13 deacons ordained in joint ceremony by Archbishop Perez

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Margaret_Ann said:
TBH, I don’t think it’s a good idea for EC diaconal candidates to be attending RC diaconal formation programs. Afaik, most RC diaconal programs don’t take into consideration EC praxis, theology and formation.

Example: A RC deacon can confer baptism, witness marriages but an EC deacon cannot because these are the duties of the priest, not the deacon. Do RC diaconal programs take these into consideration? Idk.
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This depends on the availability of diaconal formation programs in the geographic area of the candidates. Some years ago we had a Ukrainian family move to town from Chicago, and the dad was interested in the diaconate. The Eparchy at that time, had no real solution for him. We arranged to have him formed in our Western formation program; and meet privately with the Ukrainian pastor for specific Eastern formation. He was already a cantor, so he could chant well, and so on. It was a well-laid plan, but his job transferred him again before it could be completed.

Some diaconal training is applicable to both Eastern and Western deacons - Scripture, documents of Vatican II, preaching, teaching, caring for the poor and neglected. Even Canon Law is helpful to both, as Eastern deacons benefit greatly from knowing a fair amount of Western Law.

Most of the practicum-type work (how to preside at a wedding or funeral, how to baptize a baby, how to preside at Benediction) comes in the last year of formation; and Eastern candidates could simply acquire supplemental formation from an Eastern priest at that point.

If the candidate lived back East, it would be different, as deacon formation programs are available at Eastern seminaries - but for someone in the middle of the Chicago Eparchy (which covers more than 1/2 the continental US) it is not the best solution.
Believe me, if we had a diaconal candidate, we would find a way to get him formed. There is a diaconal shortage, just as there is a priestly shortage! We are always looking for a few good men, Eastern/Western alike and deacon/priest alike.
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Anyone reading this thread with an interest in Sacred Orders are invited to contact me privately - I will help put you in contact with the right people to investigate your call.

I remain a sinner,
Deacon Christopher
 
Diaconia said:
I am not sure this is technically accurate - all Eastern Churches have deacons, even if they just serve for a short time before priestly ordination. Many Eastern Churches don’t want men to remain as deacons very long (not because they do not value the diaconate) because they are desperate for priests.
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I know there are transitional deacons- they eventually become priests. Obviously EC churches have those.

But when it comes to permanent deacons, they are something unique for the Syro-Malabar Church. I think so far the church has just 1 permanent deacon in India- he’s a married man with kids. The Syro-Malabar Church is heavily Latinized. So much so that they are referred to as “Roman Catholics” in their part of India and among their community as well. And many of the Syro-Malabar priests outside India serve in various Latin dioceses in Europe and US. So far outside India, Syro-Malabar diocese exist in US/Canada, UK and Australia.
 
Margaret_Ann said:
I’m in the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Archeparchy of Philadelphia.
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Oh nice. I’m near Philly, I visited the Ukrainian Catholic Cathedral in center city Philly last year. I had my first experience with the Byzantine Divine Liturgy at the cathedral.
 
Hey, don’t forget the suburbs! For you and @Alexandria2020: @Convert3 and I are in Montgomery County.

We’re going green this Friday! YAY! 🙌
 
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Margaret_Ann said:
Hey, don’t forget the suburbs! For you and @Alexandria2020: @Convert3 and I are in Montgomery County.

We’re going green this Friday! YAY!
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I’m close to Montgomery county. Right by Abington township.
 
I’m in Upper Gwynedd.

This is great - at least 3 Montcountians on CAF. 👍
 
Margaret_Ann said:
I’m in Upper Gwynedd.

This is great - at least 3 Montcountians on CAF. 👍
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Which Byzantine church are you a member of? Are there many in the area? I’ve been to the OLPH Byzantine Church in Levittown PA which is under the Ruthenian church’s Eparchy of Passaic.

I attended Montco college for a few years. So kinda familiar with your area. But not so much.
 
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I’m Ukrainian Greek Catholic but have been to Byzantine Catholic churches as well. This is the list of parishes for the Archeparchy of Philadelphia:

http://ukrarcheparchy.us/parish/pennsylvania

It goes alphabetically by city, so it starts with Berwick in upstate PA and scroll down (there’s a few pages’ worth of parishes).
 
Margaret_Ann said:
I’m Ukrainian Greek Catholic but have been to Byzantine Catholic churches as well. This is the list of parishes for the Archeparchy of Philadelphia:
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I guess the Ukrainian church naturally would have mostly ethnic Ukrainians right? While the Byzantine church is more mixed?
 
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Thanks for posting! Ordaining all of the Deacons together is a very good thing I think. It emphasizes that all Catholics are “in this together” and it helps build the Catholic community. That ordination will be a strong bond for years between those who stay Deacons and those who are eventually ordained priests.
 
In our parish we have English on Saturday evening and Sunday is English/Ukrainian. During Paschaltide and a few other times during the Ecclesiarium it’s English/Slavonic on Saturday and English/Ukrainian/Slavonic on Sunday.
 
Margaret_Ann said:
In our parish we have English on Saturday evening and Sunday is English/Ukrainian. During Paschaltide and a few other times during the Ecclesiarium it’s English/Slavonic on Saturday and English/Ukrainian/Slavonic on Sunday.
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are you familiar with any other EC churches in the Philly area or suburbs?

I know there’s an Armenian Catholic church nearby Upper Darby or around that area. And there’s a Maronite Church in South Philly. There’s a Malankara Catholic Church now in Bensalem (they’re another Indian EC church- counterpart is Malankara Orthodox church of the OO communion). The Byzantine Rite churches in the area are either part of the UGCC or the BC churches.
 
IIRC, the Armenian Catholic Church is in Wynnewood (Main Line area). Personally, I’d love to see the Armenian & Maronite Catholic churches in our area. The Armenian Church is getting a new priest once this crisis is over. 🙏
 
Margaret_Ann said:
IIRC, the Armenian Catholic Church is in Wynnewood (Main Line area). Personally, I’d love to see the Armenian & Maronite Catholic churches in our area. The Armenian Church is getting a new priest once this crisis is over. 🙏
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Yup, the Armenian church in Wynnewood. That’s the one. Oh so you’re familiar with the church? I was planning on attending that church this Feb/March but this covid situation came.
 
I’ve heard of it but haven’t yet attended their services. I’d love to go there at least once.
 
Diaconia said:
Not only that, there is also no “permanent” diaconate and “transitional” diaconate. Those are short-hand, inaccurate, terms. There is but one diaconate. Some men may serve as deacons for a short time if they are destined for the presbyterate, and others serve as deacons without plans for the presbyterate.
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I agree 100%, but ever some brother deacons treat it as if there is a difference in the orders received as if the ontological change between the two groups is different. It makes me a little sad when I hear deacons that says something like “He’s a Transitional Deacon, I’m just a Permanent Deacon." it’s as if there is two degrees of deacon with one inferior to the other. 🙁
 
That’s what I thought!

Well, it’s still nice to have some fellow Montcountians here on CAF. You, @Convert3, and I should get together sometime… Oops, I forgot - social distancing etc is still going on. Oh well, we can hope…
 
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