The Deacon's Bench
Details from CatholicPhilly.com:
Sixteen men drawn from various walks of life — chemist, doctor, driver, sales director, engineer, pharmacist and accountant, just to name a few — were ordained as permanent deacons by Archbishop Charles Chaput on the morning of June 9 at the Cathedral Basilica of SS. Peter and Paul.
…In his homily Archbishop Chaput spoke of the level of alienation in society today including loneliness as a mounting health problem, and the rising rate of suicide — for example in Pennsylvania, a 34 percent increase in self-inflicted deaths in the two decades from 1995 to 2016.
As related in the first reading from the Acts of the Apostles, the Hellenists (Greeks or other non-Jews) in the early church complained that their widows were neglected in the charitable distributions of the congregation, and the first seven deacons were appointed by the apostles to minister to all.
“The seven men were like yourselves chosen for the purpose of healing the brokenness in the church,” Archbishop Chaput told his new deacons.
Read more and see more pictures here.
Congratulations, brothers, and welcome! Ad multos annos!
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