LPMIAA Newsletter Vol 4 Issue 3

The Diocese of St. Petersburg, Florida
Lay Pastoral Ministry Institute
Alumni Association
Newsletter
Volume 4, Issue 3
THIS ISSUE
Light of the World, Salt of the Earth
Light of the World:
The Carter Family
By Glennell Munné, LPMI Class of 2012
A Deacon’s Story:
Jim Patterson
Diaconate Ordination
tures
Winter 2013
Pic-
Thanks to our Sponsors
Professional Development
Thanks to our sponsors and
partners!
Links of Interest
We ask all alumni to
help invite qualified
adult lay ministers to
consider
participation in the
YEAR OF
DISCERNMENT
SAVE THE DATE
LPMIAA
Morning of Reflection
Saturday, March 22,
2014
8:30 - 12:30
Christ the King,
Tampa
Email registration will
be sent in February
“By charity, we love God above all things and our neighbor as ourselves for love of
God. Charity, the form of all the virtues, ‘binds everything together in perfect
harmony’" CCC 1844 (Col 3:14)
As we have come to the close of the
Year of Faith that celebrates the 50th
anniversary of Vatican II and the 25th
anniversary of the Catechism of the
Catholic Church, let us turn to the
message in Lumen Gentium that exhorts
us to be a light unto the world and take
instruction from the Catechism as expressed in the above article of faith. We
must remember that the People of God
are "Established by Christ as a
communion of life, charity and truth...
also used by Him as an instrument for
The Carter Family:
the redemption of all, and... sent forth
Victoria, Charmaine, Courtney, John and Jonathan
into the whole world as the light of the
world and the salt of the earth." LG 2:9
As class after class was commissioned through the Lay Pastoral Ministry Institute, we saw
many examples of individuals and families shining their light and salting the earth. Each of us
is a gift to others, and it is in our self-giving that the essence of our nature lights and seasons
the world. Not the least example of this can be seen in a newly commissioned couple, Dr.
Charmaine and Mr. John Carter, LPMI Class of 2013.
The LPMI Class of 2013 was divided into two meeting locations, one in St. Petersburg and
the other in Tampa. Over a three year period, attrition took place and in the final year the
class size reached critical mass, making it necessary to either combine both groups of
students or defer graduation until the next academic year. This would mean that one group or
the other would need to travel long distances to class each week. The decision would have to
come from the student body: Time! Money! Family! Safety! There was a cry of “Oh, Holy
Spirit Come,” and come He did. After everyone separated for break and many private
prayers were offered, discernment by an LPMI couple tipped the scale for the Tampa venue.
The Carter Family Tree has John, who is an attorney working all over Florida and other
states; Charmaine, who is a physician who works in St. Petersburg; Courtney, 18 years old
and a graduating senior at St. Petersburg Catholic HS, Victoria, “Tori,” a 16 year old senior at
Article continues on page 2
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Lay Pastoral Ministry Institute Alumni Association Newsletter
Continued from page 1
St. Petersburg Catholic HS; Jonathan, a 15 year old, sophomore at Jesuit HS who has golfing practice after
school. In spite of these many demands, the Carters generously agreed to join the Tampa location. There would
be times when the Carter vehicles crossed the Howard Franklin Bridge twice or more each afternoon to get one
child or the other to a destination and then the parents back to LPMI class. This took family cooperation, love of
the faith and true sacrifice.
As the class of 2013 grew to know each other, the charity that the Carters had demonstrated on behalf of the
group blossomed into mutual and genuine affection among every member. The retreat that year was a special
time together as everyone recalled the many moments of sharing faith, concern, learning and self-giving as
brothers and sisters in Christ.
John was born in South Boston, VA. He was raised on a farm and attended the University of Virginia as an
undergraduate and for law school. He practiced law for about 15 years before being promoted to lead as CEO to
oversee $50 billion in assets for Management Company. Currently, John is a corporate lawyer and owns his own
executive recruiting firm.
Charmaine was born in Jamaica and immigrated to USA at age four. She is a physician who specializes in
Internal Medicine, and has worked with Suncoast Medical Clinic in St. Petersburg since December 1993. They are
the proud parents of the three children described above and will celebrate 20 years of marriage on October 9,
2013.
