Name: Father Corey Christian Close Job title: Judge What is your role for the Chancery? Having just finished my studies for a Licentiate in Canon Law (JCL), I am working at the Tribunal as a judge to review cases
Fr. Close
and help wherever I can. Contact information: closec@diodav.org What do you find most rewarding about your position? I have a deep love for the law of the Church and see it as a beautiful expression of our faith as it journeys through the stormy waters of this world. I find it a great joy to help any who have questions regarding the law. What do you find most challenging about your position? Some cases a canon lawyer sees are tough and involve people’s lives and hopes. It can be a challenge navigating these in a way that maximizes justice for all parties while still being just as regards the Church and her needs. What question do people most often ask you? I find that the law most often fascinates people, especially the annulment process. The intricacies of the law are a fun thing to discuss, if nothing else. People are often shocked at how developed and intricate the Church’s law is regarding marriage.
Job title: Executive Secretary to the Office of the Bishop, Vicar General, Chancellor/Chief of Staff. Contact information: pries@davenportdiocese.org, 563-888-4360 What is your role for the Chancery? I work closely to facilitate administrative, clerical and organizational support for our bishop (or currently our diocesan administrator), the vicar general and the chief of staff and chancellor. What do you find most rewarding about your position? I love that my position allows me to collaborate with all Chancery departments and all of our clergy, laity, parishes, schools and other Catholic entities in our diocese. No two days are the same and I love being able to serve our Church. What do you find most challenging about your position? Matthew 9:37… in short, the Lord’s work is never done! A good, righteous challenge!
What question do people most often ask you? “Have you met the new bishop? Is he nice?”
Name: Beth Longlett Job title: Administrative Assistant, Finance Department. Contact information: longlett@davenportdiocese.org, (563) 888-4368 What is your role for the Chancery? I assist the Finance Department with data entry and parishioners with donation/account clarifications. I also set up and monitor online giving contributions, help facilitate, track and review the annual Ritzinger scholarship program and help with the annual diocesan collections. I fill in at the reception desk and perform other administrative tasks as assigned. What do you find most rewarding about your position? The ability and opportunity to grow in my position and to collaborate with other departments. I appreciate the confidence my colleagues express in my abilities (very rewarding — and motivating!). What do you find most challenging about your position? Clear communication with my Finance team members, language barrier when working at the reception desk and learning the software programs we use. Working from home sometimes is a challenge because hard-copy documents are at the office and I have to remember to bring my laptop back to the office! What question do people most often ask you? From staff: “How’s the knee coming along?” From parishioners: “Can you check my pledge balance?”
Job titles: Director of Liturgy and Director of Deacon Formation
Contact information: agnoli@davenportdiocese.org or 563-888-4257
Deacon Agnoli
What is your role for the Chancery? Director of Liturgy: The mission of the Liturgy Office is to support everyone taking part in our worship as fully, consciously and actively as possible. Therefore, my first task is to support the bishop in his ministry by preparing diocesan liturgies, helping order the worship life of our diocese and providing expertise as questions about the liturgy are raised. I also serve as a resource to pastors and other ministers in their communities by keeping them informed of updates regarding the Church’s rites and providing opportunities for ongoing liturgical formation for both the clergy and the laity. Finally, I also help parishes and schools with building or renovation projects through the Diocesan Building and Liturgical Commissions.
Director of Deacon Formation: My first and most important task is to help men discern whether they are really called to be ordained to this ministry. At the same time, I help men prepare for this ministry by organizing and overseeing our formation program, which includes the study of theology and pastoral care, practical experiences in the parish and community, spiritual direction and shared prayer.
What do you find most rewarding about your position? Liturgy: Being so intimately involved in what our Church teaches is the source and summit of our life as Christians, is an awesome privilege — whether that means preparing our diocesan liturgies or researching interesting liturgical questions. I love teaching about the liturgy — whether in parish groups or to those in formation for the diaconate (which I do here and in other dioceses, especially in the area of preaching).
