DAA helps ministries in diocese

By KATIE LEFEBVRE, Globe staff reporter
August 25, 2005

The Diocesan Annual Appeal is designed to help various ministries throughout the Diocese of Sioux City. Two such ministries include the permanent diaconate and Tribunal.

The 2005 Diocesan Annual Appeal is scheduled to kick-off Sept. 10 and 11. The appeal has been in place for 30 years and this year's goal is $1.4 million.

Deacon Tim Murphy, interim director of the diaconate program, noted that DAA dollars help the diaconate ministry.

"We are really growing lately," said Deacon Murphy. "We've gotten lots of guys interested in becoming deacons. That means we will need money to provide a better program and also have a good salary to offer someone to come and be a full-time director, too."

The diaconate is one of the three ordained ministries in the church.

"It is centered mostly on service - serving others. Charity is an important part of our office," said Deacon Murphy. "We are also a visible sign to the church that service is important for all Christians. One of the reasons that we are on the altar during Mass is to show that we are serving at the table as well as serving the community."

Deacons also read and preach the word of God. They can do that during Mass, as a teacher or in religious education.

"Deacons are one way to show that we are here to serve the world and to help those in need no matter who they are," said the deacon.

The diocesan Tribunal provides services pertaining to the sacrament of marriage. When prenuptial documentation comes in, the Tribunal reviews it and makes sure that everything that has to be done or has been done provides the necessary permissions and dispensations, explained Msgr. Mark Duchaine, vicar judicial for the Tribunal and pastor at St. Mary Parish in Mapleton and St. Mary Parish in Oto.

"Primarily, the Tribunal's work pertains to marriages that have ended in divorce where one or both parties are looking to be freed from that previous bond so that they might enter into a new marriage in the church," said Msgr. Duchaine. "What we do is undertake a judicial process to determine whether or not the marriage that is being challenged was or was not valid according to church teaching."

The vicar explained that if a marriage is found to be not valid, then through a decree the Tribunal can restore the freedom to marry to the parties. The people can then enter into a new marriage in the church.

"DAA provides approximately 50 percent of our operating budget," said Msgr. Duchaine. "Without it, the processing fee for marriage invalidity cases would probably double, which would make it much more difficult, if not impossible, for some people to petition and receive this justice of the church. It is a very important matter for us."

According to Msgr. Duchaine, DAA dollars help offset costs of the salaries, telephone, postage, services of experts and other parts of the Tribunal ministry.

"We hold marriage to be one of the seven sacraments," said Msgr. Duchaine. "We believe very seriously that what God has joined no one may divide. A sacramental bond is a life-long union that no power can dissolve. In certain instances, it could be that a given marriage which appears to be valid on the surface was not validly contracted because the parties were not acting with the requisite freedom or knowledge or intentions."

He continued that "it is important for people in the church to have this opportunity, so that they can continue to live their Catholic faith fully and receive the sacraments of the church validly."

Other diocesan entities and ministries that receive dollars from DAA include Catholic Charities, multi-cultural ministries, adult and family ministries, youth programs Religious Education Media Center, Catholic schools and parish religious education and the Peace and Justice Action Commission.

Parishioners will receive their direct mail pieces during the week of Sept. 12-16. For more information contact the Diocesan Chancery Office.