Fresh off the 2018 National Diaconate Congress in New Orleans July 22-26th, the Permanent Deacons of New Orleans gathered in community last night to celebrate the Feast of St. Lawrence, Deacon & Martyr. This is something the community has done for quite some time and ever since I began formation the date of August 10th is circled on my calendar.
About 200 people attended an we were formally introduced to the new group of candidates that make up the class of 2022, which could see, God willing, 22 more men ordained to the diaconate. We prayed evening prayer together led by Deacon Lawrence Houston who recently preached a powerful homily during the Congress at St. Louis Cathedral.
Many members of my class were there; ordained in December 2008 we are rapidly approaching our 10th anniversary.
In addition to gathering every year for the Feast of St. Lawrence we also gather every December 26th to celebrate the Feast of St. Stephen, one of the original deacons of the Church and the proto-martyr of the newly established Christian faith.
I say it often and will say it again, the Permanent Deacons of your parishes and the many ministries they work so closely with, appreciate and need your prayers. We always pray for our Bishops and Priests and rightly so, let us not forget the Deacons too!
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