Lexington deacon is first from diocese to hold national office |
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Written by CAROL BREIDENBACH, Special to the Chronicle
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Monday, 10 November 2008 01:00 |
LEXINGTON—Deacon Thomas Dubois of Lexington Resurrection finds the experience of being a deacon affirming.
"I love serving people, preaching, teaching and talking to people," he says.
His new position as executive director of The National Association of Diaconate Directors (NADD) gives him more opportunities to serve the church using these talents.
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| Deacon Thomas Dubois |
The National Association of Diaconate Directors was founded to serve those priests, deacons, religious and laity who are responsible to their respective bishops for the formation, ministry and life of deacons serving the Catholic Church. The association has an advisory relationship with the Committee for Clergy, Consecrated Life and Vocations of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.
The association has been in existence for more than 28 years and recently relocated from Rockford, Ill., to The Pontifical College Josephinum in Worthington, Ohio, a suburb of Columbus.
In 2007, the Josephinum’s board of trustees established an Institute for the Formation and Ministry of the Permanent Diaconate as a visible commitment supporting the development of permanent deacons serving throughout the United States.
NADD entered into a collaboration with the Josephinum in 2005 that led to the successful launch of a New Director’s Institute and the exploration of additional cooperative endeavors.
Deacon Dubois heard about the opening for the executive director of NADD from Deacon Alfredo Diaz, vicar for deacons for the Diocese of Toledo.
"When I heard about the position," says Deacon Diaz, "I thought it would be perfect for Tom and highly encouraged him to apply." Deacon Diaz says although a Toledo diocesan priest, Father Cleo Schmenk, was instrumental in founding the association, no one from the Toledo diocese has ever directed it before now.
Deacon Dubois was ordained for the Toledo Diocese in May 2000, and earned a Master of Pastoral Studies degree with a focus on pastoral life and administration from Loyola University of New Orleans through the LIMEX program. He acquired the degree to improve his ministry, increase his knowledge of theology and to receive degree credentials unavailable through the Toledo Diocese diaconate formation program.
Deacon Dubois believes this degree was instrumental in his getting the director’s position at NADD.
His ministerial experience includes serving Catholic inmates at Mansfield Correctional Institute for the past nine years. In his parish assignment at Resurrection, he is actively involved in RCIA, formation of extraordinary ministers of holy Communion, pastoral council and teaching adult religious education programs.
At the diocesan level, he serves on the Deacon’s Council and has worked with the Aspirance Board of the diaconate formation program. He assists the Office of Global Concerns by preaching at area parishes to solicit prayer and financial support on behalf of the Society for the Propagation of the Faith.
Deacon Dubois and his wife, Deborah, have been married 28 years. Mrs. Dubois is the Children’s Outreach librarian with the Mansfield/Richland County Public Library. They have two daughters: Aimee, who works as an industrial designer in Toledo, and Anne, who attends Eastern Michigan University. His family has been supportive of his ministry as a deacon, although they miss the pancakes he made every Saturday morning before prison ministry took that time slot.
He commutes to Worthington for his job at NADD because Lexington has been home for 30 years and he wants to continue in his local ministries and not disturb his wife’s job.
Applying for and accepting the position at NADD required the permission of Bishop Leonard P. Blair. In a congratulatory letter to Deacon Dubois, Bishop Blair noted the deacon’s appointment was an honor not only personally, but also for the Toledo Diocese.
Deacon Dubois’ previous experience in marketing communications and business are directly applicable to his duties at NADD. As executive director, he serves as the chief executive officer of the association and is its official spokesperson. He directs routine operations and affairs, develops long-range plans and maintains responsibility for the financial integrity of the association.
NADD’s mission statement succinctly describes what Deacon Dubois, as executive director is called to do:
"The National Association of Diaconate Directors exists to support diaconate directors, associate directors, and their staffs in their mission to enable deacons, candidates, aspirants, their wives and families to utilize their gifts in the service to the church following the model of Jesus Christ."
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For more information about NADD, visit www.nadd.org or call 1-614-985-2276.
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Last Updated on Friday, 23 January 2009 10:15 |
