Fr. Mark J. Gantley presiding at Mass, giving a lecture, and posing with the deacon formation group
The course Code of Canon Law has been integrated into the curriculum of the diaconate formation program of the Diocese of Honolulu. Rev. Mark J. Gantley, who is the pastor of St. John the Baptist Church and St. Agnes Mission of the Diocese of Syracuse in New York, gave the course on the second weekend of the months of April, May, and June at St. Stephen Diocesan Center.
Designed by Fr. Mark himself, the curriculum provides basic concepts foundational to the Code of Canon Law of the Latin Church and other sources of canon law of significance to our diocese. The topics comprise structure, authority and power within the Latin Church, canonical rights and obligations of the Church and the people of God, faculties of the clergy, teaching and sanctifying functions, delicts and penalties, laws governing baptism, and a considerable amount of coverage on laws involving marriage.
Here's what Mike Weaver, one of the men in the deacon formation program has to say: "There is a richness and a depth of beauty in Canon Law that I was not aware of prior to this course. Thanks to Fr. Mark, I believe all of us in the class now see Canon Law as much more than simply a list of regulations and rules to be followed in lock step, but rather as a source of life in the Spirit of our Church."
Rev. Mark J. Gantley was ordained as a priest for the Diocese of Syracuse in 1991. He earned his licentiate in canon law (JCL) in 1998 at the Catholic University of America. He has served as a judge on the Tribunal for the Diocese of Syracuse and served for two years (2007-2009) as Judicial Vicar for the Diocese of Honolulu. (Source: Syllabus for Code of Canon Law, deacon formation, Chaminade University)
Aloha and mahalo nui loa, Fr. Mark!
