Deacon Joseph Arsenault

Home Parish: St. Francis of Assisi Braintree
Seminary: Blessed John XXIII National Seminary, Weston, Ma.
High-School: Case High School
College: Boston College, Assumption College
Hobbies: Reading, Traveling

What were major Catholic activities you participated in prior to the Seminary?
I was involved in religious education in my parish in Millis. I was also a lector and a Minister of the Eucharist. In 1988, I was ordained a permanent deacon of the Archdiocese of Boston. Since then I have ministered in four parishes: St. Thomas the Apostle in Millis, St. James in Stoughton, Sacred Heart in Middleboro, and St. Francis of Assisi in Braintree. I have also been involved in Prison Ministry as a deacon at Walpole, Southeast Correction Center, and Old Colony Prisons. Being a celebate deacon, I have had the privilage to be involved in many ministries within each parish to which I have been assigned.

What is your favorite Scripture passage? Why?
Romans 8:31-39. It speaks powerfully to me of the totality of God's love for each of us throgh the life, death and resurrection of Jesus. It speaks of intimacy that God calls is to when we enter into relatinship with Him. Nothing can separate us from His love and mercy if we are open to His grace.

What are some of the most important parts of discernment?
It strikes me that there are at least two deminsions that come to mind. There must be more, but two emerge for me immediately. One, is listening to one's self. Clearing away the clutter and asking the deeper questions of what you belive is your purpose in life and what is God's will for you. If I truly believe in my relationship with Christ, what is He asking of me? What brings me peace and joy in my heart? The second dimension is to read the "signs of the times" around you. I had come to realize that what I was doing professinally as well as ministerially was not enough. There was something more that needed to be done. At first it seemed like a dissatisfaction with the present activities, but then upon listening and discerning further, what emerged was a voice calling me to let go what I was doing, and trust in God enought to be lead to something else. In that process I needed to speak with people I trusted and well as pray a lot.

What would people be surprised to know about you?
In terms of interests, most would not know that I love boats, especially speed boats and I love salt water fishing. My work has not allowed me to do any of that for years, but if I had the opportunity, I would jump at.

How did you come to know Jesus Christ?
Like any significant relationship, my relationship with Jesus Christ is one that has evolved and contines to develop. I grew up in a traditional, ethnic and Catholic culture. I grew up in a sense with Christ around me everywhere. The symbols (as well as the Baltimore Catechism) was everywhere and the general culture supported it. One specific point came when I was 16 and was asked to go on a retreat. During that retreat, I had an overwhealming experience of the presence of Jesus, Jesus within me and in the Eucharist. The same type of experience happened to me as a novice in a religious community. The experience of Jesus present, where I could almost sense Him present to me. My recent experience of my health problems in which I was supposed to die, has transformed in my ways I still do not understand, my relationship with Jesus.

How does the Priest best follow in the footsteps of the apostles?
As Christ was obedient to the Father, and the Apostles became obedient to Christ, so we must be obedient to the Church. That will, I believe, make us counter-cultural in terms of American culture. Thus, we must willing to deal with rejection and criticism if we are to be faithful. Faithfullness to Christ, the Church and to the spiritual life as well as faithfulness to God's people is a way to follow in the footsteps of the apostles.