Permanent deacons: sent to serve

Feb. 20 has been set aside as Jubilee Day for Permanent Deacons. Many deacons from around the world will gather in Rome to renew their call to serve. The Holy Father will celebrate Mass for deacons and their families in St. Peter’s during that week. Diocesan bishops have been asked to celebrate the contributions of permanent deacons in their own dioceses at the same time, recognizing the contributions of deacons through the ministry of the Word, in the Liturgy, and in works of peace and justice.

When the permanent diaconate was restored by Pope Paul VI after the Second Vatican Council, the United States was one of the first countries to request approval from Rome to prepare deacons. Chicago was one of the first dioceses to develop a program of formation and to ordain deacons to serve.

In Chicago, 151 candidates began the diaconate program in Chicago and 97 were in the first class ordained by Cardinal Cody on Dec. 10, 1972. Father Bill Philbin, a Chicago priest, was named as the first executive secretary of the Bishops’ Committee on the Diaconate. The present executive secretary of the Washington-based Diaconate Committee is Deacon John Pistone, ordained in the first class for our archdiocese. Obviously Chicago has close ties to the restored diaconate.

Prior to being asked to serve as chairman of the Bishops Committee on the Diaconate, I knew a few deacons, their wives and families while I served in parishes after my ordination. I conducted several pre-ordination retreats for deacons and their wives. I am aware of the hard work and dedication of those who have directed diaconate formation and continuing education in our archdiocese over the years, especially our current vicar for deacons, Father Ed Salmon; Deacons Tom McGorey and Charles O’Donnell, associate directors; Deacon Enrique Alonso, director of the Instituto de Liderazgo Pastoral; Ana Rivas and Rebecca Villaneuva, associate directors; Deacon Dean Hermann, who until recently directed diaconate formation; and Justine Spina, associate director.

But in this past year in my new role, I have been blessed to meet and know a multitude of dedicated deacons who, with their wives, generously serve the church in significant, often obscure ways throughout the United States. They have impressed and inspired me. I welcome the opportunity to share some thoughts about the permanent diaconate during this Year of Jubilee.

WHAT DEACONS DO:

Since the days I served as chaplain of the Cook County Temporary Juvenile Detention Center, I have been personally interested in prison ministry. Too often, men and women imprisoned have no one available to care for them. It is encouraging to see so many permanent deacons, like Jack Harrington and John Richardson at the Lake County Jail in Waukegan, who tirelessly serve the imprisoned.

Father Larry Craig, director of Kolbe House and prison ministry, has a number of deacons, like Jasper Roy of Holy Angels, recently highlighted in an interview with The Catholic New World, who regularly visit at County Jail and the Cook County Temporary Detention. They listen. They guide. They bring Eucharist. They witness Christ. Through their presence, the Spirit reconciles.

Most people dread hospitalization. They are taken out of their family, their home. The hospitalized are often left alone in their suffering, in their anxiety about the future. Deacons, like Bob Matthews in Libertyville, spend hours visiting the sick, praying and blessing them, comforting families. Many deacons are involved in bereavement ministry reaching out to families who have suffered the loss of a loved one. Through their contact, the Spirit heals.

People today hunger for the Word of God. In a time of plenty, people wonder what matters, what makes a difference. They need someone to break open the Word of God, relate the Scriptures to their lives in meaningful ways. Across the country, deacons preach regularly. Some, like Ray Graffia of St. Edna Parish, speak powerfully to people. I still remember vividly hearing Roy Warren of St. Agatha Parish preach to seminarians about the needs of his community. While his voice is now silent, his memory inspires many. They, like many of their brother deacons, prepare well, draw from their own life experience and ponder over the Scriptures. Through their words, the Spirit inspires.

Many Catholics today know little about their faith. They feel inadequate to pass the faith on to their children. They need to be catechized. Many deacons, like Ed Tomkowiak of St. Patrick’s in Wadsworth, direct programs of catechesis, conduct RCIA classes, teach adults and children about Christ. Through their actions, the Spirit teaches.

