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Heart of a Deacon
4 months ago Deacon Omar F.A. Gutiérrez Comments Off on Heart of a Deacon
In the early 1940s, a young boy sought out Father Edward Flanagan as he toured the East Coast with an entourage of boys from the “town of little men” he had founded in Omaha, Nebraska. The boy, who had suffered a great deal in his brief life, had arranged to ask if he could come Read More
Ars Praedicandi
4 months ago Deacon Victor Puscas Comments Off on Ars Praedicandi
Albert King was an American guitarist and singer who is often regarded as one of the greatest and most influential blues guitarists of all time. Nicknamed “The Velvet Bulldozer,” King once wrote a song called, “Everybody Wants to Go to Heaven (But Nobody Wants to Die).” Now you may be thinking, “This is mildly interesting, Read More
The Four Senses of Scripture
4 months ago Mike Schramm Comments Off on The Four Senses of Scripture
There is a difficulty in allowing God’s word to form us. We must listen to Scripture — must dwell in the word. Clergy, including deacons, must face the immensity of Scripture itself and the unique responsibility of preaching Scripture. When practicing lectio divina, one might ask how much is God speaking and how much is Read More
Beyond Box-Checking
4 months ago Deacon Leon Suprenant Comments Off on Beyond Box-Checking
We all realize that ordination is only the starting gate and not the finish line when it comes to diaconal ministry. Still, for those involved in diaconal formation, it’s fair to say that there’s a strong desire to exhale after the ordination of a cohort! Yet we quickly realize that the grace of the sacrament Read More
Balancing the Stole and the Stroller
6 months ago Deacon Anton Nickolai Comments Off on Balancing the Stole and the Stroller
I didn’t hear the call to the diaconate in silence or solitude. I heard it in the bustling kitchen of our modest home — a baby on my hip, stirring mac and cheese with the other hand. Toys underfoot, laundry downstairs, hungry toddler meltdown imminent. At the time, I was a full-time lawyer, married to Read More
In the Footsteps of Stephen
6 months ago Clement Harrold Comments Off on In the Footsteps of Stephen
Recent years have seen a revival of Scripture study among Catholics. One of the apostolates behind this sea change has been the St. Paul Center for Biblical Theology. Located in Steubenville, Ohio, this thriving nonprofit has spent the last 20 years teaching Catholics to read sacred Scripture from the heart of the Church. Inspired by Read More
Wise Guides
6 months ago Deacon William T. Ditewig Comments Off on Wise Guides
In this essay, I hope to reflect on the importance of mentoring and suggest how deacons might be uniquely positioned to provide mentoring. So, what is a mentor? A mentor is someone who has more experience in a field we are entering, and who is willing to walk with us, inspire us and share with Read More
Into the Depths
6 months ago Deacon Matt Napoli Comments Off on Into the Depths
“Formation should not end with ordination.” Those words echoed in my heart leading up to my ordination in August 2022. Our formation program was four and a half years long, and as I approached ordination, people would ask me about the important things I had learned. I always answered, “Many things, but the number one Read More