I have many great joys as a Permanent Deacon in Christ's Church including the role of mentor. I was asked, not long after my own ordination, to be a mentor for 3 aspirants back in January of 2009. I was able to answer in the affirmative right away because the memory of my mentor was so fresh in my mind and my heart. Way back in the late winter of 2004, I was assigned a mentor, Deacon Rusty. He immediately took me, and one of my classmates, under his wing and we met nearly every week until Katrina and at least monthly after. We would go to Mass, then breakfast and he would answer our questions, give advice and listen. With this example, I was ready to serve in this role.
I have had far less frequent visits with my three guys because of various work schedules but we get together often. Today was one such day as one of the candidates and I went to lunch together. This is where mentorship is so effective; a quiet time, just two of us, to discuss his journey and help out as best I can. Again, having learned from my mentor, listening plays a very important role in the realtionship.
I'm expecting to have lunch with my other two guys this week. They are about 40% of the way in the formal part of formation; with expected ordination in December of 2012. Of course we never talk about that because the most important day in formation is today.
So I humbly ask for your prayers for the 3 men I am blessed to mentor and all the men in both the class of 2010 and 2012 for the Permanent Diaconate in the Archdiocese of New Orleans.
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