Day of Education
8:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Equipping Deacons to Understand and Deal with Grief

Our Lady of the Hills Church
120 Marydale Lane
Columbia, SC 29210
ourladyofthehillssc.org

SPEAKERS: Patrick Metts, LPC & Michael Bowman, PhD, MD

Patrick Metts is a Licensed Professional Counselor and Assistant Director of the Office of Evangelization & Discipleship for the Archdiocese of Atlanta. He received a Master of Marriage and Family Studies from the John Paul II Institute in Valencia, Spain.

Michael Bowman, PhD, MD, is a retired pediatric pulmonologist and Professor Emeritus of MUSC. He is the founder of Grief & Bereavement Ministry of Christ Our King Church in Mount Pleasant and is a mentor for the Grief Ministry at St. Benedict Church.

Mr. Metts and Dr. Bowman will identify specific ways that a deacons can successfully assist members of their parish who are dealing with grief, as well as support parishioners wishing to form/enrich a Grief and Bereavement Ministry in the church. They will outline grief and bereavement ministry training and development that is available to those in the Diocese of Charleston (through the Archdiocese of Atlanta and the Association of Catholic Mental Health Ministers).

Light breakfast and lunch will be served for everyone.

Day of Prayer
8:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Eastern Catholic Spirituality and Prayer — Father Bartholomew Leon, OSB, Pastor of St. Rafka Maronite Catholic Church in Greer

Our Lady of the Hills Church
120 Marydale Lane
Columbia, SC 29210
ourladyofthehillssc.org

Father Bart will discuss Eastern Catholic Spirituality and Prayer.

Light breakfast and lunch will be served.

Day of Education
8:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Sharing Our Story, a Homiletics Refresher — Deacon Rick Wagner, Archdiocese of Indianapolis, Indiana

Our Lady of the Hills Church
120 Marydale Lane
Columbia, SC 29210
ourladyofthehillssc.org

It is important to remember that we preach beyond the ambo, commissioning the faithful as preachers of the Good News also. We act as storytellers, sharing the sacramental moments, people, and lessons of our lives. In doing so, we plant seeds of hope and encourage others to share. This homiletics refresher workshop will look at practical ways to inspire, motivate, and instruct through our preaching. No one else has lived your life or experienced Christ Jesus the same way you have. You can be a powerful witness by framing your faith story within the context of the readings of the Mass.

Deacon Rick Wagner has worked in Catholic schools and institutions for over 35 years. He has served as a high school teacher, coach, athletic director, principal, president, and vice president for mission and ministry. He has served as director of Our Lady of Fatima Retreat House and of the Permanent Deacon Formation Program for Saint Meinrad Seminary and School of Theology. He currently serves as president of Guerin Catholic High School in Noblesville, Indiana.

Deacon Rick was ordained in 2012 and is assigned to St. Pius X Church in the Archdiocese of Indianapolis, and ministers to unsheltered homeless in downtown Indianapolis as his work of charity. He has been married to his wife Carol for 40 years, and they have four children and 10 grandchildren.

Deacon Rick has presented retreats and workshops to educators, administrators, aspirants to the diaconate, deacons and their wives. He has published two books: Remember What’s Important (2011) and Fifty Homilies from the Deacon’s Desk (2016).

Light breakfast and lunch will be served.

Diaconal Ordination – Class of 2026
11:00 a.m.

Cathedral of St. John the Baptist
120 Broad Street
Charleston, SC 29401

Diaconate Retreat & Conference

With Father Thomas G. Morrow, STD. Father Morrow received his doctorate of sacred theology in moral theology from the Pope John Paul II Institute for Studies on Marriage and Family in 1999. He was host for three years (1989-1992) of Catholic Faith Alive!, radio program on WNTR in Washington, and has appeared as a guest on Mother Angelica Live and The Abundant Life on EWTN. He has had articles published in Homiletics and Pastoral Review, New Covenant, Our Sunday Visitor, Priest Magazine, Laywitness and more. He is the author of Overcoming Sinful Anger; Be Holy: A Catholic Guide to The Spiritual Life; and Achieving Chastity in A Pornographic World.

Doubletree by Hilton
2100 Bush River Road
Columbia, SC 29210

Day of Education

with Deacon David Kahn, PhD, Dealing with Conflict

Details TBD

Day of Prayer

with Keith Barron, PhD, Carmelite Spirituality

Details TBD

Day of Education

with Daniel Lloyd, PhD

Details TBD

Diaconate Retreat & Conference

Details TBD

With Father Aquinas Guilbeau, OP, University Chaplain and Vice President of Ministry and Mission, CUA

Doubletree by Hilton
2100 Bush River Road
Columbia, SC 29210