A longer post than usual: three recent Ottawa ordinations to the diaconate: two candidates for the Priesthood and one Permanent Deacon.
Ce blogue est un peut long: deux ordinations diaconales de Candidats au sacerdoce et une personne au Diaconat permanent en dix jours:
Diaconal Ordination of Richard
Lorenz at St Martin de Porres Parish, Bells Corners, ON [Anticipated] Fourth
Sunday of Advent (Year “B”)–December 20, 2014
[Texts: 2 Samuel 7.1-5, 8b-12,
14a, 16 (Psalm 89 [88]); Romans 16.25-27; Luke 1.26-38]
Dear Brothers and Sisters in
Christ,
Advent and the Christmas season dwell on God’s plan to bring salvation,
joy and peace to all humanity. But the unfolding of God's saving plan takes
place in an unassuming a manner, much like
God's surprising decision to take David from pasturing sheep to
shepherding Israel. Or calling Rick Lorenz to be a deacon and priest.
From Luke's narrative of the Annunciation, we get the impression of
God's eye sweeping over the world until it lighted on a tiny village in
Galilee, Nazareth, and focused in on a virgin engaged to a man named Joseph,
who, we are told simply, was “of the house of David”. In the rhythm of the text, we can sense the
angel coming to Mary in a meeting that was both awesome and transforming.
Mary—as with many others called by God—experienced confusion and
fear. The angelic reassurance
immediately led to Gabriel's revelation of God's purpose: “you will conceive in
your womb and bear a son, and you will name him Jesus”.
God's design was to fulfil the promise to David in a way scarcely
imaginable. The child this country girl
is to bear “will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the
Lord God will give to him the throne of his ancestor David”. God's promise to David would come about not
by means of an earthly, political reign but in a spiritual dominion without
end.
Mary's reply recalls Zechariah's question that we heard yesterday when
the gospel announced the birth of John the Baptist. Whereas his response suggested doubt
regarding God's plan, Mary's query was guileless and fully in keeping with
faith in God. She declared simply that
she had not had sexual relations with a man.
The angel Gabriel —equally straightforwardly—replied that her child
would be begotten through the Holy Spirit's overshadowing.
Mary's reply manifests the classic expression of trust in all that God
might ask of a creature, “Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me
according to your word” (1.38). It models for us a way to respond when God
calls us to some special task as is the case with our brother in Christ, Rick
Lorenz, this evening.
Gabriel offered Mary a profound sign of God's activity in the world, the
joy of her relative Elizabeth, who, though formerly barren, had also conceived
a son. It is such gospel joy that Pope
Francis stresses in his first major writing, Evangelii gaudium. His
Apostolic Exhortation opens with the following words, “The joy of the gospel
fills the hearts and lives of all who encounter Jesus. Those who accept his
offer of salvation are set free from sin, sorrow, inner emptiness and
loneliness”.
In this present period of our
life of the Church under the leadership of Pope Francis, every Christian, but
particularly anyone called to Holy Orders or consecrated life, is being invited
to taste this joy again, or perhaps for the first time, so as to be able to
share it with those who hunger and thirst for what a meeting with Christ can
bring them.
The Holy Father goes on to say,
“I invite all Christians, everywhere, at this very moment, to a renewed
personal encounter with Jesus Christ, or at least an openness to letting him
encounter them… the Lord does not disappoint those who take this risk; whenever
we take a step towards Jesus, we come to realize that he is already there,
waiting for us with open arms” (EG,
#3). Isn’t that what we would want for every person who comes through the doors
of our churches this Christmas season? And, if they did experience this gospel
joy, what a great grace it would be to them and to our church family here in
the Archdiocese of Ottawa!
Beloved brothers and sisters:
this man, Richard Lorenz, our son who is your relative and friend, is now to be
advanced to the Order of Deacons.
In this ordination rite, our brother in the Lord will receive an
outpouring of the Spirit of God to enable him to serve God's people in diaconal
(and later on, priestly) ministry. He
should be fully convinced that, no matter what eloquence or learning may be his
from his studies at prior to and at, St. Augustine’s Seminary (and we are
grateful for that learning), the power of his ministry to touch people's lives
derives from the Holy Spirit at work in the proclamation of Jesus.