The Carter family came into the Catholic Church through the RCIA in January, 2006. Both parents were very
active in the Protestant Church prior to becoming Catholic and believed that in order to be active participants in
their new community of faith, it was essential to learn more about the Catholic faith. They determined the best way
to get a sound theological foundation was through the LPMI.
When asked, “What was the driving force behind their decision to pursue theological studies,” both John and
Charmaine professed, “We both believe that we are called to serve in our parish in whatever capacity we can,
because of our baptism. Now that we have been richly educated in the Catholic faith, we are willing to serve in
any capacity that will enrich the Church. As our practicum, we developed the Greeters Ministry at the Cathedral,
which continues to be very successful. John has recently been accepted to be an Aspirant in the Diaconate
Formation Program of the Diocese. John will continue to be an active 4th Degree Knight of Columbus and a
Eucharistic Minister."
The discernment for the Diaconate deepened John’s faith in God and his relationship with Christ. He has found
that he must rely on Christ in all things in order to serve others effectively. He says, “Personal spirituality is
essential for helping others with their spiritual walk with Christ." John’s discernment classes led to a greater
appreciation and understanding of the history, struggles, and impact of the world-wide Catholic Church.
Charmaine is a Columbiette, a Eucharistic Minister, and a Lector. She began basic and advanced catechetical
formation classes and will begin working with RCIA this autumn. Charmaine will obtain her Masters Degree in
Theology along with John as they attend diaconate classes together. “With a better understanding of Catholic
teaching, we have confidence to serve more fully in whatever ministry we enter into for the parish/diocese. We
hope to encourage others to participate in life-long theological formation in order to do as much as they are able in
the parish/Church,” says Charmaine.
We join in prayer as we thank God for the Carters, for their ministry, and especially to ask God to bless their continued formation in the Diaconate.
Curious about the Diaconate? More information can be found here on the USCCB web site:
http://www.usccb.org/beliefs-and-teachings/vocations/diaconate/
Volume 4, Issue 3
Page 3
A Deacon’s Story: Jim Paterson
By Jim Paterson
Jim Paterson and his wife Ann Celeste have been in the Tampa
area since 1978. Jim worked as a biomedical researcher at the
University of South Florida and the Tampa VA Medical Center for
twenty-five years. Jim was commissioned in the LPMI program in
2002. In 2003 Jim & Ann Celeste moved to Detroit to work at
Karmanos Cancer Institute where they lived for eight years.
Sudden employment brought them “back home” in 2011. Jim and
Ann have four children, two married, and two beautiful
granddaughters bless their family.
Answering the Spirit’s promptings to diakonia began in 1998 with
the encouragement of Jim’s dear friend, Fr. Alan Weber, and
through the Lay Pastoral Ministry Institute, and then continued in
the Archdiocese of Detroit. His journey is finally being completed
where it began in the Diocese of St. Petersburg. On July first of
this year, Jim left the University of South Florida College of
Medicine and Department of Pathology to take the position of
Assistant to the Rector (Fr. John Holly, OFM, Cap) in the
development office of St. Lawrence Seminary. Fortunately, with
advances in modern technology, Ann Celeste and Jim do not
Jim Paterson and Fr. Dennis Hughes
need to relocate. Fr. John, whom Jim has known since seventh
grade, has also played a major role in his discernment of Jesus’ call to the permanent diaconate.
The grace of God that has poured out on Ann Celeste, Jim and his family is amazing! With God’s continued graces,
Jim begin humble diaconal ministry to God’s People by serving at His Altar, by proclaiming His Word and through
works of Charity at St. Peter the Apostle Community, Trinity, Florida. Jim knows that without the support, prayers
and love of Ann Celeste, he could have never made this journey. Due to her holiness, the Spirit of God is constantly
being revealed!
SAVE THE DATE!
The LPMIAA Morning of Reflection
OME!
S W ELC
E
SPOUS
FREE!
Christ the King Parish
Saturday, March 22, 2014
8:30 AM - 12:30 PM
Look for more information and
an email invitation in February
Please contact Rowena Wilkinson if you would like to assist
[email protected]
Page 4
Lay Pastoral Ministry Institute Alumni Association Newsletter
The Ordination to the Diaconate in the
Diocese of St. Petersburg took place on
October 19, 2013 at The Cathedral of St.
Jude the Apostle in St. Petersburg, Florida.
