{"id":263680,"date":"2017-12-19T15:59:25","date_gmt":"2017-12-19T20:59:25","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/aleteia.org\/?post_type=post&p=263680"},"modified":"2017-12-19T15:59:25","modified_gmt":"2017-12-19T20:59:25","slug":"the-deacon-as-the-face-of-gods-mercy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/deaconsbench\/2017\/12\/the-deacon-as-the-face-of-gods-mercy\/","title":{"rendered":"The deacon as ‘the face of God’s mercy’"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<\/head>

From The Catholic Standard<\/a><\/strong> 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:<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

\u2026Cardinal Wuerl noted that the gathering of about 200 deacons \u2013 believed to be the first such large-scale gathering of the archdiocese\u2019s permanent deacons in a convocation format \u2013 offered a \u201cvery important moment, the first time we have come together to reflect on and pray about our ministry.\u201d<\/p>\n

The cardinal used the pronoun \u201cour,\u201d 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.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt falls to each deacon today, just as it does with priests and bishops, to be the face of God\u2019s mercy,\u201d the cardinal said, emphasizing Pope Francis\u2019s call for today\u2019s Catholics to carry out the New Evangelization by being missionary disciples, bringing Christ\u2019s love to today\u2019s world, especially to those on the margins of society.<\/p>\n

[img attachment=\u201d263686\u2033 align=\u201daligncenter\u201d size=\u201dfull\u201d \/]<\/p>\n

\u2026A deacon who is married is called to be a servant in both vocations, said Deacon [Greg] Kandra. \u201cHe serves his wife, his family, his Church, and by extension, the people of God.\u201d<\/p>\n

Both vocations also require daily prayer, and by praying together, a deacon and his wife can seek God\u2019s 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, \u201care like Mary, women who say, \u2018Yes.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n

Communication is vital for both vocations, Deacon Kandra said. \u201cTalk often, honestly and openly with each other and with the pastor. Share what\u2019s in your mind and your heart. Let him know your limitations.\u201d<\/p>\n

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, \u201cThe diaconate is not just what we do. It\u2019s a way of living, a way of life\u2026 Being a deacon is not about what we do. It\u2019s about who we are.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Read the whole thing.<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

Photos by Michael Hoyt\/Catholic Standard<\/em> <\/strong><\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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 […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":132,"featured_media":263685,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[11252],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-263680","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-open-mind"],"yoast_head":"\nThe deacon as 'the face of God's mercy'<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"From The Catholic Standard in Washington, Mark Zimmerman has a nice write-up about the recent deacon convocation in the Archdiocese of Washington,\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, 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