Permanent Diaconate
Vision
Statement
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The deacon, called from
and by the community and strengthened by sacramental grace, has a primary
role of service to those in need.
This role flows from the servant role of Jesus to the poor, the
marginalized, the oppressed, the alienated.
“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me; therefore he has anointed me.
He has sent me to bring glad tidings to the poor, to proclaim
liberty to captives, recovery of sight to the blind, and release to
prisoners, to announce a year of favor from the Lord.”
Historically, the service of the deacon has been directed to the
disenfranchised; and in these rapidly changing times, this role of service
also urges the deacon to address the particular spiritual and social needs
of a racially, ethnically and economically diverse community.
Although
most deacons have served in parish ministry, and many will continue to
offer this valuable ministry, the major time commitment of the deacon
should be this primary role of service, within or outside the parochial
context.
It is from this role of service that the liturgical ministry
springs, providing the deacon an opportunity to facilitate and motivate
concern and action for justice in the workplace and among the wider
community, by animating the Christian community to an aware-ness of the
needs of others.
For those deacons who are married, their ministry of service should
be seen in light of the pre-eminent place of their vocation to marriage
and family life.
Therefore, the grace of ordination should be regarded as enhancing
the grace of the sacrament of marriage, wherein the married couple already
witnesses to the presence of Christ in the world.
The vision of the diaconal ministry needs to be reflected in the
collaboration of the deacon and the bishop as they share in their common
ministry of service, advocacy and empowerment relative to the needs of the
marginalized of the diocesan church.
For more information, contact
Tom
McDade Clay, Director of Admissions or Deacon
David Palma, Director of Deacon Formation and Deacon Personnel.
