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PAGE 7 — The Georgia Bulletin, June 20. 1985
A Permanent Deacon Of Many Roles
BY MSGR. NOEL C.
BURTENSHAW
A colorful group of New
Yorkers come to the fam
ed St. Malachy’s Church
just off Broadway for
liturgy. St. Malachy’s is
the well-known “actors
church” which has tradi
tionally ministered to
those who make their liv
ing entertaining on the
“Great White Way.”
But others worship side
by side with acting pro
fessionals. You have the
office workers, the senior
citizens who still cling to
downtown, blacks,
hispanics. All come
together at this
cross-roads church in the
heart of New York City.
Often as they worship,
they hear a familiar voice
in the pulpit and many
will also recognize the
face. Leading them will
be actor Gregory Abels
who is an ordained mar
ried deacon. Gregory
divides his time in the
ministry of the diaconate
and his profession on the
stage.
New Jersey born Abels
was last seen on Broad
way in the play “Nuts.’T
played the prosecutor
McMillen,” says the
43-year-old actor, “but
along with Broadway I
have played Shakespeare
in Central Park and lots
of television.”
The audience in St.
Malachy’s, along with au
diences around the coun
try, would recognize
Gregory from his many
soap opera ap
pearances.
“I’m very authentic
when, about four times a
year, I play the town
priest in ‘One Life To
Live.’ I have also played
in ‘All My Children,’
‘Guiding Light’ and for
four years I had a part in
‘Where The Heart Is.” So
I’ve done a lot of televi
sion.”
But it is in St.
Malachy’s that Deacon
Abels does his best work.
“I’m very involved in the
ministry,” says Gregory,
who plays many parts as
deacon. “I counsel people
at the church, both actors
and others. I am also very
involved in giving
who lives with his wife,
Janet, and their 11-year-
old daughter, Carrie. “I
work very hard at my
preaching and love my in
volvement with it.”
Speaking is, of course,
a big part of Gregory
Abels’ life. He constantly
does voice-overs for pro
gramming and last year
was very pleased to have
the voice-over for a public
television documentary
on the Trappist monk
Thomas Merton. The pro
gram was called
“Merton.”
In 1961, Gregory Abels
went to acting school in
New York. “I was not
very active in the Church
at the time,” says
Gregory Abels on stage.
spiritual direction. I lead
a prayer group and am in
volved with a meditation
group.”
Once a month Deacon
Abels preaches at
weekend liturgies.
“That’s my favorite
ministry,” says Gregory,
Gregory. “However,
when I married Janet in
1967, I got serious again
about my faith. Janet
then encouraged me to
look into the permanent
diaconate, which I’m glad
to say I did.”
Gregory Abels pursued
ATTENTION PARENTS
Saint Bernard Prep School
Is Now Administering
Placement Exams For
The Fall Semester 1985.
Saint Bernard Prep School in Cullman, Alabama is a coed boarding
school offering a traditional college preparatory curriculum.
Outstanding faculty, 800 acre campus and excellent facilities.
Spiritual and academic formation.
Quality Education
In The Benedictine Tradition
For more information call:
President Michael Burke
(205) 739-6682
Saint Bernard Prep School
101 Saint Bernard Drive
Cullman, Alabama 35055
his new calling, took the
two-year study course
and in 1979 was ordained
a deacon. He likes the
leadership aspect of his
vocation. “I participate
in liturgies at St.
Malachy’s and the other
groups there too. But I
also do social work in
Greenwich Village, assist
shut-ins and four times a
year I lead a retreat at St.
Malachy’s.”
The retreat is a
highlight of the work for
Deacon Abels. He gives
one talk each evening and
organizes all the spiritual
exercises. “About 50 per
cent of those who attend
are fellow actors,” says
Abels. “We just com
pleted one in May and we
will have more during the
year.”
The new ministry is an
exciting one for this New
York actor. In a way it is
a second stage for him
but a very different one.
There is usually no ap
plause, but what he does
as a minister in St.
Malachy’s brings them
back again and again.
LITURGICAL ROLES -- Deacons have a
distinct role in the liturgy as they preach the
Word and assist at the Eucharist. Photos show
some of the archdiocese’s deacons par
ticipating at the Eucharist. Top, Deacon Homer
Woods (1) and Deacon Winston Leverett assist
Auxiliary Bishop Joseph Francis of Newark,
N.J. And below, Deacon Forrest Briesch assists
at the dedication of Transfiguration’s new
parish church in Marietta.
LET YOUR LOVE
FOR THE SACRED HEART
REACH OUT A
TO THE POOR
OF THE MISSIONS!
The very saddest part
of Maria’s growing old
was, suddenly, to find
herself alone in the
world. She would wake up
in the middle of the night
burdened with questions:
“What will become of me? Will
I be able to take care of myself?
Suppose I get sick!”
Maria Kim’s worries are over now. She lives securely
bathed in love as she and Sister Lawrence share a
daily smile and prayer at the Sacred Heart Home for
the Elderly Poor in Cheong-Ju, Korea.
In this month of the Sacred Heart, would you share
your love and compassion so that other Marias of the
Missions can know the healing, saving love of Jesus
every day of their lives?
006
I WANT THE POOREST OF MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS TO
KNOW THE LOVE OF JESUS AS I DO. I enclose my gift of:
□ $100 □ $50 □ $25 □ $10 n$5 □ Other $
or my special gift of: □ $1,000 □ $500 □ $250
□ I will send a monthly gift when possible!
Name
Address
City
State.
Zip_
Please ask the missionaries to remember the following intentions at Mass:.
L.
Send your gift to:
THE PROPAGATION OF THE FAITH
Reverend Edward J. Thein
Archdiocese of Atlanta
680 West Peachtree Street NW
Atlanta, Ga. 30308
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