Comments for Permanent Deacons http://blog.deacons.us Diocese of Syracuse - On the Web @ www.deacons.us Mon, 10 May 2010 18:38:40 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.com/ Comment on Pray for us… by Greg Kerr http://blog.deacons.us/2010/05/09/pray-for-us/#comment-133 Greg Kerr Mon, 10 May 2010 18:38:40 +0000 http://blog.deacons.us/?p=302#comment-133 Dear Donnie, companions and your wives. As I am approaching my first anniversary of ordination I can still remember the many mixed feelings I had in the days and weeks leading up to that special day. The months since have just flown by with the honour and joy of doing my first baptism, funeral and then the wedding of two of my former students. The long preparation period is certainly worth the wait. Seeing the joy on the faces of those receiving the sacraments is so uplifting. The five of us from our class are now scattered across the diocese. My wife and I will be praying for you all on your special day. Regards Deacon Greg Dear Donnie, companions and your wives.

As I am approaching my first anniversary of ordination I can still remember the many mixed feelings I had in the days and weeks leading up to that special day. The months since have just flown by with the honour and joy of doing my first baptism, funeral and then the wedding of two of my former students.

The long preparation period is certainly worth the wait. Seeing the joy on the faces of those receiving the sacraments is so uplifting. The five of us from our class are now scattered across the diocese.
My wife and I will be praying for you all on your special day.

Regards Deacon Greg

]]> Comment on Pray for us… by A.P. Thomas http://blog.deacons.us/2010/05/09/pray-for-us/#comment-132 A.P. Thomas Mon, 10 May 2010 18:37:02 +0000 http://blog.deacons.us/?p=302#comment-132 Dear Donnie & companions and respective wives, I assure you my prayers for successful final preparation, the Ordination ceremony itself. Yes, 6 years of formation is coming to an end, what remains is unselfish actions as the Martyr Deacon Stephen. There will be rejections by the people whom you serve and even the parish pastor himself may treat you as a challenge to his ministry! May the Lord who called you guide you and strengthen you. God bless all of you. Love from Deacon A.P. Thomas, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (1974). Dear Donnie & companions and respective wives,

I assure you my prayers for successful final preparation, the Ordination ceremony itself. Yes, 6 years of formation is coming to an end, what remains is unselfish actions as the Martyr Deacon Stephen. There will be rejections by the people whom you serve and even the parish pastor himself may treat you as a challenge to his ministry!

May the Lord who called you guide you and strengthen you. God bless all of you.

Love from Deacon A.P. Thomas, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (1974).

]]> Comment on Putting deacons in their place? 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

]]> Comment on Putting deacons in their place? 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?

]]> Comment on Putting deacons in their place? 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

]]> Comment on Putting deacons in their place? 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

]]> Comment on About by Deacon William M. Griffin, sfo http://blog.deacons.us/about/#comment-49 Deacon William M. Griffin, sfo Sat, 19 Dec 2009 12:51:23 +0000 #comment-49 How do I subscribe to your site? I really would like to be a part of the work and conversation which occurs on this site. Blessings to All and be assured of my prayers. Bill How do I subscribe to your site? I really would like to be a part of the work and conversation which occurs on this site. Blessings to All and be assured of my prayers. Bill

]]> Comment on Putting deacons in their place? 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.

]]> Comment on Waiting in the wings… by tmcnerney http://blog.deacons.us/2009/12/06/waiting-in-the-wings/#comment-40 tmcnerney Tue, 08 Dec 2009 03:00:28 +0000 http://blog.deacons.us/?p=205#comment-40 Bill - Yes, your "Last Rite"! Has a bit of an ominous ring to it, but it heralds the coming of a new beginning for the eight of you and your wives as you step into ordained ministry in the diocese. You are all in my prayers. May God Bless You and may His Mother Mary, intercede for you on this Feast of the Immaculate Conception! Dc. Tim Bill – Yes, your “Last Rite”! Has a bit of an ominous ring to it, but it heralds the coming of a new beginning for the eight of you and your wives as you step into ordained ministry in the diocese. You are all in my prayers.

May God Bless You and may His Mother Mary, intercede for you on this Feast of the Immaculate Conception!

Dc. Tim

]]> Comment on Waiting in the wings… by Bill Ferguson http://blog.deacons.us/2009/12/06/waiting-in-the-wings/#comment-39 Bill Ferguson Tue, 08 Dec 2009 02:01:27 +0000 http://blog.deacons.us/?p=205#comment-39 My thanks to Tim McNerney for posting this information about our last rite before ordination. God bless all of my brother candidates! We have all worked very hard and are anxious to serve the Lord! Bill My thanks to Tim McNerney for posting this information about our last rite before ordination. God bless all of my brother candidates! We have all worked very hard and are anxious to serve the Lord!

Bill

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