A message from Deacon Bob Carey,

Dear Parishioners of St. Anne,

     On the day a man is ordained to the Diaconate, whether he is married or not, he takes a vow of celibacy, making the promise not to remarry if his wife predeceases him.  For some men, this promise is made with little or no forethought of the possibility of losing their wives. However, when some deacons find themselves without their spouse after many years of marriage, the weight of this reality is devastating. Having recently lost my beloved wife, Bea, of over 57 years, I have found that the loneliness of an empty home is too burdensome. Having prayerfully discerned this reality, I have formally asked to be laicized (loss of the clerical state) and dispensed from my promises so that I might be free to remarry. This was not an easy decision. Please allow me to be clear: my request is in no way the consequence of any punitive discipline imposed by the Church on me, nor the result of any scandal of immorality on my part. The Church has in Canon Law a foreseen process by which a man in Holy Orders may petition to be released from those promises. Code of Canon Law (Canons 290-293) I remain a believing Catholic in good standing.  

      Having moved into the final stages of this canonical process, I am required to suspend all diaconal activities as of today, February 14, 2026.

     It has been an honor to serve as a deacon at St. Anne since January 1999.  God bless the great people of St. Anne.  I thank you in advance for your prayers and reassurances during this time of change.

In the love of Jesus, Mary, and St. Joseph,