Celebrating 25th anniversary, bishop calls deacons 'bridge builders'

Published: November 12, 2011

By Malea Hargett
Editor

Malea Hargett

Bishop Emeritus Andrew J. McDonald of Palatine, Ill., poses with 11 deacons who were ordained in 1986. The diocese introduced the diaconate in 1977 and the first class was ordained in 1981.

Malea Hargett

Bishop Emeritus Andrew J. McDonald of Palatine, Ill., poses with 11 deacons who were ordained in 1986. The diocese introduced the diaconate in 1977 and the first class was ordained in 1981.

Eleven men who were among the first deacons in the Diocese of Little Rock celebrated their 25th anniversaries Nov. 5.

The Mass, con-celebrated by the bishop who ordained them, Bishop Emeritus Andrew J. McDonald, punctuated a morning of activities where the men and their wives were able to gather together to remember their time of training in the 1980s and those who have died.

Before the Mass, Bishop Anthony B. Taylor blessed special dalmatics -- outer vestments worn by deacons -- which were monogrammed with their names in honor of the anniversary. Before the blessing Bishop Taylor thanked the deacons for their work in their parishes, calling them "bridge builders."

"That is really your role in the parish. You are the glue in the parish," he said.

On Nov. 15, 1986, 20 men were ordained at the Cathedral of St. Andrew in Little Rock. Ten of the men are still serving in the diocese.

Deacon Bob Cowie, who is the pastoral administrator at St. Anthony Church in Ratcliff. He is married to Bette Kay.

Deacon Mike Cumnock, who serves at St. Mary Church in Batesville and St Cecilia Church in Newport. He is married to Sarah.

Deacon Bill Cunningham, who serves at St. Rose Church in Carlisle. He is married to Charlene.

Deacon Dan Daily, who serves as pastoral administrator at Our Lady of the Ozarks Shrine in Winslow. He is married to Ginger.

Deacon John Duke of Benton, who is retired. He is married to Nettie.

Deacon Wally Gieringer, who is retired but continues to serve at Sacred Heart of Jesus Church in Hot Springs Village. He is married to Suzanne.

Deacon John Krug of Mountain Home, who is retired. He is married to Rose.

Deacon Brunon Strozyk, who serves at Immaculate Heart of Mary Church in North Little Rock (Marche). He is married to Dottie.

Deacon Marlyn Tate, who serves at Immaculate Heart of Mary Church in Walnut Ridge. He is married to Brenda.

Deacon David Westmoreland, who serves at St. Joseph Church in Conway. He is married to Dorothy.

Five of the deacons are deceased. They are Joe McCaffrey, Bill Ralston, Bill Reuter and George Siebenmorgan. Millie Regan, the widow of Bob Regan of Hope, who died Nov. 3, was present.

Three deacons now live out of state. They are John Hartnedy of Florida, David Briselden of Georgia and Jim Smith of Texas. Two men left the diaconate.

Two other men who celebrated their 25th anniversaries, Paul Poulosky of St. Peter the Fisherman Church in Mountain Home and Tony Salamone of St. Agnes Church in Mena, were ordained in other dioceses.

A lot has changed since the 20 deacons were introduced to their parishes in 1986.

"People in 1986 didn’t know what a deacon was," Cumnock said.

"We have to periodically explain who we are (even today)," Westmoreland said.

Gieringer said his favorite times as a deacon have been preparing someone for baptism and "seeing people come to the faith."

"They are preparing themselves for external life," he said.