Marriage
Striking a Healthy Balance
Teresa Tomeo Comments Off on Striking a Healthy Balance
The words “be aware but don’t despair” popped into my head several months ago as I was putting together the headlines for my daily Catholic radio program. The expression hit me at the time when several challenging stories were being released from Rome, along with tragic reports of the wars raging on in various parts Read More
Crowning in Marriage
Father Deacon Basil Ryan Balke Comments Off on Crowning in Marriage
It is that time of the year again when weddings seem to happen every Saturday in our churches. During this time of year, I think back about how marriage is viewed between the East and the West, and how that plays out in our liturgies. The most profound difference between the East and the West Read More
Expectations of Married Deacons
Leon Suprenant Comments Off on Expectations of Married Deacons
We know from the Catechism of the Catholic Church that Christian marriage brings a man and woman together for the rest of their lives, to love each other and their children with the love with which Christ loves his Church. We also know that the Church calls bishops and priests to remain celibate for the Read More
Deacons and the Weddings Outside of Mass
Deacon Harold Burke-Sivers Comments Off on Deacons and the Weddings Outside of Mass
I recently received an email from a brother deacon lamenting that, in his experience with marriages outside of Mass, deacons are able to receive the wedding vows and preach, but are prohibited by pastors from offering the nuptial blessing. Ideally, the order of marriage should be celebrated during Mass where a priest presides at both Read More
A Married Deacon and the Domestic Church
Father Robert Hater 2
In the early 1970s, when directing the Archdiocese of Cincinnati religious education office, I worked with the newly formed diocesan diaconal program. Since then, I’ve been involved with permanent deacons and their wives as teacher, mentor, adviser and friend. Over the years, questions surfaced as to a deacon’s role in ministerial service. These included: Who Read More
Theology of the Body and Deacons
Janet Waring Comments Off on Theology of the Body and Deacons
Many have heard of Pope St. John Paul II’s Theology of the Body, shorthand for his book “Man and Woman He Created Them: A Theology of the Body” (Pauline Books and Media, $39.95). Remembering saints is often, in a way, a gift to answer the problems of the time. John Paul II is a great Read More
Speaking of NFP in This New Apostolic Age
Katie Zulanas Comments Off on Speaking of NFP in This New Apostolic Age
Deacons and their wives are often at the forefront of marriage preparation in their parishes. In the Catholic Church, this preparation will usually lead to a discussion of Natural Family Planning. But the real emphasis and understanding of NFP helps couples build their marriage in all aspects. How should deacons and their wives involved in Read More
What about the Wives?
Lani Dale Bogart Comments Off on What about the Wives?
“Just tell me what I have to do, and I’ll do it!” In my experience with wives of men in formation for the diaconate, one thing women consistently find frustrating is the lack of a clear definition of the role of a deacon’s wife. Women are generally accustomed to shouldering the responsibility for innumerable details Read More