I had a wonderful time yesterday with the deacons of the Diocese of Sioux City. In case you are unfamiliar with the geography, this diocese is the northwest corner on Iowa. Purely rural. Farmland for miles to be seen, all of it black earth and richly productive.
I conducted for them a day of reflection, and the themes were Evangelization and the New Evangelization. I was grateful for the invitation to lead them, as I am always when asked to lead such gatherings in reflection and prayer.
I wish to complement them in a few ways.
First, they chanted in unison Morning Prayer. It was beautifully done, and brought back still fresh (although 37 years old) memories of my brief time at New Melleray Abbey with the Trappists. The chanting of the deacons and their wives was inspiring.
Second, they seemed to have a genuinely positive fraternity.
Third, their group of soon-to-be ordained candidates were very interested and interactive.
Finally, I enjoyed a great deal speaking at lunch with an older widowed deacon. His wife had died after a lengthy battle with cancer many years ago. He spoke of his awe of his brother deacons, his sense of his own limitations, and of how after the death of a wife a now celibate deacon can move on to a new life unlike he would have known before. He spoke simply, but meaningfully, and I don’t think I will forget his words or his witness, or his kindness.
The distinct reality that we married deacons will one day be called to live out the understanding we all had at ordination, i.e., that we may one day be called to celibacy and continence should our wives die before us, is something perhaps we do not pray about or consider adequately. The deacon I mentioned above has done just that. I sensed with a great deal of grief and loss, but he has done it nonetheless, and I wish all of us could have had the opportunity to hear him as I did yesterday.
Thank you, deacon!
