At this early hour on a Saturday morning, as I sit in a French Quarter hotel just blocks from historic St.Louis Cathedral, I await the Ordination to the Permanent Diaconate of 20 men, brothers in Christ every one of them and soon brother Deacons!
It will be a wonderful event. A sacred ceremony; a Sacrament witnessed inside the Holy Mass. The men will pledge themselves to their Bishop and the Church, they will lay prostrate on the floor invoking the help of the Saints, they will have hands laid on them, vestments placed on them, the Book of the Gospels placed in their hands. They hear the following:
Receive the Gospel of Christ whose herald you have become...
Believe what you read...
Teach what you believe...
Practice what you teach...
Mass will continue; these new Deacons will receive Eucharist as ordained men, and soon the event is over and they leave the Cathedral as Permanent Deacons.
Ad Multos Annos!
I have been so privileged to walk part of the journey with them. I will be honored to proclaim the Gospel for them today. I will pray for them for their ministries about to be undertaken.
It's Saturday morning in New Orleans; Ordination Day!
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