Those ordained (and their home parishes)
included
Kevin Dwyer (St. Paul, Tampa)
Rudolph Fernandes (St. Ignatius of Antioch,
Tarpon Springs)
Robert Harris (St. Francis of Assisi, Seffner)
Michael Holmes (St. Timothy, Lutz)
Michael Menchen (St. Mary, Our Lady of
Grace, St. Petersburg)
James Paterson (St. Timothy, Lutz)
Ramon Rodriguez (St. Joseph, Tampa)
Photos by Rowena Wilkinson
and Susie Ajoc
Volume 4, Issue 3
Page 5
LPMI and the Diaconate
By Deacon Peter André
I was ordained to diaconal ministry with 19 other men in late June 1997.
Our class was called by Bishop Favalora while he was still our ordinary
here in St. Petersburg. During our formation, Bishop Favalora added
ARCH to his title and took over in Miami. Bishop Lynch arrived about a
year later and inherited our group of deacons in formation without knowing
anything about any of us and, I learned recently, held an opinion shared by
many bishops that the diaconate was a clericalization of the laity. Bishop
Lynch has since changed his opinion. However, it was another 12 years
before the next class of deacons was ordained in 2009. We have had new
groups ordained every second year since then with a group anticipating
ordination in 2015, and another in 2017.
In 1999 the Lay Pastoral Ministry Institute was established, and in 2002, a
year away from completing my studies for an MA in Theology, I began
teaching in the academic portion of the Institute. Then, in 2006 I began
working part time for the Office of the Diaconate as the Coordinator of
Pastoral Field Education. From this unusual perspective, I was asked to
share some thoughts about the relationship between LPMI and the
diaconate. A bit of the history of that relationship might be in order.
As the LPMI was being introduced, its initial applicants were told that if
there was to be another class of deacons, LPMI or advance work in
Deacon Peter André
theology would be one of the requirements. As a result, many of the
deacons in the 2009 class are graduates of the LPMI. With so much
background on almost all of the candidates and a pretty impressive resume of her own, Sr. Marlene
Weidenborner, the second Director of the LPMI, was asked to be a member of the Admissions and Scrutinies
Board which evaluates admission of aspirants into formation and approves their continuing in the process at
important milestones. Eventually, for a range of reasons, the LPMI requirement as part of the diaconate
formation was dropped. One important reason was that four years of LPMI and four years of diaconal
formation seemed like a long time to expect of candidates. In addition, while lay and ordained ministry are
complimentary and overlapping in many areas, especially when speaking of diaconal ministry there are
certain fundamental differences in formation. To this day however, LPMI is still seen as a big plus for men
aspiring to be deacons.
The relationship between the LPMI and the diaconate has evolved and changed over time. Several deacons
are still involved in the LPMI program as instructors, year of discernment presenters, and theological
reflection leaders. A number of LPMI graduates and participants are deacons or are involved in the
diaconate.
When most people think of the restored diaconate they picture Vatican II. In some ways, here in the Diocese
of St. Petersburg, I think of the diaconate class of 1999. The LPMI has had a large and very positive effect on
the ‘restored diaconate’ from the sharing of personnel to the initial formation of many of the current deacons,
to the screening of the applicants. In his ordination homily to me and my class-mates, Bishop Lynch called on
us to develop the gifts we possessed that were unique to lay people. Under Bishop Lynch’s leadership, both
lay ministry and the diaconate have matured and flourished. I think that prophetic call to those of us minutes
from ordination has been brought to fruition by our bishop by his establishment and support of the Lay
Pastoral Ministry Institute to bring those gifts that are uniquely lay to the service and enrichment of God’s
people, and the Church, including, in no small way, the diaconate.
Lay Pastoral Ministry Institute Alumni Association Newsletter
Page 6
THANKS TO OUR PARTNERS AND SPONSORS!
SPECIAL CHARTER MEMBERSHIP
Rosaries by
Marlene Illanes
Marlene makes beautiful custom rosaries. Please
contact her if you would like to order some. Thank
you for the rosary donations for the Morning of
Reflection, Marlene.
(813) 390-4798
[email protected]
We invite all members to consider
becoming a CHARTER MEMBER of the
LPMI Alumni Association.
Charter Members will be listed on the
home page of our website and also
recognized in our quarterly newsletter
front page. Charter members will never
have to pay annual dues again!