This holds true whether his ministry leads him to play guitar at praise
and worship with the poor who frequent the shelters of Ottawa’s Shepherds of
Good Hope, cover for a padre during the Christmas break in Alert, Canada’s
military post closest to the North Pole, attend the pilgrims at Lac Sainte
Anne, Alberta or engage school age students and visit the home-bound elderly as
a pastoral intern here at St. Martin de Porres parish.
A deacon needs to keep ever in mind that it is Christ's Word of Truth that
transforms doubting, hurting and needy men, women and children who open
themselves to his message and gift of the Kingdom into salt for our earth,
light for our world. Rick's task, as
deacon and future priest, will be to help all God's children let their light
shine before others and give glory to God in Heaven.
Strengthened by the gift of the
Holy Spirit in ordination, this man will help the Bishop and his priests in the
ministry of the word, of the altar, and of charity. He will be a servant to
all. As a minister of the altar, he will proclaim the Gospel and its message of
compassion and hope. He will prepare the altar for the Lord’s sacrifice, and
distribute the Lord’s Body and Blood to the faithful.
In addition, it will be his duty,
at the Bishop’s direction, to exhort believers and unbelievers alike. He will
instruct them in holy doctrine. He will preside over public prayer, administer
Baptism, assist at and bless Marriages, bring Viaticum to the dying, and
conduct funeral rites.
Consecrated by the laying on of
hands that comes down to us from the Apostles, he will perform works of charity
in the name of the Bishop or the pastor. With the help of God, his labours will
give public testimony of being a disciple of the Lord who came not to be
served, but to serve.
As Deacon, my son, do the will of
God from your heart. Serve the people in love and joy as you would the Lord.
Because no one can serve two masters, look upon all defilement and avarice as
serving false gods.
Like those chosen by the Apostles
for the ministry of charity, you should be a man of good reputation, filled
with wisdom and the Holy Spirit. See your ministry of caring for the poor and
needy as an extension of God’s compassionate mercy.
Firmly rooted and grounded in
faith, you are to show yourself chaste and beyond reproach before God and man,
as is proper for a steward of God’s mysteries.
Never allow opposition to turn
you away from the hope offered by the Gospel. Now you are not only a hearer of
this Gospel but also its minister. Express by your actions the word of God that
your lips proclaim, so that the Christian people, brought to life by the
Spirit, may be a pure offering accepted by God.
Then on the last day, when you
meet the Lord face to face, he will say, “Well done, good and faithful servant,
enter into the joy of your Lord.”
* * * * *
Ordination au Diaconat permanent de Joseph Elivert—Fête de la Sainte
Famille (Année «B»)—le 28 décembre 2014—Église du Sacré-Cœur, Ottawa
[Textes: Genèse 15, 1-6; 21, 1-3 [Psaume 104 (105)]; Hébreux 11, 8, 11-12,
17-19; Luc 2, 22-40]
La Parole de Dieu en ce dimanche de la Sainte Famille de Jésus, Marie et
Joseph nous invitent à apprécier l’Histoire du Salut depuis les débuts du
peuple juif jusqu’à son accomplissement avec la venue du Messie.
L’alliance de Dieu avec ses enfants est faite avec ce que nous sommes et
avec ce que nous avons de bon à donner. La postérité peut, bien sûr, se voir
dans les enfants comme nous le rappelle l’Écriture en ce jour… par ailleurs,
elle se laisse deviner dans les actions simples du quotidien d’attention, de tendresse, d’accueil et de
respect, qui traduisent l’offrande de ce que nous avons de meilleur. L’alliance
a donc pour but de prendre ce que nous sommes prêts à donner (parfois même au
prix de sacrifices) et de le mettre en partage avec Dieu pour que celui-ci le
fructifie au centuple.
Tout ce que je viens de dire, est certainement vrai pour l’ensemble des
disciples du Christ, mais je pense aujourd’hui particulièrement, à Joseph qui
va être ordonné diacre. Une ordination n’est pas
un rite conclusif venant marquer la fin d’une période d’initiation,
période qui fut, pour toi Joseph, assez longue... Elle est fondamentalement un
événement spirituel, une rencontre avec le Seigneur. Dans la célébration de
l’ordination, l’Église présente à Dieu un homme pour qu’il en fasse un évêque,
un prêtre ou un diacre, mais en accomplissant cela, l’Église s’en remet à Dieu
et s’efface devant l’action de l’Esprit Saint.
La Bonne Nouvelle de ce dimanche
parle de l’Esprit Saint…
Que serions-nous sans l’Esprit du Seigneur ?
