Catholic Diocese of Spokane, Washington
Office of the Permanent Diaconate

Members of the Deacon Council:
Present: Deacon John Sicilia (ex officio); Deacon John Ruscheinsky, chairman; Deacon Eric Meisfjord, vice-chairman/secretary; Carol Dahl; Deacon Scott Brockway
Absent: Deacons Ken Dunlap and Dave Dudinsky; Jeannie Toulou
Guests: Bishop William S. Skylstad, and Deacons Roy Dahl, Bob Kalinowski, and Jim Ball

The meeting began with prayer at approximately 6:34 p.m.

Election of Officers:

Postponed until the January meeting.

Continuing Formation/Education opportunities outside the Spokane metro area:

Deacon Jim Barrow of Walla Walla has indicated willingness to coordinate formation/education opportunities for deacons in the southern region of the diocese. Deacon John Sicilia will contact Deacon Barrow to encourage him in this work. There will be coordination with the Spokane education/formation opportunities as well; perhaps parallel tracks. It is expected that in the near future, there will be a requirement for a minimum number of hours per year of continuing education/formation for deacons.

Revision of the Diocesan Policy Manual for Deacons:

Deacon Roy Dahl has been working for some time on revising the diocesan manual. He acknowledged that what already exists is “very good.” His research has included acquiring and comparing the deacon policy manuals other Sees, He asked if the Council would support an effort to re-write and re-structure the Spokane Diocese’s policy manual, matching it more closely with the recently published National Directives. The Council does support that effort. One aspect of the National Directives calls for dioceses to have their own particular policy manuals; the National Directives do not suffice in this regard. Deacon John Ruscheinsky will appoint an ad-hoc committee to work with Deacon Dahl on the revision, and will touch base with Deacon Dahl in the near future to begin that process.

Bishop Skylstad recommended that the committee’s work include additional checking with other dioceses regarding their own efforts in this regard. He also suggested it would be most helpful to have a priest theologian as a member of the committee. “Do the work carefully and well,” he said.

Update on future deacon formation programs:

Deacon Ruscheinsky posed the question: What is the status of deacon formation? Where is it going?

Bishop Skylstad acknowledged the interest that continues in a possible deacon formation program. A major item curtailing such an effort is the diocese’s Chapter 11 situation; the diocese’s resources are very limited at this time; action cannot be taken before the bankruptcy is over. There is no question but that past formation programs have been very successful.

Deacon Sicilia reported receiving nine inquiries from interested men “over the last couple of years.”

Bishop Skylstad suggested an opportunity to gather potential candidates for perhaps some prayer, food, and a witness talk about diaconal ministry by a deacon. Some parts of the diocese are richly blessed by diaconal presence; other areas have none. Rural pastors frequently express a desire for the assistance of a deacon.

Deacon Sicilia said that a file is kept of those who inquire, so that contact can be maintained for the day when a deacon formation program is once again viable.

Motion to remove Deacon Eric Meisfjord from the Council:

The Council received a request from Deacon Don Whitney, a former member of the Council, to consider a motion to remove Deacon Eric Meisfjord from the Council. The request was presented to the Council; members of the Council received and read copies of the letter requesting the motion. Although the Council has the power to remove a member, after discussion, no member of the Council made the motion.

Future discussions of deacon title and attire:

Deacon Meisfjord moved that the Council no longer discuss the issues of deacon attire or title until the bishop of the diocese changes the written policy in this regard. The motion was seconded by Deacon Scott Brockway. The Council passed the motion by a unanimous vote.

Serra Club:

The Spokane Serra Club is hosting its annual Clergy Appreciation Night, and have included deacons in the invitations to this event. The Serrans have demonstrated strong support for the deacon community over the years. Deacons are strongly encouraged to accept the Serrans’ invitation and participate in the evening.

Future deacon retreats:

Deacon Ruscheinsky reminded everyone that the next two deacon retreats have been scheduled:

March 9-11, 2007: Bishop Joseph Tyson, Auxiliary Bishop of Seattle.
April 25-27, 2008: Father Thomas Dubais.

Both retreats are scheduled for Immaculate Heart Retreat Center, Spokane.

Promoting Continuing Education/Formation Opportunities for Deacons:

The events are promoted widely already: in the bi-monthly deacon newsletter, via e-mail, by postal mail. Perhaps attendance will increase when the diocese establishes an annual requirement for specific hours of continuing education/formation.

Additional business:

Deacon Ruscheinsky repeated the need to promote diaconate within rural areas. Deacon Sicilia reported on his conversations, as recent as last week, with rural pastors on this subject. Some pastors are more receptive than others to diaconal ministry. He asked that the pastors perhaps suggest names of individuals who would be apt candidates for the diaconate, echoing the “Called by Name” program of some dioceses in years past.

An information night in one of the outlying parishes might prove helpful in getting word out. Deacon Brockway offered his services in this regard.

Deacon Ruscheinsky announced he was saving his closing comments, as outgoing president, until the next meeting, when the Council will elect new officers.

Bishop Skylstad’s comments:

The bishop thanked everyone for the ministry of the deacon community. Diaconal ministry has grown immensely over the last few years, nationally as well as on the diocesan level. “The diaconal community has really come into its own,” he said. During his visits to the Congregation for Clergy at the Vatican, they always make some reference to the strong presence of deacon ministry in the United States Church. We must “continue to build on that. We can’t rest on our laurels,” he said. “There are lots of opportunities for service here.”

The meeting concluded with a prayer for deacons by Pope John Paul II, and a blessing by Bishop Skylstad, at approximately 7:56 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Eric Meisfjord, Deacon
Vice chairman of and secretary to the Council

Addendum:

The next meeting of the Deacon Council is scheduled for Saturday, Jan. 13, 2007, at Bishop White Seminary, 429 E. Sharp Ave. in Spokane.
Additional meetings, also at 10 a.m., also at Bishop White:
June 9, 2007
October 13, 2007