Deacon Harold Burke-Sivers
Deacons and Racial Justice
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
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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
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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
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
Anointing of the Sick and the Deacon
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There is a poignant scene in the priestly vocations video “Fishers of Men” (Grassroots Films) where a priest runs to the scene of a rollover car accident and administers the anointing of the sick to a dying teenager. Afterward, the priest greets a young boy who witnessed the incident and saw the priest in action. Read More
Holy Orders: Deacons and Priests
Deacon Harold Burke-Sivers Comments Off on Holy Orders: Deacons and Priests
There are several interesting characteristics of shepherds who lived in the time of Christ. Shepherds lived apart from society and were largely nomadic, moving from place to place. Being a shepherd was mainly the job of single males without children who would normally work in groups looking after one large flock. The main duty of Read More
Putting Our Focus on Jesus
Deacon Harold Burke-Sivers Comments Off on Putting Our Focus on Jesus
The sexual abuse crisis brings into clear relief that the Church is not immune from the cancer of moral depravity. This cancer has spread throughout the Church’s leadership around the world and has deep roots. The Church must be relentless in her efforts to dig up and tear out this invasive weed so that it Read More
Preaching the Pro-Life Message
Deacon Harold Burke-Sivers Comments Off on Preaching the Pro-Life Message
Every Sunday, we profess our faith in God by reciting the creed that reminds us of who we are and what we believe. Sometimes, however, when life throws us a curve and we are faced with difficult personal challenges or pressure from society, we become afraid to pick up our cross and follow Jesus. While Read More