Welcome to the Deacon's Bench. For a little background of who I am and how I came to be in this ministry, please allow me to ramble on.
     My name is Armand Maurice Auclair and I was born 67 years ago to Armand O. Auclair and Jeannette V. (Lajoie) Auclair in the city of Woonsocket, Rhode Island. Woonsocket’s heritage was that of a mill town with many immigrants including French-Canadians of which is my ancestral line. I attended both Catholic and Public Grade Schools. As a child, I actively participated in the Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts and Civil Air patrol. As a member of the St. Joseph’s Boy Scout Troop, I earned the rank of Eagle Scout and fulfilled many leadership positions in the Troop. I graduated from Woonsocket Senior High School in June of 1974 ranked as 83^rd in a class of 432.
     I attended Rhode Island College for a year and not knowing what field to enter into I left for the world of employment. I met my wife Susan while working and we married in August of 1976. I attended evening classes at a local Community College and attained an Associates Degree in Business Administration. We have two children who have since grown and left the family nest. Our son is in his early forties and our daughter is in her late thirties. Our son is currently employed as a Senior Prototype Machinist and he lives in the Boston area with his wife and son. Our daughter is a lead scientist with the pharmaceutical Sanofi, near Boston, and she lives in that area with her husband and two foster boys.
     As a young family we enjoyed the outdoors and in 1989 we sold everything in Rhode Island and moved to the mountains of Vermont. We became members of a very small parish and have been active since day one. We have been CCD teachers, lector, extraordinary ministers, bible study leaders, parish council and finance council members. With a few other parishioners we organized a fundraising committee to bring the parish out of debt, and we began and completed many facility repairs. Susan and I were both very active in the Cursillo movement in Vermont and I served as the Lay Director for three years. I have been a member of the local Knights of Columbus council for some time and am now the Past Grand Knight.
     Both my wife and I completed the Lay Ministry Formation here in Vermont in the early 2000s under the tutelage of many fine instructors. In 2017 I was contacted by the Diaconate Program Director if I had an interest in joining the Formation Program. And like they say the rest is history. As a Deacon I hope to minister to the shut-ins, those in the hospital and serve the needs of the poor. Also fulfill the needs of the parish in whatever roles my pastor requires.
     In my professional life I have been employed in the Burlington area these last 30 years as a Buyer, Machinist and a Purchasing Agent. I am currently employed with Hayward Tyler in Colchester as a buyer in their aftermarket parts team.Personal activities of enjoyment over the years have been travel, gardening, photography, auto racing and repair, and boating.
     I am here to serve one and all, please do not hesitate to ask me to put my ministry to your service. I look forward to being your Deacon.