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DIACONATE PROFILES 2008
Stephen Allan Booth
Stephen’s parish is Holy Spirit, Barrie, Ontario.
Interests: Steve loves reading, music, tennis, and spending time with family.
Possible Area of Ministry: Steve is currently ministering in the Critical Care & Emergency departments of the Royal Victoria Hospital in Barrie. He plans to continue ministering there after ordination-if that is where the Lord calls him to serve.
Favourite saint: Steve's favourite saint is Jude. He recalls his mother praying Novenas to St. Jude when he was only a child. It wasn't long before he was following after her example. Whenever he needed help-desperate help- he'd invoke St. Jude. The Letter of Jude encourages the faithful to persevere through harsh and difficult circumstances, as did our forefathers.
"But you, my dear friends, must build yourselves up on the foundation of your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit; keep yourselves within the love of God and wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to give you eternal life. To some you must be compassionate because they are wavering; others you must save by snatching them from the fire; to others again you must be compassionate but wary, hating even the tunic stained by their bodies. To him who can keep you from falling and bring you safe to his glorious presence, innocent and joyful, to the only God, our Saviour, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, authority and power, before all ages, now and for ever. Amen." (Jude, 20-24)
Words of Wisdom: “Remember, when you look into someone's eyes and you are trying to find Christ in them, they may be the very same people who are looking into your eyes and struggling to find Christ in you.”
Kevin Grandy
Kevin’s parish is St. Domenic's, Mississauga, Ontario.
Interests: Kevin enjoys cycling and wind surfing.
Possible Area of Ministry: Kevin plans on working with the poor in the community, with the hope of becoming their advocate and voice.
Favourite Saint: Kevin's favourite "saint" is not yet a saint. He refers, of course, to Mother Teresa of Calcutta. He has been deeply inspired by her love of the poor, as well as by her struggles with suffering and darkness, in particular the dark night of faith.
Words of Wisdom: "The fullness of our heart comes in our actions: how I treat that leper, how I treat that dying person, how I treat the homeless. Sometimes it is more difficult to work with the street people than with the people in our homes for the dying because the dying are peaceful and waiting; they are ready to go to God. You can touch the sick and believe, or you can touch the leper and believe, that it is the body of Christ you are touching, but it is much more difficult when these people are drunk or shouting to think that this is Jesus in that distressing disguise. How clean and loving our hands must be to be able to bring that compassion to them!" Mother Teresa of Calcutta
George Jurenas
George’s parish is St. Joseph’s, Streetsville, Ontario.
Interests: George likes fishing retreats, cooking, and he's a history buff.
Possible Area of Ministry: Hospital Ministry/Palliative Care.
Favourite Saint: George's favourite saint is Jude, patron saint of lost causes and desperate cases. He's prayed for his intercession all throughout his life, and he is convinced that St. Jude has helped him through the deaconate program, as well as in his hospital ministry, working with the critically and terminally ill, bringing hope and comfort to those who feel abandoned.
Words of Wisdom: "We who are strong in faith should be patient with the scruples of those whose faith is weak; we must not be selfish. Each should please his neighbour so as to do him good by building up his spirit. Thus in accord with Scripture, Christ did not please himself: “The reproaches they uttered against you fell on me.” Everything written before our time was written for our instruction, that we might derive hope from the lessons of patience and the words of encouragement, to enable you to live in perfect harmony with one another according to the spirit of Christ Jesus, so that with one heart and voice you may glorify God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ" (Romans 15, 1-6).
David Langley
David’s parish is Holy Martyrs of Japan, Bradford, Ontario.
Interests: Dave likes traveling and seeing the world, ironing his shirts, having a meal at the Crow's Nest with Doug, and he spends a lot of time volunteering at Municipal events, such as the Santa Claus Parade and the like. He also loves listening to Irish music.
Possible Area of Ministry: Southlake Regional Health Centre, Newmarket.
Favourite Saint: Dave's favourite saint is Therese of the Child Jesus. She lived a hidden life of prayer, and she was gifted with great intimacy with God. Through sickness and darkness, she remained faithful. She described her life as "a little way of spiritual childhood." She lived each day with unshakable confidence in God's love. What matters in life is "not great deeds, but great love". She wrote: "My mission - to make God loved - will begin after my death." She said. " I will spend my heaven doing good on earth. I will let fall a shower of roses."
Words of Wisdom: "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age." (Mt 28, 19-20).
Doug McManaman
Doug’s parish is Our Lady of Grace, Aurora, Ontario.
Interests: Writing, painting, and playing the Irish whistle.
Possible Area of Ministry: Doug is currently working with patients in the mental health unit of Southlake Regional Health Centre in Newmarket.
Favourite Saint: Don Bosco’s love for the young has always been an inspiration, as well as the personality and character of the Cure of Ars, St. Catherine of Siena, not to mention the life of St. Anthony of the Desert. But in recent years, the example and almost incomprehensible fortitude of St. Jean de Brebeuf has become a source of tremendous inspiration.
