Get to know: Deacon Tom Berna

Deacon Thomas J. Berna
Ordination date: February 3, 2007, Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston
Parish assignment: St. Stephen, Hazelwood
Employment: Retired chemical engineer
Ministry: Parish-based ministry for liturgical service and social justice
Family: Married; four children and seven grandchildren
Education: B.S. and M.S. in chemical engineering, Drexel University; Ph.D. in chemical engineering, Carnegie Mellon University; M.A. in pastoral studies, University of St. Thomas (Houston)
 

What initially attracted you to the diaconate?

I had a desire to serve and to experience grace and formation, even if it did not lead to ordination. A friend who was director of religious education at our parish suggested the diaconate to me. Also, I had the support of my wife and family. I’d relocated to Houston, Texas, for my employment and was actually in the Deacon Formation Program there. I was ordained for the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston by Cardinal Daniel DiNardo, who’s from Pittsburgh. I served as a deacon for four years in the archdiocese and was incardinated into the Diocese of Pittsburgh in 2015 after relocating here.
 

What stands out for you as a highlight of your ministry?

It’s hard to say. Currently, I’m involved with an organization called Fishes and Loaves, an interfaith collaborative among various faith communities in Hazelwood, which provides an opportunity for people to get groceries in a community where there is no grocery store. We take peoples’ orders, shop for them to get the best prices, and distribute the food either on designated drop-off days or by home delivery. Under the umbrella of Fishes and Loaves, which is a tax-exempt, nonprofit organization, are a Meals on Wheels opertion, emergency food program for people in crisis, and a free-lunch program for walk-ins each weekday at the St. Stephen Pastoral Center. The tagline for Fishes and Loaves is “To bring healthy food to the community at reasonable prices.” I always go back to the scriptural account of the selection of the first deacons in Acts 6 and how they were chosen to help provide for people’s basic needs. In light of that account, I’ve always believed that any ministry having to do with food is very diaconal. I’ve also been very active with Catholic Relief Services. I’ve been to Africa with that organization to attend to those in need, and I’ve visited parishes in the United States to raise awareness and generate support for the work of CRS. (As part of the official mission of the Catholic Church, CRS works with local, national, and international Catholic institutions and other organizations to provide humanitarian assistance to help people in need.) Closer to home, I very much enjoy being involved with marriage and baptism preparation programs.
 

What motivates you to a ministry of service?

Love of God and love of people are what motivate me to serve. I always appreciate the support and involvement of my wife, Janet. We serve in some ministries together. We are also actively involved with the Lay Spiritans, an association affiliated with the Congregation of the Holy Spirit, a religious order known as Spiritans. (Lay Spiritan Associates engage in apostolic ministries that emerge out of their prayer life and, moved by the Holy Spirit, respond to the call to serve the poor, the vulnerable, and the marginalized.)
 

What is your favorite part of being a deacon? Why?

Sharing the Gospel with people in need (e.g., those who have not been to church in a while, those who are suffering, those who seek an annulment, those who are preparing for marriage or another sacrament). It all boils down to education and communication, fulfilling the needs of the people we serve. Deacons also share a particular connection to the diocesan bishop by means of their ordination and within their clerical state. That’s a special relationship to be obligated to the bishop and subject to that authority.
 

How does someone know if he has a vocation to become a deacon?

If someone is already active in one or more ministries, or one has a desire to serve in the name of the Church, and if one has the support of his wife (if married) and family and his pastor, then one can apply. (Note: An inquirer’s pastor must submit a nomination on his behalf before the application process can begin.) Ultimately, it’s up to the bishop to decide if a person is called to ordination.
 

What advice do you have for someone who might be considering the diaconate?

Talk with your family, then with a deacon in your parish if one is assigned there, and with your pastor. Finally, if you believe God is calling you at this time, then apply. Certainly, make sure your wife is involved in the process if you’re married. It’s important that you consider all aspects of family responsibilities in deciding whether you are called to the diaconate.
 

How has your ministry enhanced your spiritual life – your personal relationship with Jesus?

Certainly, my spiritual life has grown through daily prayer and through a better understanding of my call to serve—to put God’s will ahead of mine. My wife and I are also closer, and we pray together and talk about commitments so I don’t end up doing my thing while she does her thing. We see ourselves as a diaconal couple. I believe this is what God calls us to. We don’t often serve in the same ministries, but we support each other in trying to respond to God’s call for each of us.
 

In what ways has your personal or professional life been enhanced by being a deacon?
What effect has it had on your family life?

I’m now retired, but even as an engineer, the diaconate challenged me to adjust priorities. My co-workers recognized that I was in formation and eventually ordained, and they asked me about Catholic teaching, asked me to pray with them, and expected me to be a man of integrity. Once retired, I was able to enter a training program for hospital chaplaincy. This training provided me with great opportunities to grow spiritually, intellectually, and personally. I still use engineering skills of logical thinking and organizing, but I also use pastoral skills in my ministry to others, and I use intellectual skills when understanding and teaching Church matters. I also have a better understanding of who I am as a Christian man, which helps me in loving God and neighbor. There was a time, early on, before I entered the Deacon Formation Program in Houston that I was concerned about how the diaconate would impact my time with my family. I know my wife, Janet, was concerned about that, too. Wives certainly need to be involved in the process. Over time, through mutual prayer and dialogue, we decided that I should apply for the formation program. Along the way, we were affirmed by advice from the director of the program, who said that if diaconal formation doesn’t strengthen your marriage, then you’re probably not called to it.
 

What saint(s) do you look to for inspiration? Why?                                         

St. Paul preached the Gospel and gave his life. St. Stephen, one of the first deacons, helped with the “daily distribution” to meet the needs of the growing community of early disciples. I very much enjoyed the biographical film Entertaining Angels: The Dorothy Day Story. Dorothy Day dedicated her life to serving the poor. I pray for her canonization.
 

What excites you most about being On Mission for the Church Alive?

I think it’s necessary for the Church of Pittsburgh, and I’m excited about the prospect of a new and challenging assignment, even if I stay in the grouping that will include my present parish. I want to help people become excited about their faith, and I want to invite people to join us in worshiping and serving.
 

Anything else you’d like to add?

As deacons, our vocation is three-fold: We are called to the Ministry of Word, Liturgy, and Charity. It’s mostly about serving outside the church building. We serve at Mass and other liturgical celebrations; we bring Communion to the homebound; we teach and lead Bible studies; and we serve in soup kitchens, hospitals, nursing homes, and prisons. Only by serving outside the church building are we qualified to serve inside the building. Catholic social teaching must inform our ministry and preaching.
 
For more information about diaconal ministry and the diocesan Deacon Formation Program: deacons@diopitt.org or 412-456-3124.