November 13, 2009
People of Faith
Deacon is writer, stresses importance of daily prayer
This is the eighth in a series on the new deacons of the diocese. They were ordained August 15 at St. Benedict Cathedral in Evansville.
Deacon John McMullen, a member of Holy Rosary Church, is doing his diaconal service at Nativity Church in Evansville and as a chaplain at Evansville State Hospital.
McMullen, 44, the author of several books, has been a religion teacher at Mater Dei High School for 18 years.
He and his wife, Mary Grace, are the parents of two boys, ages 13 and 11.
A native of Vincennes, McMullen has a master’s degree in theology from St. Meinrad College and a bachelor’s degree in philosophy from St. Meinrad. He studied electronics at Vincennes University and graduated from there in 1985.
What prompted you to pursue this ministry? “The call of God came through many people around me.” Someone would say, “You know John, you would make a good deacon.” He loves the lives of the saints but points out that not all were priests and nuns. For instance, St. Francis of Assisi was a deacon. John loves going to church. Being a deacon, he said, will be a “great responsibility. It will be a privilege to serve people.”
Tell us a few things about yourself: He loves birds, books, art, classical music and movies. He attributes his love of music to Dr. Bernard Vercamp, a philosophy teacher at Vincennes University, and Father Columba Kelly at St. Meinrad. Father Kelly is a Gregorian Chant scholar. Dr. Vercamp gave John a complimentary ticket to a performance by the IU Music Department at Vincennes on Johann Sebastian Bach’s 300th birthday, March 25, 1985. “I am forever indebted to Dr. Verkamp’s insight into encouraging me to attend the concert. It was a game changer, as they say. Bach and all his musical descendants have been constant companions ever since.”
He credits his fourth-grade English teacher, Jane Meyer, for fostering his ability to write.
John wrote two biographic novels spanning 1835-1847: “The Last Blackrobe of Indiana & the Potawatomi Trail of Death” and “Roman: Unparalleled Outrage.” Both of these stories are set in Indiana, and Bishop Bruté, St. Mother Theodore Guerin and Vincennes are featured parts of both books as is the Old Cathedral.
His latest work, “Eugene and The Haunted Train Bridge & Other Follies,” is set in the small town of Preston Point, Ind. (resembling Vincennes to a great degree)
Dr. Phillip Pierpont, his English professor at Vincennes University, “also instilled within me a love for reading and writing as well. For that I am forever grateful.”
Who has been the biggest influence in your life? “My Grandpa John Louis and Grandma Maureen McMullen. Grandma was a convert.
The good Sisters of Providence, who taught me in grade school and high school.
Father Ken Walker, junior/senior religion teacher at Rivet High School in Vincennes. The late Rev. Ralph Endress, pastor of Old Cathedral in Vincennes. Father Endress was a common man. He definitely planted the seeds of faith in my heart,” John said.
Deacon Melvin Curry: He once told me “Perhaps God is calling you to become a deacon.”
Archbishop Daniel Buechlein, a former president rector of St. Meinrad, who said, “If you would not make a good husband or good father, you would not make a good priest.” John would add one would not be a good deacon either.
Finally, Father Cyprian Davis, who taught church history at St. Meinrad, had a “huge impact on my spiritual life.”
What are your goals as a deacon? “Hospitality is so important. The lack of it sometimes makes us a drive-thru church.
“We are all called to holiness. Sacraments energize us. We must become the Word and Sacrament to the world. We do that through personal and communical prayer.”
Do you have any favorite books you would recommend to others? Besides the Bible, he recommends Bishop Fulton Sheen’s classic “The Life of Christ.” “Imitation of Christ” by Thomas a Kempis, St. Augustine’s “Confessions,” “Les Miserables” by Victor Hugo; “A Tale of Two Cities” and “David Copperfield” by Charles Dickens; and “Brideshead Revisited” by Evelyn Waugh.
His favorite writers are Graham Greene, Evelyn Waugh, Flannery O’Connor, J.R.R. Tolkien, Walker Percy, Thomas Merton, Dorothy Day, C.S. Lewis, Jon Hassler and Beverly Donofrio.
Do you have any routines in your spiritual life that you would recommend to others? To emphasize the importance of daily prayer, John cited these quotes.
Hillary Ottensmeyer, O.S.B., from St. Meinrad: “Until you are convinced that prayer is the best use of your time, you will never make time for prayer.”
Pope Paul VI: “If you are too busy to pray, you are too busy.”
John says if you want more time, go to God in prayer. God will miraculously multiply our time just as he multiplied the loaves and fishes.”
Another factor in his spiritual training, he pointed out, was that in grade school we began each day with Mass. “I still recall those early mornings when we would sing the songs and hear the scriptures each and every day. And the Word remains . . .”
Email steve@themessageonline.org