Ministry Reflection: Thirty and Thirty Works For Me
By: Fran Brown, Immaculate Conception, LaGrange, Kentucky
Some of the best advice I ever received when going through the diaconate formation with my husband Charlie came from the wife of a deacon who understood the meaning of presence in ministry. She shared her experience of sitting in one of the back pews of church at weekend Masses and seeking out those folks that she felt drawn to connect with at the conclusion of the Mass. I have adapted her advice to suit my own style of ministry.
Throughout the fourteen years my husband has been ordained, we have been a part of four different parishes. We have been called out of our comfort zones into the gift of being a part of both English and Spanish speaking communities. Though we did not know the first word of Spanish eleven years ago, we took classes to learn more about the language and the cultures. We were members of various parishes including our home parish, which was located one mile away, to parishes as far as 25 miles away. I have my own ministries but in addition, it has also been our style as a married couple to minister together. We took that practice into diaconal ministry. Consequently, I developed the habit of going to the majority of Masses my husband serves as deacon of the Mass. We arrive at church 30 minutes before Mass and stay after Mass about thirty minutes. The narthex, or gathering space, is the perfect place for me to be.
It is there that I have many blessed moments getting to know members of the community. Learning names, recognizing faces, and listening to people tell their stories is something I enjoy doing. As the scriptures tells us, "Make hospitality your special care." It is a time of connecting with new people and having continuity with the relationships that are in process. In a world of technology, multi-tasking, and busy schedules there is something to be said about this simple approach to building community. The possibilities are many: for the elderly who have had family and friends go home to God before them, a friendly face and a greeting strengthens them. For the divorced, it is a time of receiving support and encouragement, and for the children and youth a friendly and supportive comment lets them know we value their presence.
My thirty and thirty time means a lot to me, and I believe others feel the same way about it. Through the years I have journeyed with people in various ways: being with the dying and their families, helping with vigil services, supporting staff members and those involved in religious formation, participating in adult formation, etc. Thanks to the training received through the years, I have learned that pastoral care means more than visiting the sick or elderly. Like Moses, I reverence the holy ground where I am called. He took off his shoes when God spoke to him. I simply show up on the holy ground of my community of faith in the ministry of presence. Being a part of the diaconal community and my parish community I continue to learn from others. I often tell people what a blessed life God has given me and my husband. Always challenging and never dull, I wouldn't trade it for the world. Thirty and Thirty works for me.
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