Closer to God and Each Other

Couple share their spiritual bond with men and women through electronic messages. 

Story by Karen A. Avitabile

Deacon Stephen Beecher and his wife, Patricia, who reside in Goshen, have been more than marriage partners for the past 64 years. They have been connected to God and joined spiritually together. 

It was their love of God that first drew them to work jointly on an email project to share their spirituality with others through inspirational emails.

“We wanted to do something that would touch adults,” Patricia says. 

The couple say sending out the monthly emails keep them connected and involved with their parish. They are members of St. Martin of Tours Parish with churches in Canaan, Norfolk and Salisbury. 

 “Something to Think About,” the name of the emails, are sent to anyone who would like to receive them. The emails consist of faith-based stories, devotions, quotations, anecdotes and past homilies by the deacon.

“Some of the stories can inspire people, give them a happy thought for the day or give them something to pass on to somebody else,” Patricia says.

Throughout their entire marriage, the couple have been involved in the Catholic Church. More than 30 years ago, Patricia remembers embracing her husband’s decision to enter the Diaconate program. 

“I just knew this was the direction he was being called,” she recalls. “I always knew he had a deep faith and loves people. He found the good in people.” 

Stephen says he grew up within a “strong faith family,” pointing out that his parents were influential in his journey to share God with others. He was ordained a deacon in the Archdiocese of Hartford on June 23, 2001, at the Cathedral of St. Joseph in Hartford. 

“I wanted to be more involved in the Church,” he says of his decision to be ordained a deacon. “I felt very good about bringing God to people.”

Patricia says her husband’s faith had been instrumental in developing her own spiritual path. A director of religious education for more than 40 years, she was an active participant in the parishes where her husband ministered. She also worked with Stephen to guide sacramental classes.

In addition to serving as a deacon at Masses, Deacon Stephen says he was proud to baptize babies into the Catholic faith. He also traveled to nearby Sharon to bring Holy Communion to residents of Sharon Center for Health & Rehabilitation. Today, the deacon prepares the Prayers of the Faithful for St. Martin of Tours every week.

The couple agree they have been blessed to be a part of the lives of so many people they met while working together in several parishes. 

“We got to meet several hundred people and we hope they’ve enjoyed us as much as we’ve enjoyed them,” Patricia says. “We both became involved at our churches due to the wonderful encouragement and guidance from some wonderful dedicated priests. We never thought of ourselves as anything more than Catholics who regularly attended Mass or could contribute more in any other way.”

Anyone interested in receiving monthly inspirational messages from Deacon Stephen and Patricia Beecher can send their email address to spbeecher1960@gmail.com.