Category Archives: Deacons

Calling all Deacons! – The Authority of Service

Posted on January 29, 2012 by Deacon Bob

The Holy Father’s Angelus message centers around today’s passage from the Gospel of Mark in which a man with an unclean spirit is cleansed by Jesus. Benedict XVI made a remarkable comment on the nature of authority. We all have … Continue reading →

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The Deacon as “Confessor”

Posted on January 18, 2012 by Deacon Bob

Back on February 19, 2000, J. Francis Cardinal Stafford, then President of the Pontifical Council for the Laity, spoke on the “Ideal Family of the Permanent Deacon.” He said a lot  but I would like to underscore one small piece. … Continue reading →

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Happy Feast Day, Deacons of the World!

Posted on December 26, 2011 by Deacon Bob

Today is the feast of St. Stephen, called the protomartyr as he was the first martyr of the Church. He was stoned to death for preaching the Gospel, not long after Christ’s death. He was also one of the first … Continue reading →

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Not Doing Enough, Deacons? Or Too Much?

Posted on December 19, 2011 by Deacon Bob

I have been ordained now for over two years. Occasionally, I will hear a deacon say, “I don’t think I am doing enough!” (making reference to what he perceives his ministry to be in the parish or diocese). Perhaps more … Continue reading →

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More Information on the Diaconate in the United States

Posted on December 15, 2011 by Deacon Bob

Here are some more interesting facts about the permanent diaconate in the United States, according to the Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate(CARA) in their 2009/2010 report: 92% of permanent deacons in active ministry are married, 4% are widowed … Continue reading →

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Update on the Diaconate in the World (and other stats of interest)

Posted on December 12, 2011 by Deacon Bob

Fides (www.fides.org), the Vatican’s agency on world missions, reported on October 23rd its annual statistics on various aspects of the Church througout the world. Included in this report were interesting data regarding the diaconate. Last year, the number of permanent … Continue reading →

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A Deacon’s Ministry on the Streets of Toronto

Posted on November 28, 2011 by Deacon Bob

I want to thank Deacon Greg Kandra over at The Deacon’s Bench (see link under Blogroll below right) for putting me on an article about Deacon Robert Kinghorn’s ministry to the prostitutes and drug dealers on Toronto’s streets. Klinghorn has … Continue reading →

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Status of the Diaconate in the United States

Posted on November 22, 2011 by Deacon Bob

I ran across a very interesting article today from The Catholic World Reporter (www.catholicworldreport.com/Item/976/servants-of-the-lord.aspx) looking at the permanent diaconate in the United States. It is well worth your time to read. It discusses the differences in the prevalence of the … Continue reading →

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A Deacon’s Vocation is Discerned in Afghanistan

Posted on November 11, 2011 by Deacon Bob

I would refer you to a wonderful story of a deacon’s vocation discernment in Afghanistan back in 2005. Deacon Catarino Villanueva was ordained to the diaconate in December 2010 for the diocese of Brownsville, Texas. He had served with Charlie … Continue reading →

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The Outstanding Success of the Permanent Diaconate

Posted on October 15, 2011 by Deacon Bob

I didn’t take the time to write a post about the anniversary of the opening of the Second Vatican Council. I should have. On October 11, 1962, Pope John XXIII opened the Council. As those of us old enough to … Continue reading →

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Bold Preaching: Part 2

Posted on September 19, 2011 by Deacon Bob

I received a comment on yesterday’s post about preaching that makes several points, but I would like to focus on the last one made, specifically that all the bold preaching done from a pulpit does no good to someone who … Continue reading →

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Have We Starved Our People?

Posted on September 18, 2011 by Deacon Bob

We hear more and more about Catholics neglecting to attend Mass each Sunday, and we ask, “Why?” Why is it that for generations, Catholics in this country showed up in high proportions to attend Sunday Mass each week? I am … Continue reading →

Posted in Deacons, General Interest, homilies | 2 Comments

Anniversary of Ordination

Posted on August 22, 2011 by Deacon Bob

Today, the memorial of the Queenship of Mary, is the second anniversary of my ordination to the diaconate. To all my classmates I extend my best wishes! Seems like yesterday, but what a wonderful couple of years it has been! … Continue reading →

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What Constitutes Good Preaching?

Posted on August 15, 2011 by Deacon Bob

I read with interest today a report from The Catholic News Service that Fr. Roy Shelly and Deborah Wilhelm of the Diocese of Monterey, California said that a good homily should be only 6-8 minutes in length on Sundays and … Continue reading →

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St. Lawrence, Deacon and Martyr of Rome

Posted on August 10, 2011 by Deacon Bob

I would be remiss if I didn’t post something on St. Lawrence, whose feast day it is today. Yes, this is a feast, not just a memorial, which means it is “kinda important” in the Church calendar. Lawrence was one … Continue reading →

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A Mark of Orthodoxy

Posted on July 25, 2011 by Deacon Bob

Ran across a great description of orthodoxy today, written by Fr. John Hardon. Here is what he says: “As a mark of orthodoxy, the Church’s catholicity is part of a mysterious paradox whereby the same essential faith and worship are … Continue reading →

Posted in Deacons, Dogmatic Theology, Ecclesiology, Evangelization | 2 Comments

Attention Deacons!

Posted on July 12, 2011 by Deacon Bob

“The one who serves does not consider himself superior to the one served, however miserable his situation at the moment may be….. Those who are in a position to help others will realize that in doing so they themselves receive … Continue reading →

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Great Reading on the Diaconate

Posted on June 28, 2011 by Deacon Bob

Susan Kehoe over at A Deacon’s Wife alerted me to a couple of great articles on the diaconate. She was interviewed and quoted in one of them. The author does a great job describing the deacon and the development of … Continue reading →

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A Document on Preaching On Its Way

Posted on June 16, 2011 by Deacon Bob

There was lively debate on the first day of the spring general assembly of the U.S. bishops meeting in Bellevue, Washington yesterday. Archbishop Robert J. Carlson from St. Louis presented a proposal to authorize a 50-page document on preaching for … Continue reading →

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And the Answer Is…

Posted on June 14, 2011 by Deacon Bob

Fausto is correct. The answer to the diaconate quiz of yesterday is:  Michael Cole, in 1969, was ordained a deacon by Bishop Fulton J. Sheen  of the diocese of Rochester, New York.  Cole had been an Anglican priest. Unfortunately, fairly … Continue reading →

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