As in years past, deacons are encouraged to share news of parish presentations or adult education opportunities that might be of interest to their brother deacons for the purpose of continuing education/formation.

The Director of Deacons:

Deacon John Sicilia, Director of Deacons, was detained at his parish ministry this morning. He will be circulating a packet of information to the deacons within the near future.

Concerns of other members:

Deacon Dudinsky wondered if there might be a way for deacons to share ideas for preaching resources – books or other things that they find helpful in preparing homilies.

Jeannette Barrow suggested the deacon community look into a Listserv option for communicating with one another. Essentially, a Listserv would be a very limited e-mail system for the diocese’s deacon community.

Can we look at the ways we communicate? Not everyone uses e-mail; postal mail, however, can be somewhat slow, in times of notifications for funerals, for instance, or sickness. On the other hand, some deacons don’t particularly want news of their illness or infirmity shared with the larger community.

As Bishop Skylstad nears his retirement date, what would be an appropriate gesture on the part of the deacon community, to honor him for his dedication to the diocese and to our ministry?

Whatever happened to the Deacon Newsletter? Alas, it died a lonely, lonely death, over a year ago. Mourning was subdued, at best.

There being no further business, it was moved and seconded that the meeting be adjourned. The motion passed unanimously.

The meeting concluded, with prayer, at approximately 10:42 a.m.

The next meetings of the Deacon Council:

June 14, 2008
October 4, 2008
January 10, 2009

Locations to be announced later.

Respectfully submitted,

Deacon Eric Meisfjord
Chairman, Deacon Council
In the stead of Deacon Scott Brockway,
Vice-Chairman/Secretary