Permanent Deacons remember Archbishop Philip M. Hannan

>>>What a beautiful letter written to the Archdiocese community of Deacons by our director, Deacon Ray Duplechain about the passing of Archbishop Phillip M. Hannan and his historic contribution to restoring the Permanent Diaconate in this Archdiocese.  And also note his historic contributions at Vatican Council II.  The good Archbishop often attended many diaconate functions, praising God for the gift of the diaconate and recalling his efforts at Vatican II.

Archbishop Philip Hannan
Dear Brothers in the Lord,



Another chapter in the restoration of the diaconate in the Church is finished. As the lone and last surviving bishop to attend and participate in all four session of the Second Vatican Council Archbishop Philip M. Hannan was called home today. What began as a nascent prompting of the Holy Spirit in cell block 26 in the Dachau prison camp sprung to life at the Second Vatican Council. The charism of Charity born of Christ’s own service; recognized by the Apostles, accepted as necessary by early Church Fathers, and practiced by many in answer to God’s call was again to be a sacramental sign of service as a separate and distinct order in its own right. As a participation in the mission of the Archbishop and his priests, deacons serve as the conscience of the Church by serving and not being served.



There are some who in this day deny the work of the Second Vatican Council and thus the dignity of the vocation of the deacon as a sacramental sign of Christ the servant in the Church. Archbishop Hannan was a visionary. In the earliest days of the restoration he reestablished the diaconate as integral to the pastoral care of the People of God in the Archdiocese of New Orleans. As was his style he saw to it that its integrity and fruitfulness was nourished as well as cherished. Like the deacons he called to ministry in those early days he was a man of prayerful exchange with God. He communicated Faith through action and the preferential options for and with the poor – those who were hungry as well as those who suffer from poorness of spirit. We now hope in faith that through the mercy of Christ that he who taught the Beatitudes to his sons the deacons will now enjoy eternal beatitude with the one who is the way, truth, and life. Being a visionary really isn’t that hard to do as long as one keeps his eyes fixed on Christ the servant. The hardest part though is keeping one’s eyes on the Lord. For us, these are some pretty big shoes to fill. For him, we ask God’s own Grace and Peace. Well done good and faithful servant! Today we remember who loved us…..