Healing the Pornography Epidemic

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Deacon Joe called my office seeking help for two couples he was preparing for marriage. While meeting alone with the man from the first couple, Deacon Joe learned that this man was struggling with compulsive pornography use. This man had not confessed this problem to his fiancé. He wanted to confess but was too afraid. Read More

Encountering Christ the Servant

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Back in 2020, inspired by my silver jubilee, I set out to provide a comprehensive spiritual guide for deacons. Entitled “Encountering Christ the Servant: A Spirituality of the Diaconate” (OSV, $20.95), the book focuses on fostering a closer relationship with Christ, emphasizing the importance of spiritual growth, empathy and living out the Gospel in diaconal Read More

God Is Good for Your Health

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Dr. Vivek H. Murthy, the current surgeon general of the United States, has issued some important advisories in recent years on major mental and physical health concerns facing Americans. In the spring of 2023, he sounded the alarm on what he termed the “epidemic of loneliness.” explaining how prolonged loneliness as a health risk is Read More

My Plans Crossed

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A half hour. That’s how long it took my wife, Anne, and me to figure out how to turn on the TV and get to where we could watch a British detective show. All that was required were two remotes, a doctorate in computer technology, a halfhearted prayer for patience and a phone call to Read More

Called to Service with a Smile

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In the vast tapestry of the Catholic Church, the role of a deacon is seen as one of service and humility. Embodying the spirit of Christ the Servant, deacons play a vital role in the life of the Church, bridging the gap between priests and the laity. However, a distinctive contribution to the Church’s vitality Read More

The Deacon as a Global Mission Partner

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The vocation of a deacon in the Catholic Church is deeply intertwined with the identity of Christ as both a servant and a healer. Jesus Christ, throughout his earthly ministry, exemplified the dual roles of serving others and offering himself in sacrificial love. As the Gospel of Mark states, “The Son of Man did not Read More

Keeping Kids Safe Online

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In today’s digital age, the internet poses significant threats to the health and well-being of children. Our children are facing dangers that we did not have to navigate when we ourselves were kids. From exposure to inappropriate content to predatory individuals, the dangers are real and alarming. To address this urgent issue, I developed “Smart Read More

St. Ephrem

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Many Catholics are surprised to learn that one of the greatest theologians and early Doctors of the Church was not only Eastern but also a deacon. St. Ephrem the Syrian (A.D. 306-73) was born in Nisibis which was in the Syrian region of the Roman Empire that is now in Turkey. Ephrem grew up during Read More

The Deacon as the Good Samaritan at the End of Life

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Much has been said about the diaconal call to serve those on the margins in society, bringing Christ to the poor, the prisoners, the homeless, those who struggle with addiction. Yet some of those on the periphery are hiding in plain sight. The sick and especially the dying are often isolated from the Church and Read More

The Diaconate of the Laity

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A welcome focus of the Second Vatican Council (1962-65) was its emphasis on the lay apostolate, especially the laity’s participation in the mission of Christ, who is priest, prophet and king (cf. Catechism of the Catholic Church, No. 897). So all the baptized are in some sense “priests.” Our first pope affirmed that the Church Read More