Deacons Gather at Annual Convocation

By Mary Lim 

The annual Deacon Convocation took place on Friday the 26th and Saturday the 27th of August this year, and it was a wonderful success – attended by 175 people total – which is an excellent turnout in a post-covid era. This is about two thirds of the deacons in the Diocese of Tucson.  

A Deacon Convocation is a gathering of all the deacons and their wives in the diocese for fellowship and for ongoing formation and training. The highlights of the annual weekend gathering include a sit-down dinner on Friday night with the deacons, their wives, and the Bishop, a keynote speaker on Saturday, and a closing vigil Mass celebrated by the Bishop. 

The Deacon Convocation has been part of the ongoing formation of deacons for more than 20 years. This was the first time that it was held at the diocesan Pastoral Center. In previous years, it was held at Most Holy Trinity Parish. Having a central “home base” for the diocese was one of the dreams of Bishop Kicanas when the Pastoral Center was being built.  

Planning and coordinating the annual Deacon Convocation is a huge undertaking, but the fruits of this yearly spiritual retreat will reach the entire community of the faithful. Deacon Rick Valencia, the Director of Deacons for the Diocese of Tucson, has now organized eight Deacon Convocations in his time as the director.  

“Our deacons and their wives really benefitted from this year’s convocation,” says Deacon Valencia, “they got to see old friends, enjoy fellowship with each other and with Bishop Weisenburger, and the keynote presentation was over-the-top and inspiring.”  

This year’s keynote speaker was Deacon Steve Kramer, a staff professor at Sacred Heart University in Wisconsin. He holds a doctorate in homiletics (the study and art of writing and presenting homilies), and he spoke to the deacons about the impact of a good homily.  

Most deacons are expected to preach a homily at their assigned parish once per month. Deacon Kramer’s homily training gave our deacons in attendance a new perspective on this monthly responsibility. Deacon Valencia said that Deacon Kramer “brought to light a lot of good things that we need to be aware of as we preach the Good News of the Gospels to our parishes.” 

Deacon Valencia works diligently throughout the year in preparation for the Convocation to communicate and collaborate with the other deacons and with parishioners to determine what the focus of the retreat should be, based on the needs of the parishes. “I try very hard to listen to the deacons to see what it is they want to hear and what they want to get from the weekend,” says Deacon Valencia, “Any insights for future convocations and presenters are greatly appreciated. We want to provide for what is going on around us.” 

The theme of this year’s Convocation was A Deacon in a Post-Pandemic Era – Evangelization (preaching the good news to the masses). The dynamics of working in parishes and preaching the Gospel to parishioners completely changed when the Covid-19 pandemic hit, and all public areas were temporarily closed for almost two years. The pandemic caused a lot of problems for planning any sort of retreat, let alone bringing the fruits of that spiritual retreat to the wider diocesan community. 

Deacon Valencia reiterated the urgency of bringing the Gospel to people in the present day, saying, “Parishes lost a lot of people, and after Covid, we are struggling to bring people back.” This can be discouraging to all ministers of the Word and Church workers. Bringing Christ to people in this way is also a vocational calling, and regular spiritual retreats help those who are called. They are affirmed in their vocation and fortified in their mission.  

The annual Deacon Convocation is not only nourishing food for the souls and spirits of the deacons, but it is also a required part of their ongoing formation. The deacons are required to make one other additional diocesan retreat per year. It is vital to the ministry and the spiritual well-being of each deacon, and their wife, that they take the time to care for their own heart and faith, so that they can then be fully capable of taking on the hearts and faith of those whom they are entrusted at their parishes. 

Please pray for the deacons of our diocese as they continue to serve the Catholic Church in their communities. If you are a deacon and would like to register for the next Convocation or for another diocesan retreat, you can do so at the Diocese of Tucson webpage.  

Did you know?

• Being ordained to the order of the diaconate is part of the Sacrament of Holy Orders, and deacons take vows when they are ordained. All deacons are ordained by the bishop of the diocese in which they will be serving. 

• The Diaconate Program began post-Vatican II in 1968. The Vatican recognized that there was a need for deacons in the Church in 1965 and three years later, the first order of deacons was ordained. In 2018, the Diaconate Program celebrated 50 years with a huge gathering of all deacons in the world in Los Angeles.  

• Men who are discerning becoming a deacon cannot begin formation until the age of forty. This is because the demand that is placed on a permanent deacon is very considerable, and it is not advisable that a father to young children discern the vocation of the diaconate. It is recommended that all men discerning the diaconate read The National Directory for the Life of the Permanent Deacon before beginning formation – this book gives insight into the formation, ordination, and post-ordination of the deacon.  

• The wives of deacons also go through formation with their husbands. Because of the strain that the diaconate places on the personal life of the deacon, it is required that the wife be a part of the husband’s discernment to the Order of the Diaconate. The bishop will not ordain a man to the diaconate without the wife’s blessing.  

If you are discerning the diaconate or are interested in learning more about formation, you can contact the Director of Deacons, Deacon Rick Valencia at (520) 838-2543 or [email protected].