Deacon Harold Burke-Sivers
The Trinitarian Priesthood
10 months ago Deacon Harold Burke-Sivers Comments Off on The Trinitarian Priesthood
The Trinitarian understanding of the hierarchy of holy orders traces its origins back to the Old Testament and is rooted in covenant relationship with God. When this bond is broken by original sin (Gn 3), God establishes a three-tiered system of priests who act as mediators of the covenant between God and his people. This Read More
Deacons and Reconciliation
1 year ago Deacon Harold Burke-Sivers Comments Off on Deacons and Reconciliation
On Easter night, Jesus appeared to the 10 apostles gathered in the Upper Room and said to them: “Receive the holy Spirit. Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained” (Jn 20:22-23). Hence, the Church teaches: “Since Christ entrusted to his apostles the ministry of reconciliation, bishops … and Read More
The Deacon and Confirmation
1 year ago Deacon Harold Burke-Sivers Comments Off on The Deacon and Confirmation
What role should deacons play in the Sacrament of Confirmation? The Catechism of the Catholic Church notes that “in the Latin Rite, the ordinary minister of Confirmation is the bishop. If the need arises, the bishop may grant the faculty of administering Confirmation to priests” (No. 1313). Additionally, “if a Christian is in danger of Read More
A Vehicle of Forgiveness
2 years ago Deacon Harold Burke-Sivers Comments Off on A Vehicle of Forgiveness
The evangelizing witness of the deacon serves as an icon of mercy in the life of the Church. The deacon, as a grace-filled sign of God’s presence through a life of service, becomes the bridge for the Father’s evangelizing mercy, connecting God’s infinite, compassionate love to authentic healing in both the parish and families. How Read More
Deacons and Racial Justice
2 years ago Deacon Harold Burke-Sivers Comments Off on Deacons and Racial Justice
In July 2020, the Vatican Congregation for the Clergy issued an instruction on ”the pastoral conversion of the parish community in the service of the evangelizing mission of the Church. In it, Pope Francis outlines a simple theology of diaconal service in the parish, clarifying the specific role of deacons and their characteristic gift of Read More
Deacons and the Orans Posture
2 years ago Deacon Harold Burke-Sivers Comments Off on Deacons and the Orans Posture
We have all seen brother deacons who are about to proclaim the Gospel open their arms and say, “The Lord be with you.” Others keep their hands folded. Is there a correct bodily posture? The opening of the arms in prayer is called the orans posture (orans is a form of the Latin word for Read More
Deacons and Dalmatics
2 years ago Deacon Harold Burke-Sivers Comments Off on Deacons and Dalmatics
During the last 20 years, I have had the honor and privilege of serving at the altar with my brother deacons throughout the world. However, I’ve noticed an unwillingness by some to wear the dalmatic during Mass. When I inquire about their reluctance, I receive a variety of responses: “It’s too hot”; “I look too Read More
Deacons and the Weddings Outside of Mass
3 years ago Deacon Harold Burke-Sivers Comments Off on Deacons and the Weddings Outside of Mass
I recently received an email from a brother deacon lamenting that, in his experience with marriages outside of Mass, deacons are able to receive the wedding vows and preach, but are prohibited by pastors from offering the nuptial blessing. Ideally, the order of marriage should be celebrated during Mass where a priest presides at both Read More