On Monday we remember and celebrate the great Deacon of Rome, Lawrence, who also was a martyr for the faith. One of the 7 deacons of Rome, he was devoted to his Bishop who was martyred before Lawrence. Forced to gather the treasures of the Church to bring before the Roman officials, he marched the faithful through the streets of Rome and announced, these are the treasures of the Church. Not amused, Lawrence was killed upon a gridiron, basically roasted to death.
In the Archdiocese of New Orleans a long standing tradition for the Permanent Diaconate community has been to meet twice a year, with our Archbishop, for Mass, and then a meal and fellowship. One such gathering comes the day after Christmas when we remember St. Stephen and the other is tomorrow, August 10th, when we remember St. Lawrence.
I try very hard to attend these gatherings although tomorrow's celebration comes on a Monday, after a full days work, and for me, some 50 miles to the south. I will pray and discern during the day if I can be in attendance. Having done this several times in the past, I have always enjoyed such gatherings. It is good for the Permanent Deacons to gather as community when we can; especially to celebrate Mass and be among our Archbishop. This year we will have a group of men with us that have been deacons no less than 48 days. For them this is the first opportunity to share and be among the community as Deacons since Ordination Day.
You know St. Lawrence was a Deacon in every sense of the word, he served the poor and often was ministering among them. I am a huge advocate for this type of ministry among Deacons today. We all know that Deacons are ordained for ministry of the word, the altar and charity. AND CHARITY!
Most of our Catholic faithful know their Permanent Deacon because he dons vestments and is seen at Mass, leading certain prayers, reading the Gospel, sometimes preaching, and helping to minister the Eucharist as Mass. Sometimes, Catholics encounter the Deacon at the Baptism of their child and the Marriage of a young couple. Rarely does the everyday Catholic encounter the Deacon at work in a food bank, hospital, nursing home, prison, homeless shelter, but they should. This is the charity part that every Deacon must embrace. This is what Deacons are called to do because of who they are. The Deacon, seen at Mass every Sunday, should bring to that Mass his many acts of service during the week as a minister of charity.
These are my thoughts going forward. Sometimes as Church we fail to place a Permanent Deacon in a ministry of service. This is something I never had to deal with. In formation it was crystal clear that new Deacons would be sent out into the streets of this Archdiocese to minister where others dare not go. I got assigned immediately to a state prison and I blog about my experiences often. Let me share some advice with any new Deacons, or even not so new Deacons, about ministry: find one!
Yep, if for whatever reason you find yourself without any ministries except looking good on Sundays then do something about it. I am so proud of a Deacon from a class a few years ago. Not assigned a ministry, he prayed and discerned and thought about his strengths and challenges and became a Chaplain for the local Fire Department. Today, he assists firemen and families through difficult circumstances, prays for and with them and is making a difference by serving somewhere other than a Sunday. A wise Deacon instructor, well respected, once told my formation class that the Permanent Deacon is a sacramental sign on the altar every Sunday by the feet he washes Monday- Saturday. I sincerely hope that every man ordained to the Order of Deacon, sealed with that indelible mark from ordination and receiving the graces that flow from the Sacrament are faithful to the commitment to proclaim the Word, YES!, to minister at the altar, YES! and minister Charity daily, YES INDEED!
May we be inspired, moved and strengthened by St. Lawrence, Deacon & Martyr, who spent himself to the point of death in serving the poor. May we, The Permanent Deacons of the Archdiocese of New Orleans always seek to serve and never be served.
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