Doctor's own prescription was to become a deacon

It's no surprise that one of the Albany Diocese's four newest deacons is also a medical doctor. Even his description of his vocation sounds like a prognosis: "I felt a non-differentiated pull to become involved in the life of the Church."

Doctor-now-Deacon Frank Thomas spoke to The Evangelist just days before his ordination, May 19, at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Albany.

Also ordained were Deacons Miguel Fabian, Thomas Nash and Joseph Tyrrell.

Twin pulls

Medicine and faith have been entwined in Deacon Thomas' life for many years. In fact, he is retiring from a staff position in the radiation oncology department at Albany Medical Center to pursue his new ministry. However, he will continue to mentor medical students as a senior fellow at Albany Med's Alden March Bioethics Institute.

Medical ethics was also the subject that sparked his vocation.

"I have to give credit to John Dwyer," Deacon Thomas noted, referring to a long-time professor at St. Bernard's Institute of Theology and Ministry in Albany who recently retired.

A talk by Dr. Dwyer on medical ethics so interested Deacon Thomas that he began auditing courses at St. Bernard's. Eventually, he enrolled in the Weston Jesuit School of Theology in Boston, commuting for two years to earn a master's degree in theology in 2000.

Call of vocation

By then, Dr. Thomas knew, "I wanted to become involved in the life of the Church. I felt I had something to contribute because of my background in medicine."

He met with Bishop Howard J. Hubbard, who decided to form a diocesan committee to discuss medical ethics. Dr. Thomas became a member but still felt he could do more.

When the Diocese began to offer the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius, he signed up for the program of spiritual direction. Through it, he came to realize he was called to be a deacon.

"You usually think about dramatic calls, like Moses and the burning bush," he said, "but we can also be called quietly. While it lacks the drama, it's nevertheless real."

Studies

His decision to apply for the diaconate brought Dr. Thomas affirmation from others, but he noted that what happens inwardly really confirms a vocation.

"Once you've made the decision, you get internal affirmation," he explained. "You feel comfortable with it; it brings you joy."

He called his pursuit of a vocation "a personal commitment borne along by a whole bunch of other people," the most significant of whom was his wife, Nancy O'Keeffe.

"Nancy's incredibly supportive, but she also keeps me honest," he stated.

Commitment

Mulling over the concept of ordination, Deacon Thomas said that it's like marriage.

"When you're going to get married, you're really enthusiastic, but there's anxiety about the whole thing," he remarked. "Any time you make a serious life commitment, there's a mixture of emotions: You're happy, content, committed -- but anxious about whether you're going to measure up."

Also like marriage, he said, "you have to trust: Trust in the Spirit of God, the temporal powers of the Church, your family, your spouse, your community.

"It's all grace. Moral theology goes in two directions: the things you can't do, and then, 'How have we who have been gifted by God responded to those gifts?' That's all grace. I have a clear sense I've led a graced existence."

More about Dr. Thomas

A native of Troy, Deacon Thomas grew up in St. Patrick's parish and graduated from Catholic Central High.

He went to Fordham University and medical school at NYU. He lived in Ohio and Wisconsin, completing an internship in pediatrics before switching to radiation oncology.

In 1990, he returned to the Albany Diocese.

Now a parishioner of St. Luke's Church in Schenectady, Deacon Thomas has been involved with Schenectady Inner City Ministries (SICM) for 15 years. He is also a board member for both Community Hospice and his alma mater, Catholic Central.

The new deacon boasted that his classmates' talents encompass parish, prison and Hispanic ministry as well as deep spirituality.

"I'm in awe of the sacrifices these guys have made" to answer the call to the diaconate, he said. (KB)

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