Deacons of diverse backgrounds serve the multi-cultural church in our archdiocese. Mario Contreras and Luis Trevino of the Church of the Holy Spirit have been involved in helping families deal with immigration issues and provide Eucharistic services in Spanish for migrant families working at Arlington Race Track or on farms. Through their ministry, all are made welcome.

Jim Condill, a deacon of the archdiocese, has initiated a new ministry to truckers. He and other deacons and lay ministers work in truck stops attending to drivers who can experience deep loneliness and isolation. They pray with them, offer them counsel, provide support. Jim is one among many deacons who have brought Christ into areas of life not thought of before. Through their initiatives, the Spirit moves in new ways.

IDENTITY OF THE DEACON:

Deacons are called to serve. By their ordination they are conformed to Christ, Lord and servant of all. Paul VI in his Apostolic Letter, “Ad Pascendum,” says that the deacon is to “express the needs and desires of the Christian communities” and to be “a driving force for service, or diakonia” (Introduction, 534-538). In a world that teaches success comes from competition, standing above, in a time when people learn that one gets to the top of the ladder by climbing past anyone in the way, the witness of service is striking and refreshing.

Deacons are involved in teaching, proclaiming the Scriptures and instructing the people. At ordination the deacon receives the Gospel Book. That powerful moment of the Ordination Rite invites the deacon to delve into the Word of God. Too often, today, people have been left hungry and are not fed or nourished at church. The words they hear from the pulpit are mere words that do not impact on their lives but leave them cold. They continue to search. We need preachers and teachers who speak passionately and convincingly about Christ.

Deacons are responsible to lead others in prayer, to baptize, distribute Eucharist, and assist at the Liturgy. Deacons are not meant to be social workers, but ministers whose service is rooted in Christ the Servant. Service at the altar reminds the deacon of the source of his ministry and mission. We need leaders of prayer who are themselves pray-ers and who take seriously their role as inviters to prayer.

Deacons are dedicated to works of charity. I have been deeply impressed by the simple, powerful and effective ways deacons exercise the works of mercy. The diaconal attitude is marked by “simplicity of heart, total giving of self and disinterest for self, humble and helpful love for the brothers and sisters, especially the poorest, the suffering and the most needy, the choice of a life-style of sharing and poverty” (Basic Norms for the Formation of Permanent Deacons, n. 72). Ordination to the diaconate means the church recognizes that this person has a demonstrated talent and charism for diakonia.

RELATIONSHIP WITH THE BISHOP:

Deacons share significantly in the ministry of the bishop. In the earliest church, deacons worked closely with the bishop. Even though deacons are assigned to parishes, they are called to serve the local church in which they are incardinated.

Each year I have had an opportunity to meet with the permanent deacons in each of our deaneries. These have been special moments when we can pray together and reflect together on the mission we have to proclaim Christ. Just as bishops pray with, meet with, and know the priests of their diocese, their primary collaborators, it is important that the bishops build relationships with the deacons who share significantly in their ministry. I have experienced a generosity among deacons and their wives to be of service in any way the church might call them.

FINALLY, A WORD TO WIVES OF DEACONS:

Recently two women were added to the Advisory Council for the Bishops Committee on the Diaconate. The intent was to bring to the discussion of the diaconate the voice of deacons’ wives who share so intimately in the formation and ministry of permanent deacons.

These wise women have already added much to the conversation. In the short time I have served as chair of the Bishops’ Committee on the Diaconate, I have been impressed by the ministry being done by the wives of deacons. Not only do they support the service of their husbands, but they themselves are deeply involved in the pastoral care of others. It is a striking example of collaboration between different ministries in the church and can help all of us to become more respectful and appreciative for the diversity of gifts given by the Spirit.

CONCLUSION:

The permanent diaconate should not be seen as a threat to priests, or as a ministry that no longer has a place in the church. It cannot be viewed as competitive to lay ministry. But the permanent diaconate is a gift of the Spirit for which we can be profoundly grateful.

During February in this Year of Jubilee, take time to applaud the permanent deacons in your parish who strive to teach Christ, to preach Christ, to make Christ present especially among the poorest and the most marginalized. The church needs them. They are sent to serve.

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