“Lord, Teach Us” is the motto of our parish preparatory school; it should be the motto of all priests ordained to ministry in the Diocese of Fall River.
On June 4, 1988 Bishop Daniel A. Cronin ordained George Scales and me to the priesthood for service to the people of the Fall River Diocese. I knew that the charism of a diocesan priest is different from that of a religious order priest, such as a Franciscan, Jesuit, or Dominican.
I knew I was at the service of the bishop to be assigned anywhere in the diocese and could be re-assigned at anytime because of need, but I imagined my ministry would be limited to the parish to which I was assigned, and that it would be parochial ministry. I anticipated I would be doing solely parish work, Masses, baptisms, weddings, funerals, Religious Education, parish meetings and appointments for one particular parish. I would spend five days a week ministering to a particular parish family.
My narrow view of ministry widened in the mid-1990s when then-Father John F. Moore, the director of the Permanent Diaconate Office, invited me to teach a course on sacraments for the permanent deacon candidates. Father Moore had been the pastor of my home parish of St. Mary’s, New Bedford and had known of my background in teaching prior to entering St. John’s Seminary in 1983. He asked if I would teach a course in sacraments. That moment of grace has permitted me to journey now with three deacon ordination classes. The last two I taught a course on “Prayer and Spirituality” and with one class, “Prayer and Spirituality” and an “Introduction to Liturgy.”
I can truly say having the opportunity to come to know these dedicated and hard-working men has been a great grace in my life. A major part of priestly ministry is teaching the faith, from Scripture to tradition, and while it can be accomplished on the parish level at Mass during the homily, it always becomes limited by time and, sometimes, interest. Having the opportunity to teach men who want to know about our sacramental Church, its history, its tradition of prayer and its worship style is uplifting.
It is humbling to see men, most of whom are married and with families, who get up at 5 a.m. to put in a full day’s work in the secular world, and then come and gather two evenings a week, from September to December and from January to May, from 7-9 p.m. to pray and study all that they need to minister as permanent deacons. It’s energizing to my priesthood to witness their openness and desire to learn and then go out into the world to work alongside others and bring Christ and his message to those who may or may not be active Catholics.
I have had the privilege to work with permanent deacons: Deacon Bill Martin at St. Patrick’s in Wareham; Deacon Thomas Palanza and Deacon Walter Thomas at St. Mary’s, Mansfield; Deacon Michael Guy and then (a former student) Deacon David Pepin at St. Francis Xavier in Acushnet; and finally now Deacon Richard Dresser and Deacon Richard Murphy here at St. Francis Xavier, Hyannis. I have seen their desire to assist the parish priests build up their parish families and minister in the wider local community, extensions of love to the mystical Body of Christ.
As I look back 21 years since being called to orders, it amazes me to think of the number of baptisms, funerals, weddings, liturgies, meetings and appointments I have participated in, but the most personally memorable events in my journey so far have been the opportunities to share not only what I have learned, but who I am to these young and sometimes, not so young men, that they may have the same desire and love I have for the Church. They form the core of the community that will act as a leaven for the others to see and follow through their ability to baptize, preside at wakes, funerals and weddings outside Mass, preach and teach, conduct parish meetings and continue the work of ministry germane to their order of deacon.
The new class of deacons is currently being discerned as I write this. I anticipate, and hopefully not with arrogance, a phone call to ask if I wish to teach a course or two for this new class. It not only helps the diaconate program and its current director, Msgr. John J. Oliveira, but it helps me re-learn and become re-energized about my ministry.
Father Lacroix is Pastor of St. Francis Xavier Parish in Hyannis.