Deacon Ray and Deacon Andy at St. Mary’s Church, Old Ursuline Convent in New Orleans

Deacon Andrew Saunders, Co-Director of the 4:12 Pathway for Pastoral Leadership grant, Immaculate Conception Seminary School of Theology traveled to New Orleans from January 28 to January 31, 2025, to collaborate with Deacon Ray Duplechain, Director of the Permanent Diaconate for the Archdiocese of New Orleans. The purpose of the collaboration was to conduct a series of video interviews between Deacon Saunders and Deacon Duplechain on topics associated with the permanent diaconate. The videos will be featured in the digital resource hub currently being developed for deacon candidates, deacons, and formators.

Deacon Duplechain has been a deacon for over 28 years and is a well-known national expert on the permanent diaconate. He was previously the Chairman of the National Association of Diaconate Directors and in 2018 was responsible for overseeing the 50th anniversary celebration of the restoration of the permanent diaconate in the United States which was held in New Orleans. As a national leader, Deacon Duplechain, attended the 4:12 Pathway diaconate “Real-Life Retreat” held in the fall of 2022 at St. Mary’s Abbey, Morristown, NJ which included formators, deacons, candidates, wives, and faculty from Immaculate Conceptions Seminary School of Theology and the Archdiocese of Newark and dioceses of Paterson, Metuchen, and Trenton. Deacon Duplechain provided valuable input during the retreat and subsequently was an important consultant to Deacon Saunders in the development of the strategic diaconate initiatives under the grant.

Deacon Saunders notes, “I first had the pleasure of working with Deacon Duplechain when we served together at the National Association of Diaconate Directors. We both had a shared vision of a digital resource hub which could serve the diaconate community and formators. Our video interview series will be of interest to those discerning a call to the diaconate, as well as candidates, deacons and formators which will be a highlight of our digital hub.” The video interviews were conducted at historical and religious locations significant to the diaconate and to the City of New Orleans.

The first of the series was conducted at St. Mary’s Church, which is part of the Old Ursuline Convent located in the French Quarter. The Convent is the oldest building in the Mississippi River Valley, dated back to 1752.

Monstrance at St. Mary, Old Ursuline Convent, New Orleans

It was chosen because the first Eucharistic procession in New Orleans was held by the Ursuline nuns in 1743 to this location. Above the altar is the monstrance used for the 1938 Eucharistic Congress. “It was fitting our series began here with the magnificent monstrance overlooking the interview because it is the Eucharist that nourishes our diaconal ministry,” said Deacon Saunders.

The following day interviews were conducted at Madlyn and Paul Hilliard Research Library located on the second floor of the Hall of Democracy at the National World War II Museums. This location was chosen because the seeds of the restoration of the permanent diaconate came from priests at the Nazi concentration camp Dachau.

Bridgeway at the National World War II Museum, New Orleans

They had a vision the renewal of the Church would need married men in the image of Christ the Servant who could go into the nooks and crannies of society. Some of the priests who survived Dachau kept notes of their conversations which were instrumental in the discussions leading up to the Second Vatican Council.

Also, while at the Museum, Deacon Saunders visited the Faith in Wartime exhibit which featured the four chaplains aboard the Dorchester, a troop transport ship enroute from New York to Greenland, who gave their lives when it was sunk by a German U-boat. As the ship was sinking, the chaplains gave their life vests to others. Each was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for their courage and self-sacrifice. It was significant to note one of the chaplains, Rev. John Washington was a graduate of Seton Hall University and Immaculate Conception Seminary School of Theology.

The third day of the video series was conducted at the Basilica of St. Stephen. A magnificent and beautiful minor basilica whose foundation was laid in 1867 and completed in 1888. The 200-foot spire, completed in 1906 towers over the City of New Orleans. The interview had the stunning sanctuary in the background as seen in the photograph. The basilica was chosen because of the connection to St. Stephen, who along with six others, through the laying of hands by the apostles in Acts Chapter 6:1-6, is the protodeacon and first martyr of the Church. The Basilica of St. Stephen is also connected to Seton Hall University through a shire near the entrance to St. Elizabeth Ann Seton.

Basilica St. Stephen, New Orleans

Deacon Saunders concluded his visit to New Orleans by attending and presenting at a formation event for deacon candidates and their wives of the Archdiocese of New Orleans and Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux. Deacon Saunders spoke about the video series, digital resource hub, and our ongoing collaboration with the Archdiocese of New Orleans. The evening concluded with an open discussion between formators, candidates, and wives that formation is one sole organic journey from inquiry to aspirancy, candidacy, and post-ordination. Deacon Saunders and Deacon Duplechain cautioned the attendees not to identify the diaconate ministry solely through what deacons can do or the skills and functions. Rather the power of diaconate ministry, is rooted in Christ the Servant. Deacons should be identified by who we are and who we are becoming. Servants modeled after Christ. At the core, our ministry is about presence and being available to those in need.