IN Canon-Mac Fall 2016 | Page 10

WHAT’S NEWS IN CANON-MAC CECIL INTERMEDIATE STUDENT SUPPORTS RONALD MCDONALD HOUSE CHARITIES Cecil Intermediate student Olivia VanWie initiated a district-wide pop tab collection to support Ronald McDonald House Charities during the 2015-16 school year. Ronald McDonald House Charities accepts pop tabs because they can be converted into cash to help sick children and their families. They help to provide family housing near a hospitalized child or address the expense of staying together in another city while a child is being treated for illness. With the help of a lot of friends and family and great support from the Canon McMillan schools, Olivia was able to accumulate upwards of 100 pounds of pop tabs that will be transported to the local chapter of Ronald McDonald House Charities. Olivia would like to thank all of the friends who helped, the students at the schools who pitched in, Mr. Barzan, the guidance counselor at Cecil Intermediate School, and the Cecil Township Police K9 Officer, Miner, for safekeeping the tabs after they were collected. The photo above shows some of the many who helped make this project a success. They were transferring smaller containers into one of the large plastic bins. From left to right: Morgan Smith, Kristina Nyquist, Olivia VanWie, Luke VanWie, Tyler Nyquist and Gage Mazzocco. Officer Jeff Holt in the background and K9 Officer Miner in the foreground. 8 724.942.0940 TO ADVERTISE | Canon-Mac BISHOP ZUBIK CALLS FOR NEW CLASS TO BEGIN DIOCESAN DEACON FORMATION PROGRAM The Diocese of Pittsburgh is initiating the nomination and application process for admitting a new class of interested and qualified Catholic men into the Deacon Formation Program, according to Bishop David A. Zubik. In addition, as previously announced in 2014, the bishop said he intends to continue calling additional classes into the formation program every other year in order to prepare men to eventually serve in ordained ministry as permanent deacons. Deacons along with bishops and priests constitute the three levels of ordained ministry in the Roman Catholic Church. The Diocese of Pittsburgh currently has about 100 permanent deacons plus 15 men in the Deacon Formation Program. Although deacons often assist priests at Mass, preach on occasion, and sometimes preside at baptisms, weddings, funeral services, and other liturgical functions, the primary focus of their ministry is rooted in works of service and charity. Deacons may be called upon to minister to those who are sick, elderly, imprisoned, hungry, poor, lonely, and forgotten. They might work with immigrants, youths and young adults, those in special need, or those on the fringes of society. Many deacons work to share the faith by catechizing and evangelizing. Some deacons also have administrative duties in the church. A prospective deacon should be a man of solid faith, deep spirituality, and good reputation and character. He should be fully initiated into the sacramental life of the Catholic Church and living in conformity with all of its teachings. He also should be physically, psychologically, and emotionally healthy; generously willing to serve the diocesan church; and capable of assuming a leadership role and working well with a diversity of people. Applicants must be between the ages of 30 and 59. They should have at least a bachelor’s degree and be able to financially support themselves and their family. A married applicant must be in a stable, well-established marriage and have the full support of his wife to enter the formation program, which lasts at least five years. To begin the process, a prospective applicant’s pastor must submit a nomination on his behalf. The deadline for nominations is Sept. 15, 2016. Applications without a nomination will not be considered. For more information, contact the Diocese of Pittsburgh Deacon Formation Program: