October 10, 2023
Chaplains for police departments, sheriff’s offices, and other law enforcement agencies serve during some of life’s worst moments.
To explore the blessings and challenges of such roles, the deacons speak with Paulist Fr. Charlie Donahue and Deacon Patrick Murphy-Racey (one of the Paulist Deacon Affiliates). They both serve as law enforcement chaplains in Knoxville, TN.
Fr. Charlie is a chaplain with the city police department and Deacon Patrick is a chaplain with the county sheriff’s office.
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Deacon Dennis Dolan has been a permanent deacon since August, 1993. He spent many years as a Catholic chaplain with the Connecticut Department of Corrections. Deacon Dennis became a Paulist Deacon Affiliate in 2018.
Deacon Dennis currently serves in a parish in the Diocese of St. Petersburg, Florida. He and his wife Deborah have three children and five grandchildren.
Deacon Joseph (“Drew”) Dickson has been a permanent deacon since 1999. He is an attorney who has served as a judge. Deacon Drew became a Paulist Deacon Affiliate in 2019.
He lives in northern New Jersey with his wife, Victoria.
Deacon Tom Casey graduated from Providence College and went on to serve as an Officer in the U.S. Army. He began his career with the U.S. Treasury Department leaving to co-found and administer a soup kitchen serving the homeless and displaced mentally ill. He resumed his career in the savings bank and credit industry from which he retired. After being ordained a deacon in 2005, Tom served as a prison, hospital and hospice chaplain.
Deacon Tom has been a Paulist Deacon Affiliate since July 20, 2019 and is currently serving in a parish in the Diocese of St. Petersburg, Florida. Tom and his wife, Rachel, have three children and nine grandchildren.