Quelle parole pourrions-nous annoncer sans l’Esprit du Seigneur ?
Quel service arriverions-nous à accomplir sans l’Esprit d’amour ?
Nous ne pouvons donner que ce que nous avons d’abord reçu, et cela fait
de nous des êtres de gratitude et de partage, d’humilité et de joie.
En cette fête de la Sainte Famille l’évangile nous rappelle que nous
devons, nous laisser conduire par l’Esprit Saint.
Ce n’est pas par hasard, que saint Luc, par trois fois, souligne la
présence de l’Esprit Saint dans le milieu qui entoure Jésus, et le reconnaît.
Le trait le plus caractéristique de Syméon, c’est bien l’intimité qui existe
entre Lui et l’Esprit de Dieu : « l’Esprit
repose sur lui », « l’Esprit
Saint lui a révélé » qu’il verrait le Messie, « l’Esprit (encore) a guidé ses pas vers le temple ».On a presque l’impression
d’être dans une page des Actes des Apôtres, où l’Esprit vient sur les disciples
de Jésus pour leur donner de « reconnaitre et de proclamer » le
Seigneur ressuscité.
Dans quelques instants, Joseph, je vais t’imposer les mains. Tu vas être
ordonné diacre. Cette ordination n’est pas un hasard, ni un instant magique, ni
le résultat d’une ambition personnelle : c’est l’œuvre de l’Esprit de Dieu dans
ta vie, le don de la grâce divine à une communauté croyante.
Joseph, on ne fait pas le diacre. On est diacre. Le diacre est
configuré au Christ serviteur. Il est la présence sacramentelle du Christ
serviteur au milieu de nous. Oui, le diacre est l’homme du service. La prière
d’ordination le confirme: « Que le diacre
fasse preuve d’une charité sincère, qu’il prenne soin des malades et des
pauvres et qu’il s’efforce de vivre selon l’Esprit Saint ».
Pour comprendre le diaconat, il ne faut pas partir de ce que fait le
diacre. Il peut faire des choses, très diverses selon les charismes personnels,
les besoins de la mission, les étapes de la vie. Il faut partir de ce qu’il
est : présence sacramentelle du Christ serviteur. Autrement dit, ce n’est
pas quelqu’un qui serait plus serviable que les autres ou plus généreux, ou
plus disponible.
Quand on se situe uniquement dans le faire, on se place dans
des questions d’organisation du religieux.
L’Église n’est pas une organisation du système du religieux. Elle est Mystère
d’Amour, voulue par Dieu pour le Salut du monde. Sa raison d’être est de
permettre à l’être humain de goûter l’amour de Dieu révélé dans le Christ.
Le thème de l’Année pastorale nous rappelle ce qu’est vraiment
l’Église : Nous sommes de la famille
de Dieu : l’Amour est notre mission. «Quiconque fait la volonté de Dieu,
celui-là est mon frère, ma sœur, ma mère…» (Marc 3,35)
En ces jours de Noël, nous nous rappelons les Noëls que nous avons
vécus. Nous nous rappelons les moments de joie et les moments qui ont été,
peut-être, un peu plus difficiles. Partout, toujours, Dieu est là et nous
accompagne – dans nos joies et nos tristesses. C’est ce qui nous permet de
continuer notre route et de passer à
travers les difficultés que nous rencontrons. Nous savons que Dieu est toujours
là avec nous.
La grande famille de Dieu est composée d’une multitude de
familles : il y en a qui se portent bien; il y en a qui connaissent des
difficultés, des ruptures; il y en a qui connaissent la joie et d’autres qui
sont dans la tristesse; il y a des familles traditionnelles et des familles
recomposées. Toutes ces familles font partie de la grande famille de Dieu.
Toutes ces familles cherchent à combler le besoin d’amour de chacun de leurs
membres.
La fête de la Sainte Famille, avec l’évangile de la Présentation du Seigneur au temple…nous rappelle aussi les liens
étroits qui unissent les générations, jeunes et moins jeunes. Nous le savons la
communauté haïtienne est particulièrement sensible à cette réalité… Vous êtes
un bel exemple pour nous!
Puisse le Seigneur bénir chacune de nos familles en ce temps de Noël.
Puisse la Nativité du Seigneur nous apporter guérison, paix et consolation.
