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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

Deacons and Reconciliation

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On Easter night, Jesus appeared to the 10 apostles gathered in the Upper Room and said to them: “Receive the holy Spirit. Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained” (Jn 20:22-23). Hence, the Church teaches: “Since Christ entrusted to his apostles the ministry of reconciliation, bishops … and Read More