The reality of the Permanent Deacon

On this Thursday night, watching the New Orleans Saints on the tube, it's kind of nice to relax for a change.  I don't know if people understand this but even in my relaxing, doing something as secular as fooball gazing, I'm still a Deacon.  Just like the Priest is always a Priest; so too the Deacon.  The Deacon does share in the Sacrament of Holy Orders, in a distinct and seperate ministry from the Priest and the Bishop.  None the less, by virtue of his ordination, he indeed receives the Sacrament of Holy Orders, thus he is sealed with an indelible mark.

I often say on these pages that it is not what we do, it's who we are.  Yet in the ministry of the Permanent Deacon, you encounter me the most in my "doing".  As in anything in life, we have among our community those Deacons that balance ministry with the real and important responsibilities of family and work, others who are out of balance because they say yes to too many ministry opportunities and can find themselves overwhelmed and finally those who, sadly, find little time to carry out the mission of the Deacon.  Sometimes, Deacons can reach a point where they find themselves no longer involved in the ministry of charity but still want to vest on Sunday at Mass.  Here, I'm not talking about a Deacon who may be dealing with health or age issues, to be clear.  As I appreciate my ministry of the Deacon, I vest on Sunday because I minister on Monday-Tuesday-Wednesday, etc.

Where do I fall?  Much of the time, especially lately, I'm that guy who says yes a bunch.  Sometimes I regret this but only when my eagerness to respond can result in less than quality service to the Church and the people of God.  When I serve He, and His people, deserve my best.  More times than I can count, even when overloaded, I can feel the presence of the Holy Spirit getting me through, providing me strength, spirtually and physically.

Consider the recent days and days to come.  After assisting at two Masses last weekend, one on a Saturday and one on Sunday morning, I faced at least 4 hours of paperwork to finalize pending weddings and baptisms.  Monday evening after a usual work Monday, I met with our diaconate director and assistant director to review required paperwork on a large group of deacon candidates.  At least that meeting wrapped up by 9:30 as in p.m.  Tuesday, I was able to exercise my first service vocation(that would be marriage) in a special way as I escorted my wife through a long morning of medical tests and then running the appropriate errands after her procedure.  Of course there were prayers of thanksgiving as all turned out well for her!  Once settled in, I was off to parish staff and ministry meetings, filling out final paperwork for weekend weddings, then off on an hour long drive to New Orleans to be present for the rehearsal for ordination for our 2012 candidates who become Deacons Saturday.  Rehearsal and the drive home meant walking in the house at 10:30 p.m.  Just don't ask me what I ate on a crazy busy day like Tuesday.  On Wednesday, after coordinating a visit of my pastoral team to Rayburn prison, I fulfilled a long ago commitment to conducting an Adoration and Benediction for both evening sessions for our PSR students.  That is always a wonderful experience; deeply moving as I see young people "get it" that Jesus is truly present in the Blessed Sacrament.  By the way, I put in a full day at work too!  So even though tonight I am home, I have finished paperwork on two weddings, helped schedule another baptism and soon need to pack for the day ahead.

Here is what is pending.  Friday I leave for New Orleans, my bride along for the ride, as we check in to a downtown hotel to be close to the action.  What action?  Tomorrow night it is a wedding rehearsal uptown for Saturday nuptials.  When that is over, we drive across the river to be present to those 20 men and their wives who will be completing their very intimate, very spiritual prayer vigil with their Archbishop; who happens to be my Archbishop too.  This prayer vigil, in part, really helps the soon to be ordained understand the unique relationship he soon will enjoy with his Ordinary.  Then the big day: Ordination of 20 new Permanent Deacons at 10 a.m. inside historic and sacred St. Louis Cathedral.  Thanks to the kindness of this class, I am privileged to be the Deacon of the Gospel for the Ordination Mass.  I am so joyful to share their special day in such an awesome way.  Not much time to celebrate as I hope to drive across the river to at least visit with one newlywed couple at their reception; a couple I prepared over the past six months.  Then it's off to preside at the wedding of another couple in uptown New Orleans.  That wedding will be very special as I've known the groom since his CCD days at St. Jane's.  After another night in the city, my bride and I return to the Northshore for my regular duties assisting at the altar at the 9 a.m. Mass and then the 11 a.m. Mass in support of our newly ordained and assigned Deacon, who will assist at his first Mass.

So I offer this not to say, wow look at all the Deacon does or to even have some well intentioned folk feel sorry for me.  As I pointed out long ago when I started this blog, as often as I could, let me share with you the nature of the Permanent Diaconate; a glimpse into the reality of the Permanent Deacon!

Pray for all vocations always; and say a pray from time to time for all the many Permanent Deacons who, like Christ the Servant, serve and seek not to be served!