“If you are interested in becoming a Deacon Couple…”
September 9, 2013 By
A reader sent this my way: a blog post from a parish in South Pasadena, written by a deacon aspirant and his wife, describing the journey toward ordination.
From the way this is written, it sounds like she’s being ordained, too:
Except for the last two sentences, which were written by Deacon Greg, the letter clearly is from an aspirant and wife identifying themselves as two on a journey to becoming a deacon couple. Stuff like this continuously keeps the Order of Deacon in some hot water. Since the restoration of the Permanent Diaconate specifically, there has been some concern about formation training, feel good foolishness and after about 50 years of active ministry a general misconception by the Catholic in the pews about the Deacon.
It's one thing if this occurs because we have not properly catechized the faithful about the Order of the Deacon and the role of the Permanent Deacon, it's another thing when from within the community of Deacons, and here I will include aspirants and candidates, we totally misrepresent diakonia!!!
For brevity, and to specifically address the letter written above, let's be clear: there is NO SUCH THING AS A DEACON COUPLE. Period. "We" do not get ordained. That clearly and totally misrepresents authentic Church teaching on Holy Orders, the Diaconate, and the Church. YES, Permanent Deacons almost always are 199% supported by beautiful, holy, supportive wives. Many attend almost everything the Deacon aspirant and candidate attends and even many participate in the ministry of their husbands. But there is NO DEACON COUPLE. Only the male, in this case husband, gets ordained! Yes, the wife must consent, she must be informed, she must understand all that formation and potentially ordination will mean for her, her husband and the family. And she still must be totally faithful to the vows taken at the first Sacrament of Service she and her husband took: MATRIMONY!!!!
I sure can't comment on this couple who most probably and very innocently have stepped into this discussion. And I will be praying for their continued happiness, peace and discernment as the husband follows a path that may lead to ordination. And I pray just as fervently that they and all others cease the use of the term DEACON COUPLE, because it just DON'T EXIST!
From the way this is written, it sounds like she’s being ordained, too:
The summer was very active for us; homework assignments, meeting our Deacon journeying couple, Deacon Joe & Lorraine Mirzerski from St. Therese’s parish in Alhambra, and writing our candidacy letters. Jay has written to Archbishop Gomez asking that he be admitted as a candidate for the permanent diaconate. Candy has written her letter to Deacon Craig Siegman, the director of Diaconate formation, stating that Jay has her permission to enter into the program as a candidate…Bless them. But I hope someone in the diaconate office makes clear, sooner rather than later, that only one of them will be receiving the sacrament of Holy Orders.
…We will officially become candidates on November 2nd in Mission Hills, when we go through this Rite of Acceptance with Bishop Salazar.
Our second year of Diaconate training started on September 7, 2013 as we returned to Alemany High School.
As we begin our second of five years in formation, we want to thank all of those who continue support and pray for us.
If you are interested in becoming a Deacon Couple for the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, please contact:
Diaconate Formation Office
Archdiocese of Los Angeles
3424 Wilshire Boulevard, 2nd Floor
Los Angeles, CA 90010-2241
Except for the last two sentences, which were written by Deacon Greg, the letter clearly is from an aspirant and wife identifying themselves as two on a journey to becoming a deacon couple. Stuff like this continuously keeps the Order of Deacon in some hot water. Since the restoration of the Permanent Diaconate specifically, there has been some concern about formation training, feel good foolishness and after about 50 years of active ministry a general misconception by the Catholic in the pews about the Deacon.
It's one thing if this occurs because we have not properly catechized the faithful about the Order of the Deacon and the role of the Permanent Deacon, it's another thing when from within the community of Deacons, and here I will include aspirants and candidates, we totally misrepresent diakonia!!!
For brevity, and to specifically address the letter written above, let's be clear: there is NO SUCH THING AS A DEACON COUPLE. Period. "We" do not get ordained. That clearly and totally misrepresents authentic Church teaching on Holy Orders, the Diaconate, and the Church. YES, Permanent Deacons almost always are 199% supported by beautiful, holy, supportive wives. Many attend almost everything the Deacon aspirant and candidate attends and even many participate in the ministry of their husbands. But there is NO DEACON COUPLE. Only the male, in this case husband, gets ordained! Yes, the wife must consent, she must be informed, she must understand all that formation and potentially ordination will mean for her, her husband and the family. And she still must be totally faithful to the vows taken at the first Sacrament of Service she and her husband took: MATRIMONY!!!!
I sure can't comment on this couple who most probably and very innocently have stepped into this discussion. And I will be praying for their continued happiness, peace and discernment as the husband follows a path that may lead to ordination. And I pray just as fervently that they and all others cease the use of the term DEACON COUPLE, because it just DON'T EXIST!
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