October 3, 2024|Local|

The journey has just begun

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ABOVE: Bishop Lucia stands with the 14 candidates outside the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Syracuse. The Formation for Ministry Commissioning Ceremony was held on September 22. Photo | Rick Kocienski

Fourteen candidates were commissioned for service during Formation for Ministry ceremony

By Tami S. Scott, associate editor

Bishop Douglas J. Lucia commissioned 14 candidates (two of whom were recommissioned) as lay ecclesial ministers during a Sept. 22 ceremony at Syracuse’s Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception. Family, friends and the candidates’ sponsors witnessed their reward for completing the Formation for Ministry two-year program, which prepares its students for service in the Diocese of Syracuse. The program is also a prerequisite for the permanent diaconate.

Donna Barnes, one of the 14 candidates and the diocesan administrative assistant for Adult Ministerial Formation and Deacon Formation, offered a reflection on behalf of her classmates about the formation process and what it involved, both expected and unexpected. She thanked the instructors, pastors and supervisors for their time, their inspiration and their support. She also touched on the unique reasons people chose this journey.

“My path started because my husband is in the deacon formation program, and I wanted to be able to journey beside him. We have always done everything together,” she said. “I wondered if I could find a job somewhere in the church so we could walk together.” Her prayers were answered when her current position opened, and she was hired for the job.

Jennifer Greene shakes hands with Bishop Lucia as she receives her certificate. Photo | Rick Kocienski

Reneé Laux teaches collegiate-level genetics but didn’t feel quite qualified when asked to teach faith formation at St. Ann’s in Manlius. There she’s been a parishioner for more than 20 years. Laux took this course of study because she wanted to know more about her faith “so I could be a better teacher.” This year, she was promoted to faith formation director.

Laux mentioned Scripture as her favorite class and said she also learned a lot about prayer and how differently people pray. Beyond the lessons, however, she described how beautiful it was to be part of a diverse group with one thing in common: to grow their faith.

Vincent D’Angelo, of Holy Family Church in Fairmount, found the most meaningful piece of the program to be related to relationship building and community.

“We take the knowledge, and we take the experience, but the way that we put it into action in knowing people and serving people is really what resonated with me,” he said. “As we were going through this program, as classmates, we were ministering to each other. We were having good days and bad days. There were people in our class that lost loved ones, that had things happen in their life, and we were serving each other as practice of what we’re going to experience in this ministry.

“It was an incredible program from a learning perspective, from an organizational perspective, from a spiritual perspective. I got out of it way more than I ever thought I was going to get,” added D’Angelo, who will continue his work in youth ministry.

It was a special day, too, for both Deacon Jeff Dixe and Eileen Ziobrowski. This was Dc. Jeff’s first ceremony as the current director of the Offices of Adult & Ministerial Formation. For Ziobrowski, who served seven years as the director and recently retired, this was her last. Each shared roles in the celebration. Dc. Jeff assisted Bishop at the altar while at the podium, Ziobrowski addressed the crowd.

“It has been a grace and a privilege and an honor to have accompanied them on their journey,” Ziobrowski said of the candidates. “I have watched them grow in knowledge through faith, in their relationship with the Lord and with each other, and in their confidence to share their faith. I congratulate each of them and thank them for saying ‘yes’ to God and for persevering through the Formation for Ministry program.”

After the ceremony, Ziobrowski reflected on her former role as director: “Being here in the Cathedral and reading the names and hearing Donna [Barnes] give her

Candidates Vincent D’Angelo, Judy Henty and Jill Grise process in for the ceremony. Photo | Tami S. Scott

reflection, it just is a wonderful testimony to the beauty of this program, and it’s been a humbling, humbling experience to be part of it.”

Dixe, a new deacon in a new role in the diocese, was overwhelmed with enthusiasm.

“Not only do I feel great, I feel great for all of the candidates,” Dc. Jeff said. “I mean, just to be able to sit up there as deacon and look out on the crowd and everyone in the pews and just see the smiles on their faces. It is gratifying.”

Interested in learning more about the Formation for Ministry program? Adults who wish to learn more about a topic for their own personal enrichment are also encouraged to inquire. For more information, email [email protected] or call 315-470-1479.

The Conferral of Certificates

Parish Service Ministry

Christopher Crane (Spirit of Hope, Oneida)

Jennifer Greene (Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Syracuse)

Gregory Massaro (St. Mary of the Assumption, Baldwinsville)

James Roberts (Historic Old St. John, Utica)

Kathryn Rowlands, recommissioned (St. Joan of Arc, Morrisville)

Pastoral Care Ministries

Judith Henty (St. Bernard, Waterville)

David Klementowski (St. Augustine, Baldwinsville)

Catechist Ministries

Jill Grise (St. Paul, Whitesboro)