At the outset let me make two points abundantly clear; I am not looking for sympathy(maybe empathy) and I wholeheartedly support remembering our Priests, both at Christmas time and throughout the year.
It is a beautiful thing, especially at Christmas, to see some of the gifts and envelopes piling up for Father. Many times we forgot or take for granted all that a Priest does for his parish, his parishioners, for total strangers, for the Archdiocese, for one another and countless other people. Priests also spend many more hours than most of us in prayer, for the good of the universal church and her local people. Priests are called to hospitals and nursing homes and private homes all hours of the day and night, during the week and on weekends. Now let's be clear, if your Priest is an Archdiocesan Priest he gets paid a salary, car allowance, covered insurances and most parishes pay for groceries, utilities, housekeeping. More affluent parishes may provide a paid for cook. Sounds like a good deal? Well it is but we all must consider that a Priest's day begins early, very early. A Priest's day never ends at 5 in the afternoon, it extends well into the evening. A Priest's day can and often is interrupted all hours of the night. A Priest, if lucky, might get one day off a week but never two. And of course his weekend's are spoken for! Another thing we need to remember is a Priest is a man and needs things and must pay for those things with their salary and allowances. A Priest also enjoys some amenities of this world although they often sacrifice those extras.
So indeed we do a very good and noble thing by thanking our Priests at Christmas time with gifts. Now a Priest also has spiritual needs, like you and I so remembering our Priests with Masses, maybe paying for a retreat or continuing education(mostly paid for by the Archdiocese but there is always incidentals) is a great idea. But gift cards, gifts of cash, and material things that the Priest may enjoy are also great ideas. Think about your Priests this Christmas.
Now if your Priests is a religious order Priest often they are called to share all that they receive with the community. Don't let that stop you as you may actually be benefitting several religious order clerics.
Then we have the Deacon; oh what to do with that pesky Deacon? Of course when the vast majority of church goers leave Mass and call you Father, when the same folks ask you where Father is so he can bless an item and you tell them you can do it and they walk away laughing, well, we have a bigger problem than remembering your Deacon at Christmas. From my experience over nine years as a Deacon, from talks with many of my Deacon friends and participating in several forums, Deacons are remembered at Christmas, but in much smaller numbers. The generosity of some parishes and ministries differs greatly, as I experienced by assisting at two different parishes. Recently, when at a KC meeting, a pretty Deacon friendly place to be, a motion was made to financially gift the Priests, a great things indeed. No mention of the Deacon and that was fine with me until one of the KC officers, fancying himself a joker, said for all to hear, and we never give the Deacons sh*t and we never will! Cue laughter!
So let me make a plea not for me but for your parish Deacon, who by the way, does not belong, by office, to the parish but belongs to the Archbishop.; remember them too. Yes, Permanent Deacons work or maybe have a secular retirement fund to draw from. But Deacons spend themselves too in service to Holy Mother Church, both at the parish assigned and the ministry they support. I go to a prison during the month; a 80 mile round trip drive. There is no mileage credit, allowance and please understand, Deacons draw no salary except for a precious few who take a church job independent from ministries. Deacons might have families to raise, wife and kids you know, their own bills to pay while cutting short income producing hours to minister to the sick, hospitalized, imprisoned, marginalized. Deacons like to receive gifts of spiritual bouquets, masses and offers of prayer. But deacons do appreciate a gift that says thank you, you are appreciated!
Now this better not be read through the lens of Priests vs Deacons; this is not my intention or my point. And the problem with Deacons being ignored at Christmas speaks to a bigger problem in the Body of Christ of an overall non-understanding and even sometimes dismissal of the diaconate. Know this, if you are lucky, dare I say blessed to have a Deacon in service to the Church at your parish, or your community, get to know them, to understand who they are and what they do, to learn why the Church declares this ministry is needed and then there may be an increase in appreciation of your deacon's service.
So I hope you may at least consider remembering your Deacon this year as well as our beloved Priests. And to those who already get it and bless us with their generosity, a sincere thank you. And please know that I and all my Deacon friends rest very comfortably with the greatest gift a Deacon will ever receive; the grace to serve Holy Mother Church as an icon of Christ the Servant; that gift is priceless!!
God Bless You All!
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