Chair Reports

February 2012

One of the major purposes of the National Association of Deacons is to inform all deacons of various happenings across the country. In a place as large as ours, the feeling of being isolated and alone can happen quite easily. Our website can help to alleviate this feeling, especially the forum. The forum can be used to ask questions and make contacts with other deacons across the country. Only deacons from Australia may access this section of the website. Let me know if you are unable to get into it. I would encourage all of you to make use of the forum or at least, visit it to see and read what others are saying.

The Executive of the National Association of Deacons will meet for their annual Face to Face Meeting from March 11-13. The meeting will take place in Melbourne. This meeting is an opportunity to hear from all the regional representatives about happenings in each of these areas. It is also an opportunity for future planning and direction. If you have any issues that you would like discussed by the Executive, please contact the appropriate regional representative who are as follows:
Bruce Talbot - Western Australia
Tony Cunningham - Northern Territory and South Australia
Russ Nelson - Queensland
Jim Curtain - Victoria and Tasmania
Mick O'Donnell - ACT and New South Wales

The next National Deacon's Conference is being planned to be held in Canberra 2013. Canberra will celebrate 100 years since its naming as the National Capital of Australia in 2013, and there will be many memorable celebrations throughout that year to mark this special anniversary, not only for Canberra, but for all Australians.

The theme for the Conference is, Go and make disciples of all the nations. [Matt.28:19]

It is also 'The Year of Faith' where the Pope encourages us to consider that, Conversion of heart leads to authentic renewal and re-evangelization.

Attendees are expected from around Australia and the Pacific. It is held in a different city each second year, and on the opposite year to the National Council of Priests Biennial Conferences.

For further information contact Deacon Mick O'Donnell corrog@ozemail.com.au or Don Nguyen xuanduc@gmail.com

In news from Western Australia, Bruce Talbot tells us that some of the Deacons from the Perth Archdiocese met together in December for a meal and fellowship. The deacons from both Perth and Bunbury are exploring the possibility of organising a joint retreat. In the Bunbury diocese, 3 current aspirants have substantially completed their formation with possible ordinations in 2012. If ordained that will bring the number of deacons in this diocese to 17. All deacons from the Bunbury diocese have been invited to the Bishop's annual Christmas Lunch which was held on 13th December 2011. Gerard and Lilah Lanigan (from Albany) celebrated sixty years of marriage, receiving letters from the Pope, Queen, PM plus other dignitaries. Gerard also celebrated 20 years of ordination to the deaconate.

From Victoria, Mark Kelly from Sale passes on this news. The five South Easternmost Deacons, i.e.: Sale Diocese (except for Nick MacFarlane in Tassie) have mostly been steady as she goes in recent times. Peter Stringfellow continues with his ministry, particularly to the elderly and infirm in Narre Warren Parish, currently the largest parish in Australia and part of the burgeoning South-East of Melbourne which daily makes inroads into our once rural diocese. Tony Aspinall and his wife, June, have recently moved from their lovely home in that fast growing region to a church unit in the small town of Bunyip, in order to help minister in that sprawling and disparate parish. Tony continues as Chaplain of the St Peter's College in fast growing Cranbourne. Similarly Mark Kelly ministers as Chaplain at Marist-Sion College as well as assisting in the Parishes of Drouin and Warragul. Terry Rooney, carrying a big load at the challenging parish of Morwell, had a serious and ongoing health issue during the year but assures us he is pretty well back on deck. Our Deacon Emeritus, former diocesan secretary, Jim Erskine has retired (allegedly), having, with his wife Barbara, served the church faithfully since his ordination in 1976. His considerable tribunal expertise has not been lost though and in his 'retirement' he has become a judge of the Tribunal. As often as we can the deacons and wives gather socially to burn sausages and trade yarns.

Tony Cunningham tells us that the deacons from the Northern Territory gathered together for a retreat. It was led by Deacon Paul Simmons, the National Coordinator of the Permanent Diaconate in Australia. This retreat was the first for the Indigenous deacons since their ordination. Three of them were able to attend. The opportunity to gather together, share their experiences and simply get to know each other better was extremely beneficial. Ongoing training sessions for all deacons in the Northern Territory is in the pipeline.

Russ Nelson from Queensland tells us that the Brisbane deacons are promoting the Anglican/Roman Catholic Reconciliation Service which will take place on the 4th November 2012. Deacons in the Diocese of Brisbane will be involved in training for liturgies that will be taking place in the Cathedral. An in-service is also being planned for deacons who minister at funerals. A similar type of workshop took place last year for deacons who minister at weddings. They will also be involved in using the Australian and New Zealand Conference of the Canon Law Society to explore issues surrounding deacons, particularly, 'It is one thing to have a right, it is another thing to assert that right.' It will be interesting to see the outcomes of this discussion.

I wish you all well in your ministry and I look forward to reporting to you all the outcome of our Face to Face meeting.

Mark Powell

Chair
National Association of Deacons.