Comments on: Putting deacons in their place? http://blog.deacons.us/2009/12/16/putting-deacons-in-their-place/ Diocese of Syracuse - On the Web @ www.deacons.us Mon, 10 May 2010 18:38:40 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.com/ By: tmcnerney http://blog.deacons.us/2009/12/16/putting-deacons-in-their-place/#comment-55 tmcnerney Sat, 02 Jan 2010 02:51:24 +0000 http://blog.deacons.us/?p=220#comment-55 Deacon Steve - Thanks for your thoughts about Rome's clarification removing some of the "mystery" from ordained ministry. I'm sure others agree with you, and I encourage the "senior" deacons to weigh in as well. Our 65+ active deacons in the diocese have over 20 years of ordained ministry in many cases, but we're just beginning to leverage the Internet to exchange views, etc. If we don't see some additional traffic here, I'll pass your comments along to some of the men who I know would be interested in keeping in touch. Blessings on this Octave Day of Christmas and Feast of Mary, the Mother of Christ here in the U.S. Dc. Tim Deacon Steve – Thanks for your thoughts about Rome’s clarification removing some of the “mystery” from ordained ministry. I’m sure others agree with you, and I encourage the “senior” deacons to weigh in as well.

Our 65+ active deacons in the diocese have over 20 years of ordained ministry in many cases, but we’re just beginning to leverage the Internet to exchange views, etc. If we don’t see some additional traffic here, I’ll pass your comments along to some of the men who I know would be interested in keeping in touch.

Blessings on this Octave Day of Christmas and Feast of Mary, the Mother of Christ here in the U.S.

Dc. Tim

]]> By: Deacon Steve Godwin http://blog.deacons.us/2009/12/16/putting-deacons-in-their-place/#comment-54 Deacon Steve Godwin Fri, 01 Jan 2010 22:00:59 +0000 http://blog.deacons.us/?p=220#comment-54 A few thoughts from a Deacon in the UK. The diaconate is still relatively new over here and although it is growing quite rapidly (whilst priestly vocations continue to decline),priests and laity alike, are generally very supportive of the ministry, although many are still a little unsure about what the ministry is all about! As a married family man working in the secular world, I really welcome Rome's clarification of the difference between a Priestly and Diaconal vocation. It takes away some of the mystery and gives the diaconal ministry a distinct role and one that people are able to understand. Is there a deacon that would like to occasionally exchange emails between the UK and America to compare experiences and news? A few thoughts from a Deacon in the UK. The diaconate is still relatively new over here and although it is growing quite rapidly (whilst priestly vocations continue to decline),priests and laity alike, are generally very supportive of the ministry, although many are still a little unsure about what the ministry is all about! As a married family man working in the secular world, I really welcome Rome’s clarification of the difference between a Priestly and Diaconal vocation. It takes away some of the mystery and gives the diaconal ministry a distinct role and one that people are able to understand. Is there a deacon that would like to occasionally exchange emails between the UK and America to compare experiences and news?

]]> By: tmcnerney http://blog.deacons.us/2009/12/16/putting-deacons-in-their-place/#comment-51 tmcnerney Sat, 19 Dec 2009 19:44:03 +0000 http://blog.deacons.us/?p=220#comment-51 Deacon Griffin - Thank you for your comment. That we never really know the impact of our vocational call and ministry is so true! Although this blog is primarily for the deacons of the Diocese of Syracuse, please feel free to submit a post for publication, homily or your thoughts on the ministry. Thank you! Deacon Tim McNerney Deacon Griffin – Thank you for your comment. That we never really know the impact of our vocational call and ministry is so true!

Although this blog is primarily for the deacons of the Diocese of Syracuse, please feel free to submit a post for publication, homily or your thoughts on the ministry.

Thank you!

Deacon Tim McNerney

]]> By: Deacon Gayden Harper http://blog.deacons.us/2009/12/16/putting-deacons-in-their-place/#comment-50 Deacon Gayden Harper Sat, 19 Dec 2009 19:38:18 +0000 http://blog.deacons.us/?p=220#comment-50 Tim, regarding your blog comments, the "line in the sand" has always been there. Some of us are reminded of that on a regular basis. The clarity of that line is directly proportionate to the frequency and depth of interaction between the deacon with presbyterate/episcopate. With this said, I doubt this change in Canons 1008, 1009 will have any dramatic effect on our ministry. While it is not uncommon for the deacon "to be put in his place", I also agree with Richard that we deacons should not aspire to be something we are not. The line, pronounced or not, should always serve as a source of energy for us to be better servants to the People of God. Deacon Gayden Harper Tim, regarding your blog comments, the “line in the sand” has always been there. Some of us are reminded of that on a regular basis. The clarity of that line is directly proportionate to the frequency and depth of interaction between the deacon with presbyterate/episcopate. With this said, I doubt this change in Canons 1008, 1009 will have any dramatic effect on our ministry.

While it is not uncommon for the deacon “to be put in his place”, I also agree with Richard that we deacons should not aspire to be something we are not. The line, pronounced or not, should always serve as a source of energy for us to be better servants to the People of God.

Deacon Gayden Harper

]]> By: Deacon William M. Griffin, sfo http://blog.deacons.us/2009/12/16/putting-deacons-in-their-place/#comment-48 Deacon William M. Griffin, sfo Sat, 19 Dec 2009 12:46:18 +0000 http://blog.deacons.us/?p=220#comment-48 What I most enjoy about the Diaconate is being a Servant, going about my daily work, family life, and work in my parish and among those I meet each day, realizing that I have made a commitment to serve the Lord and allow Him to use me as His instrument. I often pray that I may reflect His Light to others and draw them to Him without my knowing the work that He is doing so that I don't mess it up. We touch lives every day and we never really understand the effects which we have on others. May we stay true to our calling and be given the grace to draw others to Christ and His Church. What I most enjoy about the Diaconate is being a Servant, going about my daily work, family life, and work in my parish and among those I meet each day, realizing that I have made a commitment to serve the Lord and allow Him to use me as His instrument. I often pray that I may reflect His Light to others and draw them to Him without my knowing the work that He is doing so that I don’t mess it up. We touch lives every day and we never really understand the effects which we have on others. May we stay true to our calling and be given the grace to draw others to Christ and His Church.

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