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Vocation

Finding a Priesthood in the Diaconate

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One of the more overlooked treasures of our vocation as deacons is the way we participate, truly and uniquely, in the one priesthood of Christ. At first hearing, such language can raise eyebrows. The Church, after all, maintains a clear distinction between the diaconate and the presbyterate. The ministerial priesthood belongs to bishops and priests Read More
liturgical formation

The Triple Liturgical Formation of a Deacon

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Since this issue is devoted to diaconal formation, I needn’t go beyond my assigned perimeter of liturgical formation. This relieves my burden, somewhat, but I wouldn’t want any deacon to think he can segregate his formation into pieces the way we’re separating it in print. Diaconal ministry consists of word, liturgy and charity, and “they Read More
baptism

The Liturgical Foundation of the Deacon’s Vocation and Mission

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The modern world tends to separate the question of who we are from what we are called to do. The premodern world always approached “being” and “doing” as unified realities. The classical axiom that captures this notion is “action follows being” (agere sequiter esse). The deacon’s relationship to the sacred liturgy is often reduced to Read More
Saint Lawrence of Rome

Inspiration from St. Lawrence the Deacon

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I often write or speak about the challenges we face during this time of crisis engulfing both the Church and the nation. Western culture is corroding from within, precisely because we have forgotten God. When any culture forgets God, it inevitably loses its humanity. When we turn away from our source, we lose ourselves. That Read More
Deacon Gary Stone

Exploring the Diaconate ‘Down Under’

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Dear brothers in the universal Church, it’s great to be getting a copy of The Deacon and hear more of how others serve in the diaconate, and how others’ understanding of Christ the Servant is expressed in that ministry. I was delighted to be able to attend the USA National Deacons conference in Baltimore in Read More
DEACON ORDINATION NEW YORK

Harmonizing God’s Call to Marriage and the Diaconate

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It’s commonplace to hear within the diaconal community that most permanent deacons have a dual call: the call to marriage and the call to the diaconate. Despite this widely held understanding, it can still be asked, Is this really an accurate way of describing the challenges associated with those having received both vocations? It’s certainly Read More

Sabbath Moments: Finding Balance in Your Life

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The challenges many deacons experience in achieving and sustaining balance in their lives frequently has been noted. Indeed, according to a recent study by the Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate at Georgetown University, some 31 percent of deacons report that they experience difficulty in this regard. All too often, responsibilities associated with the Read More