One of the major purposes of the NAD is to inform deacons of various happenings across the country. In one as large as ours, the feeling of being isolated and alone can happen quite easily. Our website (ausdeacons.org.au) can help to alleviate this feeling, especially the forum. The forum can be used to ask questions and make contacts with other deacons across the country. I would encourage all of you to make use of the forum or at least, visit it to see and read what others are saying.

As we close in on the end of another liturgical year, it is an opportune time to reflect on the work of the NAD over this past year. It has been twelve months since my appointment as Chair of our diaconal association and it is pleasing to note that there have been some achievements in this period of time.

At the time of writing this report, we are surrounded by great Church celebrations – the Feast of St Mary of the Cross, the Feast of the Assumption of our Lady into Heaven and the gathering of the youth of the world in Madrid to celebrate World Youth Day.

Hal Ranger writes about the life of a colleague, Peter McEniery, who was ordained a priest and later found a second career and love.

As I write this report, the National Association of Deacons is preparing for its biennial conference to be held at St Leo’s College, Brisbane, 30 June – 3 July.

Deacon, husband, father and educator – meet the new NAD chairman.

First of all, a special thanks to Ian McGinnity and his team of helpers for organising the NCP National Conference at Parramatta. The venue was superb, the guest speakers were brilliant, the discussions were robust, the atmosphere most welcoming, the free afternoon relaxing and enjoyable.

Paul Simmons, a Deacon of the Broken Bay Diocese, was appointed as National Coordinator of Deacons by the ACBC in 2007, and has just been re-appointed for a further three year term.

This is a part-time position and is accountable, through the Director of Clergy Life and Ministry to the Bishops Commission for Church Ministry, and
in turn is accountable to the Bishops Conference, for the coordination and promotion of the permanent diaconate in Australia.

Following our Executive Meeting in Melbourne last February, several of our members have been gathering information on possible venues for our 2011 National Conference. Several locations have been proposed and are in the last stages of evaluation.