The annual Deacon Formation Retreat is a yearly highlight for the Diaconate community in the Diocese of Parramatta. The retreat was organised by Deacon George Bryan, the Director of Spiritual Formation for Deacons and is an integral part of the formation program for Deacons in the Diocese.
About the Diaconate
The Diocese of Parramatta has 16 Catholic Deacons, who are integral to the work of the Church.
Deacons are ministers of the Church, distinct from both the priesthood and the laity. They are ordained by a bishop and serve by proclaiming the Gospel; such as by preaching, distributing the Eucharist, baptising new Catholics, and assisting at weddings and funerals.
They may also be involved in various ministries, such as social justice work, prison ministry, and youth ministry.
Deacons may be married or single, have the full support of their spouse, family and their parish priest to pursue this vocation, and have completed a rigorous formation program before being ordained.
The Deacon Formation Retreat
The retreat began on the evening of Friday 9 November. There was a buzz in the air as Deacons and their wives and Deacon aspirants (i.e. trainee deacons) and their wives caught up with each other. Then they gathered to enter the dining room at St Joseph’s Retreat Centre in Norwest.
The retreat is principally designed as a formation event for Deacon aspirants and their wives. The annual event serves as a rich source of fellowship and spiritual renewal for many in the Diaconal community as Deacons and their wives participate in various sessions over the weekend between meeting their pastoral and family obligations.
This year’s theme
This year was a special treat. The presenter of the retreat was a Benedictine Monk from the monastery at Arcadia, Fr Bernard McGrath. The theme developed by Fr McGrath was ’Desert Dangers and Divine Disinterest’.
Fr Bernard began the retreat by showing a slide of a very early manuscript of a passage from Paul’s letter to the Thessalonians. The manuscript had three columns of Greek capital letters with no spaces or punctuation and no chapter and verse numbers. He pointed out that the reader of the text has the difficult task of discerning the words, phrase, sentences and paragraphs in the continuous lines and columns of Greek capital letters.
The art of translation from Ancient Greek and Hebrew to modern English is an exercise grounded in historical study, a deep knowledge of the original language and judgement calls made by scholars after back-and-forth options are discussed and thrashed out.
The task of translating our scriptures from the earliest texts to our contemporary bibles is not yet complete. In truth, the task will never be finished.
This is because both our understanding of the meaning of words in the ancient world becomes clearer through historical study and the meaning of English words changes through usage in time and culture.
Through this presentation the retreatants were reminded that we know something about God in and through Jesus as portrayed in the New Testament.
Ending of Luke and Beginning of John in Codex Vaticanus, manuscript of New Testament written on vellum in elegant uncial letters. Image: Wikimedia Commons
Ultimately though, God remains a mystery, and we are invited to enter into an ever-deeper relationship with God.
Rather than having a black and white idea or concept of God that we can be confident we understand, those present were being invited to think and pray like a monk.
In other sessions Fr Bernard used art, poetry, music and personal stories to creatively invite the retreatants into an exploration of early desert monastic spirituality with a particular emphasis on Australian desert.
In an optional session, Deacon Rod Pirrotta showed a film on the life of St Ignatuis of Loyola, to the men attending, while their wives gathered with the Director of Deacon Spouse Support, Mrs Ann O’Connor, to share, reflect and support each other.
Mass celebrated and new Acolytes installed
Bishop Vincent Long OMF Conv celebrated Mass on the Saturday evening, which saw Steve Middleton, Michael Blair and Tony McMahon installed as Acolytes. The installation is a significant step in the formation process towards being ordained as a Deacon.
The retreat concluded with an integration exercise through which, first individually, then in pairs and then in the context of a group, all the retreat participants were encouraged to reflect on the presentations, table conversations, times of silent prayer, Mass and the regular practice of morning and evening prayer together.
All present reported that the retreat was a rewarding, enriching and a vocationally enhancing experience.
Interested in becoming a Deacon?
Want to learn more about becoming a Catholic Deacon with the Diocese of Parramatta? Please contact our Permanent Diaconate team via the Diocese’s website.
