Joe Marotta
Acolyte
Diocese of[br]Richmond[br]Class of 2012
Posts: 34
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Post by Joe Marotta on May 22, 2008 20:08:05 GMT -5
This questions is for those who are already deacons (or who are well along in their formation) and are still working at a secular job.
How have your supervisors and co-workers reacted to your decision to become a deacon? When did you tell them? Did you find it difficult to explain exactly what it was that you would be doing and why?
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mikeb51907
New Member
Brooklyn Diocese[br]Class of 2007
Posts: 10
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Post by mikeb51907 on May 23, 2008 3:43:11 GMT -5
Hi Joe. I am ordiained just over a year and I still work 60 hours a week in a secular job. Most of my classmates also work full time although some are retired from their secular positions. My immediate supervisor is Catholic and has been supportive of my vocation since the beginning, so I am fortunate there, but that doesn;t mean that there have not been conflicts and challenges in time management, in fact there still are. It i snot easy and takes a lot of creative scheduling of our timebut I can't say I regret a moment of it. When I first entered the formation process as an aspirant I decided I wouldn't worry about the next five and a half years and how I would work out the schedule. I would just take it one semester at a time. If my call was genuine then I knew God would show me a way to overcome any obstacle. That's what worked for me, anyway.
I will keep you in my prayer as you continue in your formation.
God Bless, Mike
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Joe Marotta
Acolyte
Diocese of[br]Richmond[br]Class of 2012
Posts: 34
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Post by Joe Marotta on May 23, 2008 8:07:37 GMT -5
Thanks Mike,
I have been pursuing this process in much the same way. With 4 young children and a demanding job, I continually ask myeself "Is this the right time to be taking this on?" I am still young, and Deo volente, have many years ahead of me! But then again, will they be any less hectic? Katie (my wife) and I decided when I was first invited to look into the diaconate that we would give it a shot. I continually pray that God will allow me to see the signs if this is not the right path for me, or if I should make this journey at another time.
Katie has been a great support. She constantly reminds me that if I do not try, I will regret it.
As for work, Lynchburg, Virginia is not exactly a Catholic stronghold! I am the CFO of a family owned marketing services company with about 200 employees. I am the only Catholic here. The owners of the business are very devout Baptists (The attend Thomas Road Baptist Church - Falwell's flock), and many of our clients are Conservative and/or Christian issues-based organizations. Explaining what a deacon is was a bit of a challenge, since that title means something very different in the Baptist world. In addition, the company has had some bad experiences with Baptist Pastors who were on the payroll. I am sure when I asked for a letter of reference for my application, all sorts of red flags went up!
The CEO and I need to sit down to discuss all this, but our schedules have made that difficult. I want to be sure to alleviate whatever concerns he and his parents might have, and make sure we are all on the same page about this.
Thank you for your prayers, be assured that you, and all deacons will remain in mine. I thoroughly enjoy praying the Morning Office each morning. Connecting my prayers to those of the Church just always seems to start my day off right! Furthermore, congratulations on your anniversary! One of your brother deacons, Greg Kandra, has played no small role in my discernment thus far!
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