Which denomination? - bit.hstserv.ada-law I Google Groups Google Groups bit.listserv.ada-law Help I Sign in Search this group Search Groups Message from discussion Which denomination? View parsed - Show only message text From: "Rev. Jim Sutter" Subject: Re: Which denomination? Date: 1995/09/30 Message- ID: <950 93 021043 9_1133 8 6 93 8@emout 04 .mail . aol . com>#l/l X-Deja-AN: 116865841 sender: Americans with Disabilities Act Law comments: Gated by NETN ... @AUVM. AMERICAN . EDU newsgroups : bit.listserv. ada-law In a message dated 95-09-30 20:06:57 EDT, you write: >Rev. Jim: >Which denomination do you belong to? Since you have a family >and someone mentioned Catholic Church, I am perplexed. I will >try to gather addresses of all church headquarters, too, if that >will help. > > Ann - I am a minister by a new program of the Catholic Church. The Jesuits are running a relatively new program out of Modesto, CA, where they are coordinating training of ministers who would otherwise not qualify for service to their church. I would not normally qualify for further service to the Catholic Church, as I had already been commissioned a Eucharistic Minister, and the next step up would normally be to the Deaconnate. BUT, the Catholic church will not accept anyone into the Deacconate program who is disabled. (I know, we need to work on them, too) . So the long and the short of it is that applicants go through five years of lay ministry to http://groups. google. com/group/bit. listserv.ada-law/msg/98eeaf68912e2cf5?dmode=source&hl=en (1 of 3)7/7/2007 1:43:49 PM Which denomination? - bit.hstserv.ada-law I Google Groups learn tenants and connonical law and biblical studies in whatever Christian religion they profess as their faith. The program is currently graduating Catholic Ministers, and Protestant and Episcopalian and Baptist Ministers . As a Catholic minister, after 1 completed my five years of study, done through a combination of correspondence, online and attendance at St. Borromeo Seminary (here in Cleveland) , while during the same five years working as a lay minister for the Catholic Church. After all that, then 1 was ordained, in Decembber, 1994. As a Catholic Minister, through a special dispensation of the Pope, 1 can be married and have a family. 1 am in a position higher than a Deacon, but slightly lower than a priest. 1 perform baptisms, celebrate mass, preside at First Communions, hear confessions, absolve sinners, bring communion, compassion and a sympathetic ear to the sick (they can't tell me anything 1 don't personally know about), say funeral masses, marriages, etc. My very first, official act after being formally ordained last December was the saddest act of my life, 1 had to preside at the funeral mass of my closest friend, who had won his release from the pain of cancer.. 1 am on the Chaplaincy staff at a large local hospital, and 1 am also just beginning to work on a new assignment that 1 requested as Catholic minister to a local prison . 1 have been told over and over to slow down, and just last week, my primary physician asked me how 1 can keep going, considering how serious my disabilities are. My reply is that 1 was blessed by God when he gave http://groups.google.com/group/bit.hstserv.ada-law/msg/98eeaf68912e2cf5 ?dmode=source&hl=en (2 of 3)7/7/2007 1:43:49 PM Which denomination? - bit.hstserv.ada-law I Google Groups me all these disabilities so that 1 could understand what others are going through, and 1 really can empathize with them. God also allows me the grace to wake up each morning and to continue His work. When He finally calls me, I will, I hope, have offered some hope to others in similar situations. 1 also hope that 1 have been able to, in some small way, make a change for the better in this world. I am not afraid of dying - I know that it will be an end to the daily pain, and that 1 will be welcomed into God's Heavenly Kingdom. However, despite the pain, despite my disabilities, 1 am in no great hurry to check out just yet . Rev Jim Create a group - Google Groups - Google Home - Terms of Service - Privacy Policy ©2007 Google http://groups. google. com/group/bit. listserv.ada-law/msg/98eeaf68912e2cf5?dmode=source&hl=en (3 of 3)7/7/2007 1:43:49 PM