At a crossroads, Deacon Witty turns to diaconate

By his own admission, Deacon Pat Witty had arrived at a crossroad in his faith.

Raised Baptist in his beloved Morganza, which he lovingly refers to as “the motherland,” Deacon Witty had converted to Catholicism years ago, joining his wife, who was a childhood friend, in her faith. He would jokingly call himself a “chicken barbecue Catholic,” estimating he sold more than 5,000 chicken dinners for such organizations as the Knights of Columbus, youth groups and the altar society. 

“I’ve been around the church a long time and fortunate to have been involved in different service opportunities,” he said. “At some point, which might have been around 10 to 12 years ago, I said maybe (the permanent diaconate) was a way to channel a real desire to serve in a more formal way.”

While discerning whether to step off into the formation process, Deacon Witty was discerning  basic but significant questions such as “What do you want me to do God? What do you have in store?”

Rather than an epiphany that others might experience, Deacon Witty said his inspiration was embedded in the men he served with in ministries at St. Mary of False River Church in New Roads, where he and his wife, who he joked “deserves a medal every other day,” are longtime members. 

“I’ve been fortunate to have been around a number of good men who were deacons, and they were always encouraging me,” he said. “Just in the way they approached service, the way they carried themselves and able to put to work a desire to serve.”

More than five years later, as an ordained clergy member, Deacon Witty fondly reflects on how the formation process has changed him as a Catholic. He said before entering  formation his answers were mere opinions. 

“There is a difference between answers and opinions,” he said “I have been reminded time and time again (while studying at FranU) to go seek out the information, the truth as best you can discern, and use that as to how you tender a situation or event, rather than having pre-conceived ideas.”

Formation has taught him “little bits and pieces” that can help bridge a gap and to make connections with people. He said as a deacon he can fall back on his formational training to work with individuals, in community or whatever he  is called to do.

Deacon Witty, who for the past 18 years has worked in the Louisiana Office of Economic Development, has been assigned to St. Mary and chose to work with hospice, the nursing homes and hospital communities as his ministry of charity. He said his role is not necessarily to “create anything” but to determine the most chronic need and answer that call.

“My job is to be there, be aware, be present and help support that,” he said. “I have to be open to where the biggest need is and (where) to spend some of my early time.”

Hospice ministry, he said, was not an area he was particularly attracted to but during formation deacon candidates are advised to think about a ministry that might stretch them, get them out of a place that would be most comfortable.

His thoughts tilted to hospice because in the later years of his parents’ lives, he witnessed first-hand the critical care they were provided in their final days and month.

“It’s been for me ‘Why don’t you give this a try?” he said. “It’s an opportunity to grow.”

Throughout his formation, Deacon Witt said he has been blessed by the kindness of others. He said people he does not even know have approached him and said they were praying for him. 

He is also grateful to FranU, which he called a great resource. 

“They have great instructors, great administration and work hard,” he said. “They really have been of great benefit to us.”

Above all, Deacon Witt thanked his wife of 41 years, who was raised in a strong Catholic family. He said she would keep him in line, especially during those times when he would rather watched NCIS and eating ice cream. 

The couple has two daughters, who are both married, and he called his wife the “matriarch of a pretty darn good family.”

“Her support has meant everything,” he said “She has never wavered.”