Gardons la Sainte Famille comme modèle et prions pour l’Église répandue
par toute la terre, qui s’apprête à se réunir de nouveau en synode sur la
famille à Rome en octobre prochain.
Joseph, au moment où tu accèdes librement à l’ordre du diaconat, il
faut, comme les disciples choisis par les Apôtres pour le ministère de la
charité, que tu cherches à être toujours un homme estimé de tous, rempli
d’Esprit Saint et de sagesse.
Enraciné et fondé dans la foi, montre-toi pur et sans reproche devant
Dieu et toute personne, comme il convient à un serviteur du Christ et à un
intendant des mystères de Dieu; ne te laisse pas détourner de l’espérance de
l’Évangile dont tu seras non seulement l’auditeur mais aussi le ministre.
En ces jours de Noël, en ce jour de ton ordination diaconale, je
t’invite, Joseph, à la joie, à la confiance et à la simplicité du cœur avec ta
famille et tous ceux et celles que le Seigneur, mettra sur ta route.
Chers frères et sœurs, que l’ordination de notre frère Joseph
aujourd’hui soit aussi pour nous une invitation à répondre à l’appel de Dieu.
Comme nous le rappelle le pape François : « La joie de l’Évangile remplit le cœur et
toute la vie de ceux qui rencontrent Jésus. Ceux qui se laissent sauver par lui
sont libérés du péché, de la tristesse, du vide intérieur, de l’isolement. Avec
Jésus Christ la joie naît et renaît toujours » Evangelli Gaudium No.1.
* * * * *
Diaconal Ordination of Gerard Plant at Holy
Redeemer Parish, Kanata, ON
Friday of the Third Week of Advent–December 19,
2014
[Texts: Judges 13.2-7, 24-25a (Psalm 70); Acts
6.1-7b; Luke 1.5-25]
All of the
Scriptures speak to us of how extraordinary interventions from God break into
the daily events of ordinary human lives. These divine initiatives set in
motion life-changing experiences.
In the second
reading, we heard of the Spirit’s election of seven men of good repute to be
consecrated in order to care for the needs of God’s people in the Church of
Jerusalem. This created the office that we have come to call the “diaconate”, a
work of charity that worked closely early on with the ministry of the apostles.
Over time, the
diaconal office or order took on various shapes and forms until it evolved in
our time and by command of the Second Vatican Council in such a way that
“deacons” have come again in our time to serve as the right hand men of Bishops,
responding to every kind of need, material and spiritual.
Deacons serve
prisoners, the homebound sick and elderly, and children and single-parents who
are at risk because of poverty. In our
diocese, deacons have been involved in shelters operated by the Shepherds of
Good Hope, in planning the closing ceremonies of Canada’s Truth and
Reconciliation process, in school chaplaincy, Native Ministry and so much more.
Gerard you are being associated with wonderful men and their wives who share in
their selfless dedication.
Moreover, in this
year that sees the Universal Church grapple with the Pastoral Challenges facing
the family in the context of the New Evangelization by means of two synods on
the Family in Rome as well as in the World Meeting of Families to be held in
Philadelphia, the Scriptures also draw our attention to the piety and openness
to God’s will found in two Jewish families: the parents-to-be of Samson in the
Book of Judges and the parents-to-be of John the Baptist in the opening scene
of the Gospel of Luke situated in the Jerusalem Temple. We won’t push this too
much, Gerard, but both of these longed-for sons died violently, zealous for
God’s glory and the truth of the gospel of life.
I mention the
influence of family in the life of some who discern a call from God because of
a remark Gerard made in the brief account of his vocation that I asked him for
so I could prepare for this occasion. He
said that “my life story is a little long, so if I were to simply say a few
words it would be that my journey thus far has been filled with many ups and
downs and of course many travels. But before I get into that, I would just
first like to say, that if it was not for my parents and their living faith in
God, there is a good chance I would not be standing here today.” So thank you
to Gerard’s parents who were instrumental in his accepting the call that has
brought him to the commitment he is to make tonight.
I think it would
not be inappropriate for me to note that getting to this consecration by the laying
on of hands took Gerard some time, as he first approached the Ottawa
archdiocesan vocation director in 2004, but entering seminary was put off at
that time. We spoke about the
priesthood, Gerard and I, shortly after my arrival in 2007, but it was only in
2009 that he felt ready (with some fear and trembling even then) to enter St.
