Diaconate brings couple closer

Walter MacKinnon was told that there would be times in his ministry as a permanent deacon when he should learn to say "no."

Yeah, right.

He and his wife, Jean, coordinate the Pre-Cana program at St. Bernard's Church in Cohoes, as well as a monthly Holy Hour with Rosary recitation and Benediction at St. Edward's Church in Clifton Park. Deacon MacKinnon assists with weekend Masses at both parishes, and teaches Confirmation and Baptism preparation classes at St. Edward's.

And if that's not enough, the MacKinnons participate in Eucharistic services a few Sundays each month at Conifer Park, a drug rehabilitation facility in Scotia where Mrs. MacKinnon works as a nurse.

Closer together

Although the MacKinnons lead busy lives -- Deacon MacKinnon is a staff anesthetist at Samaritan Hospital in Troy -- they have found that his vocation as a permanent deacon has brought them closer as a couple than ever before.

"I'm very supportive of Walter's ministry," Mrs. MacKinnon told The Evangelist. "We finally are at a plateau where we can do things together."

Born and raised in Nova Scotia, the MacKinnons moved to the Boston area during the early 1960s and lived in northern Michigan for seven years before relocating to Clifton Park in 1972.

They joined St. Edward's parish, where then-Mr. MacKinnon got involved as a religious education teacher and a choir member. One day, while he was singing with the choir at Mass, he felt as though he wasn't doing enough for the Church. "There was a hunger there, and it wasn't satisfied by that," he said.

Into the diaconate

That's when he decided to enter the diaconate, a ministry that wasn't available in his home diocese in Nova Scotia.

He encountered some obstacles during his time in the three-year program; for example, his application had been misplaced and his baptismal and marriage certificates had to be obtained from Canada. Finally, he was ordained a permanent deacon in 1986 at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Albany.

His first assignment was at Catholic Central High School in Troy, where he taught religion courses after work. In 1989, he was reassigned to St. Bernard's.

Park and pride

For the past year, the MacKinnons have helped out during Sunday Eucharistic services at Conifer Park. They conduct one or two services each month and bring consecrated hosts from St. Edward's to distribute among patients, who participate as lectors and singers, or by reading poems they've written.

Witnessing such devotion by individuals who have struggled with their addictions is quite moving, and the MacKinnons are glad that they can share Christ's love with them through this ministry.

Staff counselors or ministers from other religious denominations lead the Eucharistic services when the MacKinnons aren't available, and the patients have grown accustomed to receiving Communion each Sunday.

"They're very disappointed when there's nobody there," Mrs. MacKinnon noted. The service "is something they really look forward to."

Role of marriage

Being married seems to help Deacon MacKinnon in his ministry. His wife offers suggestions for his homilies, telling him when he should lighten the mood with humor or a joke. Even participating in a liturgy or a parish program together makes him happy to be a deacon and a husband.

"The 35 years I've been married to her have been pure joy," he said.

Although the MacKinnons weren't fully aware of the extent of a deacon's responsibilities, at first, they have found the ministry to be quite rewarding. Not only has it drawn them closer to each other, but they've also had opportunities to meet other deacons. They attended a conference in Detroit in 1987 with 3,000 deacons from across the United States, and Deacon MacKinnon even met Pope John Paul II during the event.

More recently, they spent 10 days in the Holy Land with a group of deacons, one of whom was from Deacon MacKinnon's hometown.

Religious role

Deacon MacKinnon has participated in several important religious ceremonies for family members, including his mother's funeral, his son's and daughter's weddings, and the Baptisms of his two grandchildren. Altogether, the MacKinnons have four children, all grown, and two grandchildren (a third is due in April).

He was delighted to be a part of the weddings of his children, saying, To witness their marriages "and then to baptize their children -- it's awesome."

Deacon MacKinnon could retire from his job at Samaritan Hospital in two years, and he'd consider working for the Church in some capacity after his retirement. In the meantime, he and his wife plan to remain involved in pastoral ministry at St. Bernard's, St. Edward's and Conifer Park. They also hope more men will consider becoming permanent deacons and that women will support their husbands in this ministry.

"I feel everybody needs to be involved," Mrs. MacKinnon said.

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