The deacon as ‘the face of God’s mercy’

From The Catholic Standard in Washington, Mark Zimmerman has a nice write-up about the recent deacon convocation in the Archdiocese of Washington, featuring sterling remarks by Cardinal Donald Wuerl, along with some drivel by a New York blogger:

As they have since the beginning of the Church, deacons today play a vital role in providing Christ-like service at parishes and in a variety of ministries, Cardinal Donald Wuerl said at a recent Permanent Deacon Convocation held at St. Joseph Parish in Largo.

…Cardinal Wuerl noted that the gathering of about 200 deacons – believed to be the first such large-scale gathering of the archdiocese’s permanent deacons in a convocation format – offered a “very important moment, the first time we have come together to reflect on and pray about our ministry.”

The cardinal used the pronoun “our,” noting that priests and bishops are first ordained to Holy Orders as transitional deacons and remain deacons after being ordained to the priesthood or episcopacy.

“It falls to each deacon today, just as it does with priests and bishops, to be the face of God’s mercy,” the cardinal said, emphasizing Pope Francis’s call for today’s Catholics to carry out the New Evangelization by being missionary disciples, bringing Christ’s love to today’s world, especially to those on the margins of society.

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…A deacon who is married is called to be a servant in both vocations, said Deacon [Greg] Kandra. “He serves his wife, his family, his Church, and by extension, the people of God.”

Both vocations also require daily prayer, and by praying together, a deacon and his wife can seek God’s guidance in living out their vocations, in sharing the grace of those sacraments, and in maintaining balance and perspective in their life together. Wives of deacons, he added, “are like Mary, women who say, ‘Yes.’”

Communication is vital for both vocations, Deacon Kandra said. “Talk often, honestly and openly with each other and with the pastor. Share what’s in your mind and your heart. Let him know your limitations.”

Deacons are called to preach the Gospel with their words and by the way that they live, not just in church, but in every moment of every day, he said, adding, “The diaconate is not just what we do. It’s a way of living, a way of life… Being a deacon is not about what we do. It’s about who we are.”

Read the whole thing.

Photos by Michael Hoyt/Catholic Standard