, Spanish, Chinese and Korean. Please come hear Fr. Lienhard s reflections on St. Augustine as Preacher. Sunday, November 15, 2015 at 7:30 p.m. in the Aula Magna Center for Pastoral Leadership Euclid Ave., Wickliffe, OH 44092