This is part of a series of articles throughout the
year celebrating the 50th anniversary of the reinstitution of the permanent
diaconate in the United States.
The boundaries of Deacon Bill Pivarnik’s ministry range from the
sea, to a retreat center, and straight to church. A deacon for 32 years,
he initially discerned a vocation to the priesthood. Though he didn’t receive a
clear answer, he remained an active altar server.
He was born Jan. 4, 1936, to William and Catherine, in
Portchester, N.Y. He earned his bachelor of science from the U.S. Naval Academy
in 1958.
He went on to a 27-year career in the U.S. Navy, married his
wife, Barbara, 60 years ago, and had seven children. His son, William, died of
cancer in 2001.
At sea, Deacon Pivarnik served as a Catholic lay leader on every
ship to which he was assigned. It was his wife who said he ought to be a
deacon. The idea struck him. “I never stopped to consider it,” he said.
Richmond Bishop Walter F. Sullivan didn’t allow deacons at the
time, but Deacon Pivarnik was moving to the Diocese of Arlington shortly after
being reassigned to the Pentagon. He applied to the diaconate and was ordained
May 24, 1986, by Bishop John R. Keating at the Cathedral of St. Thomas More in
Arlington.
Deacon Pivarnik’s retirement from the Navy allowed him to work
full time for the church. He and Barbara co-administrated Bethany Retreat House
in Huntly, before Deacon Pivarnik was ordained. They wanted to move to the
property to help his Naval Academy classmate Deacon Jim Bayne and his wife, who
were running it at the time.
Deacon Pivarnik received permission from Deacon Daniel F.
Resendes who was running the diaconate formation program at the time. Deacon
Resendes told them it would be fine, but there was a complication. The Baynes
were leaving, so it was up to Deacon Pivarnik and his wife to run the retreat
center.
He retired from the Navy Jan. 1, 1985, and the following day he started
work at the retreat center in the middle of a snowstorm. He led and assisted at
retreats; monitored liturgies when priests gave retreats; and helped with
maintenance.
His first parish assignment after his full-time work at Bethany
House was at St. John the Evangelist Church in Warrenton (1988-92). He served
as the assistant director of the diocesan Family Life Office (1988-92). In 1992,
he was assigned to St. Leo the Great Church in Fairfax.
Deacon Pivarnik moved to Hendersonville, N.C., where he was
assigned to Immaculate Conception Church (1996-99). When he returned to the
Diocese of Arlington, Deacon Pivarnik was assigned to St. Mary Church in
Alexandria (1999-2002). After serving at St. Patrick Church in Fredericksburg
(2002-2011), he retired from active ministry June 30, 2011.
He still helps out at St. Patrick and
teaches religion to first- and fifth-graders at the school.
Being a deacon allowed him to participate in family events in a
different way. He baptized three of his four grandchildren and officiated at
his niece’s wedding. Religious vocations didn’t fall far from the tree. He
served as a deacon at the first Mass of his son, Dominican Father R. Gabriel
Pivarnik, at Blessed Sacrament Church in Alexandria.
Deacon Pivarnik encourages those considering the diaconate to “pray
and then pray some more.” Speak to your family, pastor and a permanent deacon,
he said. “If you still feel called by God, call Father Paul D. Scalia,
episcopal vicar for clergy.”