CT/E.L. HUBBARD

Deacons attend Mass at Our Lady of Good Hope Church during the reunion.

Deacons celebrate silver anniversary

By Mary Knapke

DAYTON DEANERY — Conversation and laughter filled Our Lady of Good Hope Church in Miamisburg July 3 as the permanent deacon class of 1982 reunited to celebrate their silver anniversary on the Feast of St. Thomas.

Father Thomas Axe, director of the Office of the Diaconate at the time of the jubilarians’ ordination, concelebrated Mass with Father Tom Nevels, pastor of Our Lady of Good Hope. They were assisted by Deacon Bob Zinck, a member of the class of 1982.

Fifteen deacons were ordained at the Cathedral of St. Peter in Chains on July 3, 1982, by then-Archbishop of Cincinnati Joseph Bernardin. It was the last group of deacons Archbishop Bernardin ordained in Cincinnati, as he was appointed Archbishop of Chicago a week later.

Four of the deacons from the 1982 class have passed away, but most of those remaining were able to attend the anniversary Mass. An additional deacon, Robert Perry, who was ordained the same year outside the archdiocese, was also on hand. The Mass was an intimate gathering of the jubilarians who were able to travel to Miamisburg with their wives or other family members.

Deacon Alan Arber and his wife, Evelyn, have been parishioners at St. Henry in Dayton for 41 years. Although he is retired as a deacon, he said he stays active in the parish by holding Communion services, assisting at funerals, presiding at baptisms when needed, visiting nursing homes "and whatever else they ask me to do."

"It’s a real pleasure to serve the Lord’s people," he said.

Father Axe, now retired, said he enjoyed working with the group during their time in the diaconate program.

"They were so dedicated," he said. "The diaconate program is a challenge, and they really gave a lot."

Barry Mersmann, current director of the Diaconate Office, said some bishops across the country have said that a parish is incomplete without a deacon. Working as a team with a parish’s pastor, the deacon shows leadership in word, worship and charity by proclaiming and living the Gospel; assisting at Mass and presiding at baptisms, weddings and funerals; and helping people in times of need.

Mersmann expressed appreciation not only for the deacons’ service to the church, but also for the service of their wives and families.

The role of a deacon’s wife is "a supportive one. Deacons are going to be away from home a lot. Their wives have to be willing to support them in their ministry," he said, adding that most of the deacons in the archdiocese are married.

Jan Martin, the wife of Deacon Rick Martin at Our Lady of Good Hope, agreed that the diaconate ministry "becomes part of your marriage."

"I’m not the deacon, but I need to understand he might get a call in the middle of the night," she said, adding that her husband’s presence in the community is a key element of his ministry. Not yet retired, he has been approached by people who wish to discuss a variety of personal concerns.

"That’s really the point of being a deacon," she said. "Besides assisting at Mass, a deacon is out and visible within the community. They’re able to share their ministry out in the workforce and go out into the world to serve."

In his homily, Father Axe said the anniversary’s celebration on the Feast of St. Thomas was an appropriate reminder of the complexity of the call to service of Jesus. He described the apostles as having an intimate relationship with Jesus, spirits set on fire by the Spirit, and sinful natures characterized by compassion that drove the men in their love for others.

Likewise, "if a book were to be written about the past 25 years of this group, it would be filled with stories about intimacy with Jesus, the inspiration of the Spirit, and the compassion we have for others," he said.

Father Nevels said he enjoyed being part of the celebration and called all deacons "a blessing for the priest and the parish. It’s good to have people who are committed to the church."

Deacon Bob Zinck, from the Church of the Incarnation in Centerville, said the part of his ministry he most enjoys is presiding at baptisms. Retired from the University of Dayton, he now serves full time at Incarnation and is active in a variety of roles there.

"We’re glad as many of us can get together as are able," he said.

The 1982 class was the third diaconate group to be ordained at the Athenaeum of Ohio, and "we had the best class of them all," Deacon Zinck said, smiling. "It was the best."