Articles
Embodying Hope
Gigi Duncan Comments Off on Embodying Hope
As the Church journeys through the Year of Hope proclaimed by Pope Francis, we are invited to pause and reflect more deeply on the theological virtue that gives structure and strength to our earthly pilgrimage. Nowhere is this virtue more richly explored than in Pope Benedict XVI’s encyclical Spe Salvi (“Saved in Hope”). While its Read More
Shared Passion
Gigi Duncan Comments Off on Shared Passion
Jesus desires to live his passion within us. Accepting this mystery expands the scope of our “being with him,” our intimacy, and increases our participation in his saving love. Jesus living his passion within us is a feature of our divinization. Jesus’ passion is his self-emptying love for us, is his loving filial surrender to Read More
In the Footsteps of Stephen
Gigi Duncan Comments Off on In the Footsteps of Stephen
Recent years have seen a revival of Scripture study among Catholics. One of the apostolates behind this sea change has been the St. Paul Center for Biblical Theology. Located in Steubenville, Ohio, this thriving nonprofit has spent the last 20 years teaching Catholics to read sacred Scripture from the heart of the Church. Inspired by Read More
A Banner Year
Gigi Duncan Comments Off on A Banner Year
To say there’s hardly been a dull moment in the Catholic Church, the Church founded by God himself some 2,000 years ago, would be a massive understatement. The impact the Church has had over the many centuries of her existence on history, art, culture, education, science, medicine and more — but most importantly in the Read More
Wise Guides
Gigi Duncan Comments Off on Wise Guides
In this essay, I hope to reflect on the importance of mentoring and suggest how deacons might be uniquely positioned to provide mentoring. So, what is a mentor? A mentor is someone who has more experience in a field we are entering, and who is willing to walk with us, inspire us and share with Read More
Hidden but Not Forgotten
Gigi Duncan Comments Off on Hidden but Not Forgotten
As deacons, we share a sacred bond. Our vocation calls us to a life of quiet, humble service, often operating invisibly within the broader life of the Church. Yet, a shared experience can provoke unease or sorrow: moments when, during prayers or liturgical events, every vocation is acknowledged — except the diaconate. To suggest that Read More
Marital First Responders
Gigi Duncan Comments Off on Marital First Responders
Deacons are often among the first helping professionals a couple will contact when they are struggling with marital problems. It’s essential to have a few basic tools to guide your response: how to be helpful, what to avoid and when to refer to professionals. Research shows that counselors who are trained specifically in marriage therapy Read More
Empty Vessels
Gigi Duncan Comments Off on Empty Vessels
The most profound moment of my ordination was the Litany of the Saints. As I lay on the cold marble floor, I heard the names of our brothers who preceded us: Vincent, Ephrem, Lawrence, Stephen, Francis of Assisi — saintly men of God, men of extraordinary holiness — and I began to weep as I Read More