Words of Wisdom: "You are mistaken, my friend, if you think that a man who is worth anything ought to spend his time weighing up the prospects of life and death. He has only one thing to consider in performing any action-that is, whether he is acting rightly or wrongly, like a good man or a bad one." Socrates of Athens
Bill Radigan
Bill’s parish is Holy Spirit, Scarborough, Ontario.
Interest: Bill likes to play golf and tennis, he likes cycling, birds, and camping. He is also keenly interested in the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, and he is a Secular Franciscan.
Possible Area of Ministry: Bill will likely work within the criminal justice system. He would like to work with the families of offenders, as well as offenders themselves, helping them to re-integrate after their incarceration.
Favourite saint: It should come as no surprise that Bill's favourite saint is Francis of Assisi. He admires his humility, simplicity, and the tremendous joy he discovered in every aspect of living, even suffering. Bill has been particularly inspired by Francis' enormous love for God and all of His creation.
Words of Wisdom: It is not so important that we do great things, but rather that we do small things with great love.
Anthony Teresi
Anthony’s parish is St. Lawrence Martyr, Scarborough, Ontario.
Interests: Anthony enjoys spending time with his wife Marie, their four children (and spouses) and their wonderful grandchildren. He takes pleasure in reading all of the works of Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen, keeping informed of the world's current events via EWTN and Salt & Light as well as listening to his youngest daughter Mary's singing and piano playing.
Possible Area of Ministry: Possible Area of Ministry: Anthony is currently a hospital chaplain at Rouge Valley Centenary Hospital. He hopes to continue in this line of ministry as he feels a strong calling to minister to those who are hospitalized and to be a companion to them along their journey.
Favourite Saint: Anthony's favourite saint is Saint Anthony of Padua because he was a great preacher, an accomplished orator, and he was filled with a zeal for souls.
Words of Wisdom: "Have no fear of moving into the unknown. Simply step out fearlessly knowing that I am with you, therefore no harm can befall you; all is very, very well. Do this in complete faith and confidence." Pope John Paul II
Jan Sirek
Jan’s parish is St. Mary of the Assumption, Huntsville, Ontario .
Interests: Jan enjoys building. In fact, he general contracted his own house and did much of the work himself. He enjoys ATVs, snowmobiles, and power boats. He also likes canoeing, hiking and fishing. In his world there are no bugs and it never rains. He enjoys just about any part of life in the north.
Possible Area of Ministry: Jan is currently visiting the elderly who reside at the Huntsville Hospital . He would like to extend this ministry to some of the other retirement homes in the area. He is also on the Board of Directors of Hospice Huntsville who, with funding and support from the Local Health Integration Network (LHIN) of the Provincial Government, are building a facility in the Huntsville area. He sees Palliative care as an opportunity for ministry as the Hospice takes shape.
Favourite Saint: Jan's favourite saint is Mother Teresa. Originally, Jan had little interest in her, but one day, by accident, he was flipping through channels and stumbled upon an interview with Mother Teresa. Something about her struck him like cupid's arrow. Jan believes that her wisdom, attitude, and life are authentic echoes of what Christ is calling for in all of us.
Words of Wisdom: Our Lord has given each of us a set of talents and a mission to grow and develop these talents. Through prayer and contemplation, we can come to recognize our gifts. We must use them, no matter how great or small, for the good of our brothers. Mother Teresa said that no matter what our stature is in life, we must rejoice in that stature for the glory of God. Life is good; Live it!
Barry Wood
Barry’s parish is Merciful Redeemer, Mississauga, Ontario.
Interests: One of Barry's favourite sports is golf. In the winter, he likes curling. He is also a serious bridge player and plans to play more with new friends and acquaintances when his studies are completed. He also likes listening to classical music with his wife, especially after an busy day at work.
Possible Area of Ministry: Barry is very excited at the prospects of bringing a Catholic presence to the Maplehurst Correctional Complex. For his practicum, Barry worked with men awaiting trial. He believes that many of these men have a sincere desire to know the love of God, to explore their faith in the reading of the scriptures and to pray, and Barry looks forward to accompanying them on this journey.
Favourite saint: St. Augustine is Barry's favourite saint. What inspired him was Augustine's search for God, his understanding of faith, as well as Augustine's ability to express difficult ideas simply and clearly.
Prayer of St. Augustine
Lord, let my whole heart be inflamed
with love for you; let nothing in me belong to me
and let me have no thought for myself; let me burn
and be wholly consumed in you; let me love you with my whole being as one set on fire by you.
Words of Wisdom: "What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister has nothing to wear and has no food for the day, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, keep warm, and eat well,” but you do not give them the necessities of the body, what good is it? So also faith of itself, if it does not have works, is dead." (Ja 2: 14-17)
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