SSDCA 
St. Stephen, Deacon - Feastday: December 26 - Patron saint of Stonemasons
Stephen's name means "crown," and he was the first disciple of Jesus to receive the martyr's crown. Stephen was a deacon in the early Christian Church. The apostles had found that they needed helpers to look after the care of the widows and the poor. So they ordained seven deacons, and Stephen is the most famous of these.
As the first deacon to commit his life to the service of the Gospel of Christ with the willingness to follow Jesus even unto death, he provides the vision of diaconal service to the deacons of the Rochester Diocese. (Brief St. Stephen Bio)
As ARTICLE II of our Constitution states, our MISSION is:
We, as members of the diaconal community of the Diocese of Rochester, establish this association to build and nurture community among deacons, candidates, aspirants, wives, widows and families. Specifically, we join together to promote the spiritual life and to support diaconal ministrial life with special attention to those in formation as they discern their vocation. We do this out of a sense of the unique bond we share, a bond of charity, prayer, obedience to our bishop, service and witness. As a result of this association, we hope we all will grow as witnesses to Christ, the servant.
Biblical Beginnings and Theology of the Diaconate
Liturgy of the Hours (includes audio as well as text)
Safe and Sacred - Charter for the Protection of Children and Youth
2012 Diaconal Service letter (Please return this form by March 23)
2013 Annual Retreat - In 2013 our retreat director is expected to be Michael Higgins, the official biographer of Henri Nouwen.
Deacon page on the Diocese of Rochester web site
Deacon page at the St. Bernard's School of Theology and Ministry
Deacon formation information at St. Bernard's School of Theology and Ministry
2013 Dues are due -- annual request letter here
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2013 - 48.5% 79 participants $3,000 As of March 22, 2013
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2012 - 47.8% 78 participants $3,060 NOTE: Dues participation is going down !!
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2011 - 54.6% 89 participants $3.600
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2010 - 57.7% 94 participants $3,720 Statistics recalculated as of Feb 1, 2013
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2009 - 60.1% 98 participants $4,230
| Thank you --- we have already received $370 in donations in 2013 -- above and beyond the dues requested |
| As the dues request letter everyone received states: The Nine year total (Difference between income and expenses) was $592.06 So the nine year SSDCA financial history is essentially breakeven. The $1,175 donations received during those years make the difference - kept SSDCA in the black. Dues alone does not cover SSDCA expenses |
Do you know?
That SSDCA has over 200 members!
To foster everyone "knowing" each other SSDCA sponsors and encourages participation in four (4) community wide events each year:
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April-May - The "Day with the Bishop" the Deacon Annual Convocation
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May-June - The Ordination Breakfast - meeting our newest Deacon Class
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August - SSDCA Annual Community Picnic
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October - SSDCA sponsored Annual Deacon Retreat
There are other community wide events (Chrism Mass, Ministerium Day, Ordination, etc.) available.