Deacon Formation: It is a privilege to walk with the men in formation and their families as they discern whether or not he is called to the diaconate. To watch them grow in their faith, develop their spiritual lives, acquire and deepen important ministerial skills and become servants of God and God’s people is a real joy. Truly, to accompany others on this journey is to walk on holy ground!
What do you find most challenging about your position? Liturgy: Encountering resistance to our Church’s vision for and expectations regarding the liturgy and to learning more about it. We have such a precious gift to offer and it is sad to watch when the liturgy is celebrated poorly, haphazardly; without the care, attention and devotion it deserves.
Deacon Formation: Formation involves growth, which isn’t always easy! Some men in formation are more open to the process than others. There are times when my task is to point out important areas in their lives that need attention — whether spiritually, academically, pastorally or personally. Occasionally, this can lead to quite challenging and difficult conversations and even resistance. Among the most difficult conversations to have is letting someone know that we don’t see evidence of a call to the diaconate in them and that they will not be continuing in formation.
What question do people most often ask you? Liturgy: I receive a range of questions! Often it has to do with the calendar — what can we celebrate on a given day? Or, what do we do when Sundays and solemnities end up next to each other? I’ll also get questions about specific rites, asking for clarification if something in the ritual books or liturgical documents seems confusing; question about the liturgical space, arts and music (including questions about preparing the liturgical environment); and requests for resources to help form parish liturgical ministers. Sometimes, I’ll get really interesting questions about the origins of a text or practice, which sends me down a rabbit hole looking for the answer; those are a lot of fun!
Deacon Formation: I’m occasionally asked about the diaconate (What do deacons do?) and about formation (How do I become a deacon?).
What is your role for the Chancery? During the morning, I am the receptionist at the front desk, greeting everyone who comes in. In the afternoon, I work in the Immigration office, mainly answering calls and contacting clients. What do you find most rewarding about your position? It is really rewarding when we are able to help people with their legal status. Immigration is a very stressful subject. Being able to bring some sort of relief to people, knowing that we are doing everything we can to help them, is the best part. What do you find most challenging about your position? It is difficult when we are unable to help someone due to the lack of resources. Although we have amazing representatives, some immigration cases require an attorney. We do the best we can to provide any help but it is not always enough. What question do people most often ask you? What services does the Immigration program provide?
Name: Glenn Leach Job title: Volunteer with the Social Action and Immigration offices. Contact information: leach@davenportdiocese.org What is your role for the Chancery? Research, writing, editing, advocacy. What do you find most rewarding about your position? Social action and welcoming the stranger are the essence of our faith. It is following in the footsteps of Jesus. What do you find most challenging about your position? Trying to engage people in dialogue so we can find the common elements of our faith or beliefs. What question do people most often ask you? How do we oppose partisanship in a world where even religious leaders are partisan?
Name: Sarah Callahan Job title: Coordinator of Social Media and Webmaster Contact information: callahan@davenportdiocese.org
Callahan
What is your role for the Chancery? I maintain the social media pages and website for the Diocese of Davenport. I also research best practices of social media and am constantly looking for ways to improve and expand our reach. I also serve as a resource to parishes to help them brainstorm ideas for their social media pages. What do you find most rewarding about your position? I love the creative process, so when I get to collaborate with parishes and see them get excitement and new ideas for their own social media, it is deeply enriching and rewarding for me. I also love designing and curating content — it’s like piecing together a puzzle! What do you find most challenging about your position? It can be difficult to constantly be coming up with fresh ideas and creating output. When I feel like I’m in a creative slump, I have to remember that I need to get some input. I usually try to read articles, a few pages from a book, brainstorm with a colleague or explore a few model social media pages that I can look to for inspiration. What question do people most often ask you? I think since social media is such a vast topic that I don’t get asked the same thing too many times. Most questions that I am asked are specific to people’s local situation. I like answering these types of questions because one, I can tailor my answer to speak to the situation of that parish, school, etc., and two, since the answers are specific I feel like they can go a long way. Plus, I am able to build rapport with the person asking!
Name: Father Corey Christian Close
