Diocesan leaders wrap up 60 years of ministry

By Ambria Hammel, The Catholic Sun
July 5, 2007

Four longtime local Church leaders with a collective 60 years of service to Catholics will be retiring this month.

Basilian Father Phil Acquaro, a tribunal judge and pastor at St. Thomas the Apostle Byzantine Church in Gilbert; Carol Gastelum in the Office of Family Catechesis; Mary Insera in Buildings; and Properties at the Diocesan Pastoral Center and Deacon Dan Peterson, director of the diaconate, hope to remain active in ministry.

“Retirement means no administrative responsibilities,” said Fr. Acquaro from behind an immaculate wooden desk.

Fr. Phil Acquaro

He has spent the last 17 years in the Office of the Tribunal, which oversees annulments as part of its responsibilities.

He called the tribunal a ministry for Catholics who seek to “heal their past and encourage and bless their future.”

Fr. Chris Fraser, adjutant judicial vicar, described Fr. Acquaro as an outstanding resource, especially in Eastern law.

His resourcefulness also served Fr. Fraser while in the seminary. The Basilian father shared his experience as a police chaplain so Fr. Fraser could compare police work with priesthood.

Fr. Acquaro ministered to parishioners at St. Thomas the Apostle Byzantine Church. He served in a support role for two years when it was still a mission and became pastor in 1992.

“The biggest challenge was creating a liturgically correct worship space so that the liturgical traditions can be celebrated,” Fr. Acquaro said. This allowed him to help Catholics grow in their understanding of Eastern Christian traditions.

Fr. Acquaro remains open to new opportunities that await him in retirement. He called it his third phase of priestly ministry behind teaching in other parts of the country and his dual roles in the Phoenix Diocese.

He will return to the Basilian house in Colorado where he might serve as guest biology lecturer at the University of St. Thomas or in campus ministry. He also wouldn’t mind serving as a cruise line chaplain. The Detroit native loves boats.

Carol Gastelum

Gastelum ministered to Phoenix Catholics by reaching out to adults and children who wanted to stay afloat in their faith.

She has served as coordinator of adult evangelization and assistant director of family catechesis since 1995. She oversaw all parish religious education leaders and adult formation coordinators.

“Our role as catechetical leaders is to help people discern what their gifts are, where they fit in the metanarrative and then give them the understanding, the basic teachings of the faith that will support them through the years of service,” Gastelum told parish catechetical leaders last month.

She also spent 17 years in the same role at Ss. Simon and Jude Cathedral. That is where Gastelum said she experienced some of her most memorable moments in ministry.

Gastelum remembers working at the cathedral in 1987 when Pope John Paul II visited Phoenix and in 1989 when Mother Teresa came.

“Multitudes were inspired and humbled by their words of wisdom,” she said. That led to an influx of phone calls from Catholics and non-Catholics wanting balance in their lives.

Some fallen-away churchgoers wanted to “come home” where they could seek connection and fulfillment, she recalled.

“Would these adults perceive our catechesis as relevant for their lives as individuals, parents and members of a global community? This was and still remains the challenge and is one of the major changes I have seen over the past 29 years,” Gastelum admitted.

She sees adult evangelization and catechesis as a priority in the Church today.

MaryBeth Mueller, executive director of the Division of Education and Evangelization, noted Gastelum has always been generous with her time and talent. Mueller said Catholics would still see Gastelum active in the diocese “because you don’t give up your vocation,” she said.

Mary Insera

Even though Phoenix Catholics at the Diocesan Pastoral Center may not see or hear Mary Insera in the office daily when she retires June 30, many will continue to play her “infectious laugh” in their heads, co-workers said. It became a work slump “pick-me-up” for many.

“She’d laugh at the drop of a hat,” said John Minieri, director of Buildings and Properties. Insera spent 11 years in his department as a real estate specialist for the diocese.

Insera said she would miss dealing with people in the parishes and seeing properties such as St. Gabriel Parish in Cave Creek and St. Benedict Parish come to fruition. She is excited to see San Francisco de Asís Parish in Flagstaff continue to grow.

“When you see barren land complete with the buildings to create an active, vibrant Catholic community, that’s a great accomplishment,” Insera said.

Insera also managed leases with cell phone companies to allow towers on Church property. Roughly 26 sites throughout the diocese host towers often disguised as palm trees, saguaros, bell towers and crosses.

Insera plans to work with the diocesan archivist on storing property files in retirement. She also wants to try out for staffing the Diamondbacks’ games and explore anything that is creative and fun.

Deacon Dan Peterson

Deacon Peterson, director of the Office of the Diaconate, plans to return to parish ministry in his retirement. He and his wife will split their time between Anthem and Prescott.

Deacon Peterson served for 10 years as the primary deacon to Bishop Thomas J. Olmsted and retired Bishop Thomas J. O’Brien. He also oversaw the selection, formation and ongoing training of deacons and aided the bishops in placement decisions.

Bishop Olmsted said Deacon Peterson’s leadership of the diaconate was at a pivotal time in the Church’s history. Restoration of the diaconate at the Second Vatican Council, the bishop said, became evident by its growth during Deacon Peterson’s tenure.

“Deacon Dan has consolidated and strengthened our diaconate community, reviewed and updated policies and procedures and initiated serious theological and pastoral reflection upon the diaconate, not only at the local level, but also at the national level,” the bishop said.

Deacon Peterson is finishing a three-year term with the National Association of Diocesan Diaconate Directors. This is where he conquered his biggest challenge.

The U.S. bishops ordered a new National Directory for the Life and Ministry of Deacons. This meant Deacon Peterson worked with other U.S. diaconate leaders to detail what the new formation process, life and ministry would look like.

As a result, the diocese’s head deacon said the biggest change he has seen is the increased diversity of diaconate services. That’s also what he will remember most about his tenure.

The head deacon openly shared story after story of deacons who serve behind the scenes. He described one deacon whose “quiet ministry to a bunch of elderly people” involves bringing Communion to them weekly for the last seven or eight years.

“I leave with a sense of joy for all the gifts it has brought to me,” Deacon Peterson said. It’s clear the other retirees felt the same.