Augustine’s Seminary. With a touch of delighted surprise he now observes about
of this step, “Lo and behold the seminary actually accepted a rough neck like
me—God is good. This journey that has taken me from the streets of Vanier to
the great walls of St Augustine is incredible to look back on. After having
answered the call, I now sit here, on the verge of being ordained to the
transitional deaconate. Wow. What a journey!” And a final remark he makes
is this, “God calls His servants to do His work, not because He needs them, but
because it is the best thing for them”….
Perhaps there are some men—young and a bit
older—who are also hesitant to say yes to the Lord’s call. We are ready to
patiently accompany you—ask any of the priests here tonight to share with you
their journey and you share yours with them.
We have great need for zealous priests here in the Archdiocese and we
would be pleased to journey with you in prayer, conversation, good humour and
the joy of the gospel to see what God is asking of you and how you might accept
a call, whatever state of life it may be. Please, everyone, pray for vocations
to the priesthood.
Beloved brothers and sisters: this man Gerard Plant,
our son who is your relative and friend, is now to be advanced to the Order of
Deacons.
In the Book of Numbers, we learn that Moses
appointed Levites to assist in the devotional life of God’s holy people. The
role of Levites, as is the case with deacons, was to assist the priests and to
perform duties for Aaron the high priest and for the whole assembly. They were,
in effect, to help the people have access to God’s sanctuary. But they were
also to set boundaries between the sanctuary and the camp, and to teach
distinctions between virtue and sin to keep God’s people out of harm’s way. You
see, there is an order and harmony in the design of God’s creation.
If proper teaching and practice are not instilled,
then life and goodness suffer. Chaos and death ensue. But we must recall that
such precepts flow from the encounter with Christ [not before it], just
as it did for the people of Israel following their encounter with the living
God and for the seven men mentioned in the Acts of the Apostles.
Strengthened by the gift of the Holy Spirit, this
man will help the Bishop and his priests in the ministry of the word, of the
altar, and of charity. He will be a servant to all. As a minister of the altar,
he will proclaim the Gospel and its message of compassion and hope, prepare the
sacrifice, and distribute the Lord’s Body and Blood to the faithful.
In addition, it will be his duty, at the Ordinary’s
direction, to exhort believers and unbelievers alike. He will instruct them in
holy doctrine. He will preside over public prayer, administer Baptism, assist
at and bless Marriages, bring Viaticum to the dying, and conduct funeral rites.
Consecrated by the laying on of hands that comes
down to us from the Apostles, he will perform works of charity in the name of
the Bishop or the pastor. With the help of God, his labours will give public
testimony of being a disciple of the Lord who came not to be served, but to
serve.
As a Deacon, my son, do the will of God from your
heart. Serve the people in love and joy as you would the Lord. Because no one
can serve two masters, look upon all defilement and avarice as serving false
gods.
Like those chosen by the Apostles for the ministry
of charity, you should be a man of good reputation, filled with wisdom and the
Holy Spirit. Consider your ministry of caring for the poor and needy as an
extension of God’s compassionate mercy. God withdraws from caring for the poor
so that we can do so.
Pope St. Leo the Great marvelously described how
this takes place: “there is nothing more worthy of man than that he become an
imitator of his Creator and...the executor of the divine plan. For when the
hungry are fed, the naked are clothed and the sick are strengthened–is this not
the divine assistance that the hand of the minister accomplishes, and is not
the goodness of the servant the hand of the Lord at work? For when God finds a
helper to realize his merciful touch, he so limits his omnipotence, that he
alleviates the sufferings of man through the actions of men.”
As Pope Francis does so often, having proclaimed
his desire that the Church be “of the poor” and “for the poor,” I urge you,
Gerard, to be daring and invite other disciples to enter into this outreach to
the poor with you.
Firmly rooted and grounded in faith, you are to
show yourself chaste and beyond reproach before God and man, as is proper for
stewards of God’s mysteries.
Never allow opposition to turn you away from the
hope offered by the Gospel. Now you are not only a hearer of this Gospel but
also its minister. Express by your actions the word of God that your lips
proclaim, so that the Christian people, brought to life by the Spirit, may be a
pure offering accepted by God.
Then on the last day, when you meet the Lord face
to face, he will say, “Well done, good and faithful servant, enter into the joy
of your Lord.”
.JPG)
.JPG)
.JPG)
.JPG)
.JPG)
.JPG)
.JPG)
.JPG)