Please use the registration form and
send your check for $100.00 made
payable to "LPMI Alumni Association" to
Photos by Rowena
"We can turn any event into a photo opportunity"
On a budget? We can assist!
Great photography at a great price!
Rowena Wilkinson
(813) 420-5675
[email protected]
Susan Ajoc
560 23rd Ave. SE
St. Petersburg, FL 33705
Charter Membership is a
one-time, lifetime donation.
Thank you for your commitment to the
establishment of the
LPMI Alumni Association.
The latest action/adventure story of our favorite nun is now
available at Amazon.com either in paper or on Kindle.
Follow Sister Mary as she uncovers a plot against the
Catholic Church from ultra-conservative cardinals intent on
assassinating Pope Francis and replacing him with a pope
of their choice who will take the Church back to the 1300s.
This latest book is the fourth in the Sister Mary series by
our own George Patterson, LPMI Class of 2002. George
will donate a book for our Morning of Reflection door prizes,
but you need not wait until then to read - order his books on
Amazon at http://amzn.to/17P9GEA Thanks, George!
Note to members:
The LPMIAA
decided to shift its
membership year to
July 1 - June 30.
If you paid a
membership for
2013, it is good until
June 30, 2014.
Thank you for your
support! Dues are
used for our Morning of Reflection.
Volume 4, Issue 3
Page 7
Why do Pastors, Deacons,
Catechists, Teachers, Principals,
Youth Ministers,
RCIA Coordinators, Adult Faith
Formation Staff and Technology
Coordinators Come to
INTERACTIVE CONNECTIONS?
“It helped me see the wide array of tools that are
available for evangelizing in our digital world and
to feel more confident in exploring these tools
for the greater glory of God.” (Anonymous)
“All of the workshops that I attended provided
me with new insights and information that I am
able to use in my ministry… I was able to make
connections with other parish ministers from
other parts of the country and look forward to
continuing conversations and learning from
them.” (Tammy Graves)
Keynote Speakers: Bishop Frank Caggiano and Diane Lampitt
5th Annual INTERACTIVE CONNECTIONS Conference
January 28 - 31, 2014
Orlando, Florida
Tuesday evening, Jan. 28 - Keynote speaker and networking social
Wednesday, Jan. 29 - Keynote speaker and workshops
Thursday - Friday, Jan. 30 - 31 - optional attendance FETC
Click here to see registration costs and full details:
http://bit.ly/1d2F9oV
LPMI Alumni - please take advantage of this opportunity to update your
skills and knowledge related to technology, catechesis,
and evangelization.
Contact Information
Lay Pastoral Ministry Institute
Dale Brown
Associate Director, LPMI
(727) 344-1611, ext. 5458
[email protected]
Ruth Appel
Administrative Assistant, LPMI
(727) 344-1611, ext. 5827
[email protected]
Judy Zink
Coordinator of Theological Reflection
(727) 344-1611, ext 5410
[email protected]
Fax: (727) 374-0209
Please visit us
on our Diocesan
website at
http://
dosp_lpmi.cathol
icweb.com/
INTERESTED
in becoming more involved in the LPMI Alumni Association?
Just contact us by email at
[email protected]
or
Download our Alumni Membership Form and
Membership Card here.
Are you a speaker on any ministry topic? Let us know! Complete this
online survey and we will add you to our speaker listing. See speakers
who have already signed up here:
Visit our Alumni Association web site!
Alumni Association
Contact Information
President
Claudia McIvor
[email protected]
(727) 526-2154
Treasurer
Susie Ajoc
[email protected]
(727) 403-9325
Secretary
Theresa Adams
[email protected]
Membership
Christine Grieco
[email protected]
(727) 519-3360
Newsletter Editor
Claudia McIvor
[email protected]
(727) 526-2154
Assistant Copy Editor
Erin McIvor
[email protected]
(727) 452-8102
Here are some new resources on the LPMI web site, too.
Perfect for printing and distributing in your parish!
LPMI Fact Sheet 2013
LPMI Overview 2013
Your LPMIAA Board for 2013-2014
Claudia McIvor, President
Susie Ajoc, Treasurer
Theresa Adams, Secretary
Chris Grieco, Membership Chair
Claudia McIvor, Newsletter Editor
Doris Cimino
Marlene Illanes
Chris Middendorf
Glennell Munné
Rowena Wilkinson