“Deacons are a constant call to the Christian community to open its doors…”

An interview on deacons, from Vatican Insider:

Msgr. Nicora Filippi, who is representing the Permanent Diaconate in Rome, said deacons do a lot of work with families and in the professional sphere, becoming living examples of day-to-day faith.

Msgr. Nicora Filippi (a delegate for the diocese of Rome), how can the permanent diaconate contribute to the reform phase launched by Pope Francis?

“As a ministry of charity the diaconate is naturally inclined towards the existential peripheries Pope Francis has been encouraging the Church to go to. So deacons are a constant call to the Christian community to open its doors, especially to those who do not fit into the efficiency-focused mentality of today’s society. Deacons should be a living embodiment of the words the Holy Father pronounced in his homily for the inaugural mass of Francis’ pontificate on 19 March 2013: “We must not be afraid of goodness, of tenderness!” When the Christian community sees living testimonies of goodness and tenderness, it will be encouraged to adopt both as a permanent style of life.”

How does one become a deacon and what is the training involved? 

“Because it forms part of the Sacrament of Holy Orders, the diaconate is only open to men, including those who are married. In Rome, the formation period for a deacon is at least five years. Students must obtain a Bachelor of Religious Sciences from the Superior Institute of Religious Science “Ecclesia Mater” and follow an in-depth spiritual and pastoral programme which involves monthly retreats, a monthly lectio divina comunitaria and a pastoral traineeship in parish communities as well as other training sessions.”

Deacons usually have a double vocation: marriage and the diaconate. What are the characteristics of a deacon’s ministry?

“The vocation of deacon is linked to that of marriage. A deacon always remains a husband and a father. This means that the family is the primary context in which he exercises his ministry and he is called to live an exemplary life in both vocations. As an ordained minister he carries out the tasks entrusted to him by the bishop or parish priest, bearing in mind family and professional commitments.”

How is the primacy of spiritual life exercised in the diaconate? 

“On his ordination day a deacon prays the Liturgy of the Hours, the official prayer of the Church, daily. This prayer sanctifies time and invokes God’s mercy upon all people. In addition to this, a deacon is strongly advised to attend Holy Mass and participate in a daily mediation on God’s Word, so that his daily acts are permeated by the Holy Spirit. If a deacon is not intimately united with God his service risks becoming like that of any social worker instead of being a sacramental sign of Jesus Christ who came to serve man. Marian devotion, especially to the Lord’s servant Mary and spiritual direction are a big help in ensuring deacons do not lose sight of the significance of their ministry.”

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