May 7, 2006

Dear friends in life and in ministry . . .

It is a very exciting time for the Defendorf family. The SWEET ANNIE sign was erected on Market Street today signifying that Annie (Defendorf) Meek's store is open for business. Anne's store sells art glass, fabric, candles, jewelry, fresh flowers and just about anything she knows to be of excellent quality and beauty.

Next weekend, our daughter Monica will receive a graduate degree from Nazareth College. She will do so with the honor of being chosen for special recognition by her section faculty.

Our son Chris, who has rented space from us for over a year, will soon move into his own apartment where he will continue to create music.

Pat and I attended Saturday's Deacon Convocation after spending a very enjoyable evening at the home of Deacon John and Kay Nelson in Irondequoit, NY, a suburb of Rochester. On Sunday morning, while Fr. Erb celebrated Mass in Bath, we attended Mass at Christ the King Church and enjoyed Deacon John's homily. It is good to occasionally worship with a community other than one's own. Like St. Mary's in Bath, Christ the King boasts an excellent choir and a hospitable and welcoming community. Following Mass, we joined John and Kay at a coffee hour before joining our daughter Monica for breakfast and returning home to Corning.

I'm really late in sending this out, but I hope my long, newsy column and Mary Carol Wall's wonderfully inspiring "Musings" were worth the wait. (See attached file: Mary Carol's Musings.pdf)(See attached file: St. Mary's Bulletin - 5-7-06.pdf)

Ray

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Column, May 7th

Mary Carol's Musings

May 7 , 2006

On Monday through Wednesday of last week, I attended the annual convocation of priests and pastoral administrators with Bishop Clark.  Of the six convocations I’ve attended since becoming a pastoral administrator, this was probably the best.  Our topics involved the delicate and sometimes very complicated end of life issues of artificial nutrition and hydration and the related “life” issue of stem cell research.

Nearly a year after the Terri Shiavo case drew daily coverage in the national media, the topic remains current and the Church’s official teaching on the matter confusing at best to most Catholics.  Our speakers, Dr. Robert McCann, chief of medicine at Highland Hospital and associate professor - University of Rochester School of Medicine and Catholic Bio-ethicist Thomas A. Shannon, P.H.D. explored the topics with clarity and sensitivity. Both agreed that the goal of artificial life support, including artificial hydration and nutrition cannot be merely to keep the patient clinically alive at all costs. For Christians, dying is a natural occurrence and certainly not the final chapter. ALS  should rather be used as a bridge to allow physicians time to restore the quality of life of patients when there is a prospect of full recovery. Both speakers stressed that there is no moral difference between the decision to begin artificial respiration and ceasing the use of artificial life support.  But the decision to discontinue artificial life support, even when there is no hope of recovery, is much harder for families to deal with. Thus, it is critical that: 1. we discuss with our families our wishes as they apply to artificial life support including artificial hydration and nutrition, and 2. designate someone knowledgeable of our wishes to serve as a health care proxy should we be unable to express our wishes at some later date.

As with many issues brought about by modern science and technology, answers are seldom back and white.  Even Pope John Paul II 2004 address to a gathering of scientists and researchers on Life-Sustaining Treatments and Vegetative State: Scientific Advances and Ethical Dilemmas" which appeared to differ from established Church teaching on the meaning of “extraordinary care”  must be considered in its full context. Hopefully, as a result of this convocation, our diocesan priests and pastoral administrators will be better equipped to offer pastoral support and guidance to individuals and families as they face end of life issues.

Within the next week or so, I’ll try to have materials available for those who wish to further explore this topic, prepare a “living will” and designate a health care proxy.

DEACON CONVOCATION THIS WEEKEND

This Saturday, May 6, Bishop Clark will host the annual convocation of permanent deacons. Like the priest/pastoral administrator convocation described above, deacons from throughout the Diocese will gather for morning prayer, a message from Bishop Clark, an a presentation on the theme of “Ecumenism and Inter-religious Dialogue.”

BOB COLOMAIO ACCEPTED FOR DEACON CANDIDACY

A highlight of the convocation for me is always the celebration of Eucharist which includes the acceptance of several diaconal “Aspirants” into formal acceptance as potential deacons through the “Rite of Candidacy”
- the first formal “rite” on the four-year journey to ordination.

This year, one of our own will be formally accepted into diaconal formation through this “rite.” Bob Colomaio actually began his journey to the diaconate two years ago when he attended an informational meeting here at St. Mary’s.  After I’m sure much prayer and discussion with wife Pam, and their daughters Teresa and Mary Catherine, Bob applied for admittance into the diaconal aspirant program.  Following several interviews with diocesan officials and diaconal couples, Bob began a year long program of course work and formation provided through St. Bernard’s School of Theology and Ministry in Rochester.  His studies included monthly formation weekends (for aspirants and spouses) in Rochester and weekly course work in scripture, pastoral ministry and theology via a video link from St. Bernard’s to St. Mary of the Lake in Watkins Glen.

This summer, Bob will begin the first of his clinical experiences as part of the chaplaincy team at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Elmira. In subsequent years, Bob will receive the Order of Lector and Acolyte before being ordained to the Permanent Diaconate in June 2009.

I know from personal experience the strains that this journey can have on marriage and family life and am sure that Bob and Pam would welcome your encouragement and prayer support as they answer God’s call to ministry.

NEW HEALTH MINISTRY FILLS “RESPECT LIFE” NEED

On Thursday we held a grand opening for the new Health Ministry of the Southern Tier site on Liberty Street in Bath.  The previous Saturday, Health Ministry volunteers from Corning, Elmira, Watkins Glen and Bath met for a working retreat at O’Malley Hall. I believe that caring for the health needs of the people with no insurance is another critical Respect life issue that needs to vigorously addressed by both church and governmental leaders. More on this in future columns.

GOOD STEWARDS NEEDED FOR UPCOMING EVENTS

I hope that many of you will heed Karen Grimmer’s call to participate in any way you can with our June 3 International Food Festival and donate furniture, toys, books, etc. for our annual Trash and Treasure Sale on June 2 and 3.

Because of the Diaconal Convocation and my daughter Monica’s graduation from a Masters program at Nazareth College, I’ll be away the next two weekends. But be assured of my love and prayers for you all.

Have a good week. Serve one another well”

I pray that you will enjoy this visit, and if you like,
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