“Deacons are a constant call to the Christian community to open its doors…”

Last updated on: March 13, 2015 at 4:32 pm by Deacon Greg Kandra

“Deacons are a constant call to the Christian community to open its doors…” 2015-03-13T16:32:08-04:00 Deacon Greg Kandra

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

An interview on deacons, from Vatican Insider:

Msgr. Nicora Filippi, who is representing the Permanent Diaconate in Rome, said deacons do a lot of work with families and in the professional sphere, becoming living examples of day-to-day faith.

Msgr. Nicora Filippi (a delegate for the diocese of Rome), how can the permanent diaconate contribute to the reform phase launched by Pope Francis?

“As a ministry of charity the diaconate is naturally inclined towards the existential peripheries Pope Francis has been encouraging the Church to go to. So deacons are a constant call to the Christian community to open its doors, especially to those who do not fit into the efficiency-focused mentality of today’s society. Deacons should be a living embodiment of the words the Holy Father pronounced in his homily for the inaugural mass of Francis’ pontificate on 19 March 2013: “We must not be afraid of goodness, of tenderness!” When the Christian community sees living testimonies of goodness and tenderness, it will be encouraged to adopt both as a permanent style of life.”

How does one become a deacon and what is the training involved?

“Because it forms part of the Sacrament of Holy Orders, the diaconate is only open to men, including those who are married. In Rome, the formation period for a deacon is at least five years. Students must obtain a Bachelor of Religious Sciences from the Superior Institute of Religious Science “Ecclesia Mater” and follow an in-depth spiritual and pastoral programme which involves monthly retreats, a monthly lectio divina comunitaria and a pastoral traineeship in parish communities as well as other training sessions.”

Deacons usually have a double vocation: marriage and the diaconate. What are the characteristics of a deacon’s ministry?

“The vocation of deacon is linked to that of marriage. A deacon always remains a husband and a father. This means that the family is the primary context in which he exercises his ministry and he is called to live an exemplary life in both vocations. As an ordained minister he carries out the tasks entrusted to him by the bishop or parish priest, bearing in mind family and professional commitments.”

How is the primacy of spiritual life exercised in the diaconate?

“On his ordination day a deacon prays the Liturgy of the Hours, the official prayer of the Church, daily. This prayer sanctifies time and invokes God’s mercy upon all people. In addition to this, a deacon is strongly advised to attend Holy Mass and participate in a daily mediation on God’s Word, so that his daily acts are permeated by the Holy Spirit. If a deacon is not intimately united with God his service risks becoming like that of any social worker instead of being a sacramental sign of Jesus Christ who came to serve man. Marian devotion, especially to the Lord’s servant Mary and spiritual direction are a big help in ensuring deacons do not lose sight of the significance of their ministry.”

Read it all.

Deacons

Previous Post

March 19, 2014

"St. Joseph, be my guide, my father, my model through life..."

Next Post

March 19, 2014 A liturgical practicum for deacons?

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category "Mad Men" 9/11 advent All Things New Amazing video amazing videos amazon america Anglicans Anti-Catholicism art ascension thursday ash wednesday Atheists baltimore Bible Bishops Blogging bonnie engstrom Books bridgeport Brooklyn Chaplains children christian art christmas Church Churches CNEWA Converts criticism Deacons Death Penalty easter eastern christian Eastern Christians Ecumenism education Education Eucharist Europe euthanasia Evangelization Exorcism Family Feasts Gay rights Good Friday Great links Great Moments in Journalism Hanging with the saints heather renshaw Hispanic Catholics Hispanics History homelies Homilies Humor Hymn of the Week Immigration indianapolis Inspiration Interfaith news ireland Jesus Jews Journalism Judaism lent Liturgy logos Marriage Mary Media Medical news Mental health Middle East Monks Movies Music Muslims My world and welcome to it New Evangelization new york News Nuns Parenting Parish life peoria Persecution politics Politics Pope pope francis pope john paul Prayer Preaching Priests Pro-life Quote of the day radio rebecca frech ripp Ripped from the headlines rippred from the headlines Sacraments saints Scripture sex abuse Sex abuse crisis SEX ABUSE CRISIS TAGGED WITH: SEX ABUSE CRISIS The people in the pews the visitation project theatre This & that Thomas Merton Trappists TV Uncategorized uncategorized VATICAN Vatican vocation Vocations Voices & Views Women Worth a thousand words Writing Year of Faith year of mercy young people

Select a Month December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

How do you show your love for God?

Select your answer to see how you score.

All of these Looking Forward to Heaven Prayer Keeping His Commandments

Books by This Author Books by Deacon Greg Kandra

See All Titles »