Rest in Peace Deacon Conrad

Deacon Joseph Michael Conrad Jr., of Upper Marlboro, Maryland, passed away on August 8, 2014. He was 78 years old.

He and 22 other married men, after studying for two years, were ordained on September 11, 1971, in the first class of permanent deacons in the United States. His first assignment as a permanent deacon was at Our Lady Queen of Peace Church in Washington, D.C. Additional assignments included St. Joseph’s Church in Roxbury, Massachusetts, and St. Gabriel the Archangel Church in New Orleans, Louisiana. His last assignment was at St. Luke Church under the Josephite Order, which was instrumental in ensuring that the National Conference of Catholic Bishops approved a permanent deaconate program. In 2011 Deacon Conrad celebrated his 40^th year serving as a permanent deacon.

For his complete obituary, please go here: http://www.josephites.org/parish-news/deacon-joseph-michael-conrad-jr-obituary/

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I did have the opportunity to meet Deacon Conrad and his wife on a couple of occasions over the years.  He was a quiet man but seemed to be a man of integrity and honesty.

Requiem Aeternam dona eis, Domine
R. et lux perpetua luceat eis:
Requiescant in pace. R. Amen.

 

Fr. William Norvel to head Josephite Order

Instead of choosing the easy chair, Norvel accepted the promotion.

Now he’s the 13th superior general of the Josephite Priests and Brothers, a Roman Catholic order that was started 140 years ago to minister to freed slaves. Norvel is the first African American in the job.

“I thought I was ready for retirement,” said Norvel, who was officially installed last month during a ceremony at Our Lady. “But it looks like the Lord has asked me to continue to minister to my brothers and sisters.”

For more, go here.