At Deacon Convocation, 50 years of the permanent diaconate honored
As the permanent diaconate marks its 50th Jubilee here in the Archdiocese of Denver this year, over 200 archdiocesan deacons gathered last month for their annual convocation to look back on how deacons have served the people of God over these last 50 years — and ahead to how they’ll continue to serve in the next 50.
The convocation took place March 8-10 and featured several speakers who provided formation, insights and spiritual nourishment for the deacons, including Archbishop Samuel J. Aquila, Vicar for Clergy Father Angel Perez-Lopez, Dr. Anthony Lilles of St. Patrick’s Seminary, Deacon Ernie Martinez and others. Also honored were the two former Director of Deacons for the archdiocese, Deacon Alfonso Sandoval and Deacon Joe Donohoe.
The deacons gathered together at Masses celebrated by Archbishop Aquila and Bishop Rodriguez and were given ample opportunity to spend time in fellowship with one another. Deacon Martinez gave a presentation looking back at the last 50 years of the diaconate in the archdiocese to recognize the many deacons who came before them and laid the foundation for today’s vibrant diaconate here in the Archdiocese of Denver.
During this 50th Jubilee, the diaconate is calling upon the intercession of St. Euplius, a third century deacon-martyr who Deacon Martinez says is a powerful witness to the deacons of today, who echo the call of the deacons of old to lay down their lives for Christ and his Church. St. Euplius boldly proclaimed the faith in Rome by reading the Bible publicly before being tortured and executed at the hands of the emperor Diocletian. Tradition holds that St. Euplius prayed fervently and gave thanks to God, even as the executioner brought the blade down onto his neck.
The diaconate is often a misunderstood vocation in the Church, but that makes it no less important. Through the ministries of liturgy, word and service, deacons quietly and humbly serve God’s people in numerous ways. The Catechism describe the ministry of the deacon as such:
“Deacons share in Christ’s mission and grace in a special way. The sacrament of Holy Orders marks them with an imprint (‘character’) which cannot be removed and which configures them to Christ, who made himself the “deacon” or servant of all. Among other tasks, it is the task of deacons to assist the bishop and priests in the celebration of the divine mysteries, above all the Eucharist, in the distribution of Holy Communion, in assisting at and blessing marriages, in the proclamation of the Gospel and preaching, in presiding over funerals, and in dedicating themselves to the various ministries of charity” (CCC 1570).
Here in the Archdiocese of Denver, a Diaconal Ministries Resource Manual lists the hundreds of ministries deacons are involved in. For the 50th Jubilee, Deacon Martinez is working to tell the stories of deacons both present and past to share with the next generation.
“There are so many deacons that have done such great work for the people of God,” Deacon Martinez said. “There are so many apostolates and ministries that have been started by deacons by giving their own money to these different missions. We’ve saved so many people from despair because of what deacons have done. We need to tell those stories.”
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