Day 3 dawned early as Wendy rested in bed I was wide awake, blogging at 5:15 am, watching the sunrise over the Mississippi River just south and east of Algiers Point. I found myself downstairs at 7 am and grabbed a quick breakfast at Starbucks and then settled in for the first event of the day: Morning Prayer and Mass. The celebrant was Cardinal Joseph Tobin of Newark who, in his homily, informed us that his cathedral is actually 5 feet longer than St. Patrick's in New York City. The bulk of his homily was more affirming words for the 2,800 Permanent Deacons and wives in attendance. Building on the homily Sunday night of Archbishop Aymond of New Orleans, he reminded us to be men of prayer and men who also care deeply for our families and careers and of course the ministries assigned to us.
Cardinal Tobin returned for a wonderful keynote presentation that had us both laughing and reflecting on the gift of this ministry. The Cardinal is obviously one of our great Bishop who get's the contribution and the gift to the church that is the Permanent Diaconate. We next heard from Deacon James Keating who let us know that we all share in the complicated reality that is family life and the life of an ordained cleric in the Church. Yet it is our family life along with our very public life in the workplace, the community, around town that makes our ministry such a mystery. Our job, as the Deacon, is to listen to the Holy Spirit, and to know when we are out of balance if you will. He told a beautiful story of how the Deacon Phillip and the Ethiopian eunuch was that of our diaconate ministry, read the Scriptures, teach the meaning, bring others closer to God and then bring them to the water, whether it is the water of Baptism or the living water offered to all only by an intimate personal union with Jesus.
Lunch time arrived and Wendy and I ate in the hotel restaurant as I enjoyed a delicious shrimp & oyster po-boy. The place was packed with deacons and families, many of whom are enjoying New Orleans cuisine for the first time ever. Today all the vendors were in place so we browsed the different booths selling vestments, books, jewelry, trips to Rome and the Holy Land, you name it. I bought one book from Teresa Tomeo of Catholic Connection and got to meet her personally and husband Deacon Dom Pastore.
Speaking of meeting, today we were introduced to Permanent Deacons from Spain, India, France, Australia, Lithuania!
The 2pm keynote was Deacon Greg Kandra of Deacon's Bench, when of my favorite deacons to follow on social media. He discussed just that, how to really use social media as a force for good promoting the Catholic faith and specifically the mission of Christ the Deacon, the servant! Wendy and I then crossed Canal St. to take in a prison ministry workshop since that is my special assigned ministry. We had plenty of time to learn from one another and exchange ideas.
From there we topped off the evening with dinner at Palace Café, an incredible meal of scallops, crab cakes, shrimp remoulade, cheese cake and a drink called the Nash Roberts; only locals will get the unique name! And yes, now it is all of 7 pm and we are in the room, watching the traffic on the Mississippi River and relaxing. I will make one more pass through the lobby before I lay down for the night.
I do hope to have another very early morning so I can be well prepared for everything that starts officially at 8 am. Tomorrow's super nice treat: a half day special event at the famous World War II Museum complete with the Tom Hanks produced movie and a special talk about the diaconate coming, in part, from the horror of Dachau.
For us, day 3 just about over, there are 3 more days to go. And thanks all for the prayers and well wishes; this has been an emotional, spiritual and personal uplifting for both Wendy and I. I can't wait to share in person soon!
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