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7_Sorrows
Guest
Thank you Bookcat for more background.
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Bookcat
Guest
Formation…prayer …study…etc etc
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Bookcat
Guest
Your welcome. As you can see the error has various forms.
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Hoosier_Daddy
Guest
Yes, some people are heavily recruited by priests, deacons, friends etc.
Even after many many “no” responses.
S
Solomonson
Guest
One common analogy I would offer is that of teacher/professor. The gifted educator does a wonderful job teaching others. They are recognized for their excellence. What’s one of the things that pops up?
A “promotion” to administration – principal, superintendent, etc. A person with the gift of teaching as a vocation is promoted to administrator (more money, more prestige, etc.) and they end-up doing a poor job because their vocation was teaching, not administrating.
A “promotion” to administration – principal, superintendent, etc. A person with the gift of teaching as a vocation is promoted to administrator (more money, more prestige, etc.) and they end-up doing a poor job because their vocation was teaching, not administrating.
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Kielbasi
Guest
Really?
Being a deacon requires a very substantial investment in time- 3 or 4 years of formation at least. A very large commitment, it isn’t like asking someone to serve on a committee or even head the parish festival.
I wouldn’t think that this kind of recruitment would really work.
J
JakeWI
Guest
This is an interesting subject. I am married with one child (1 1/2 yo), 28 years old, and considering becoming a deacon when the time comes many years from now (sometime after the minimum age). There was a point in my life, in my grade school years, that I wanted to become a Priest. I believe there still is a calling for me to serve in the church in a more substantial way, and I think that would bode well with my current position as part of a Catholic organization.
I do understand the time it will take, and I leave it to God to tell me when the time is right. I still feel strongly about this calling since even before getting married. Following His path has brought me peace, and He has always provided, so this same “comfort” with the idea of becoming a deacon is what I am following.
However, I totally understand what Pope Francis is saying here… because this is my own free will that is driving me wanting to become a deacon. It isn’t a Priest or someone “higher up” pushing this on me. And to me, that is wrong. This entire thing should be a calling from God alone, and a drive and will within oneself, to follow a religious calling.
I do understand the time it will take, and I leave it to God to tell me when the time is right. I still feel strongly about this calling since even before getting married. Following His path has brought me peace, and He has always provided, so this same “comfort” with the idea of becoming a deacon is what I am following.
However, I totally understand what Pope Francis is saying here… because this is my own free will that is driving me wanting to become a deacon. It isn’t a Priest or someone “higher up” pushing this on me. And to me, that is wrong. This entire thing should be a calling from God alone, and a drive and will within oneself, to follow a religious calling.
H
Hoosier_Daddy
Guest
To me, this idea is a form of ego, or clericalism.
It might just be a poor choice of words but it’s something to think about. For a father and husband to feel that there is a MORE substantial way is something to cause pause.
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Hoosier_Daddy
Guest
The recruitment here is heavy. And with mixed results. The quantity of ordained is high.
Out of 4 men (good friends of mine) who were on a youth ministry team 10 years ago. 3 are now deacons.
Here is a problem though. All 3 have marriages in which the woman is the dominant partner. And all three wives are strong leaders and proponents of women’s ordinations.
I’m not sure that really has anything to do with it.
Here, the second Sunday of the month is Deacon Sunday. And in many parishes with adequate priests homilies are given by any deacon on the second Sunday. Baptisms by priests and weddings by priests are hard to schedule.
The point is there is an overflow of deacons. And a want of priests who minister.
J
JakeWI
Guest
I was going to respond with a long post, but I am going to keep this short. You misunderstood where I am coming from. To judge me and state that my calling from God is a form of ego or clericalism is a little far fetched, especially without you knowing me, my conversations with my wife and other deacons, or my history. That being said, there is a history in my family for religious, including my great uncle who baptized me being a deacon. I am not saying one position is greater than another (lay vs deacon vs priest), only that there is certain differences and things I feel called to help with that a traditional lay person may not be able to assist in.
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Solomonson
Guest
Just beware that becoming a deacon is not like becoming a “mini-priest.” They are distinctively different vocations. I think a lot of men (who may or may not have been called to be priests) end-up getting married and having a family and then look on the diaconate as fulfilling the possible call to the priesthood when getting married and having a family did that.
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Solomonson
Guest
I recognize what you are talking about. One thing I will add is that the wives of every deacon I personally know not only exhibit the traits you mentioned, they also pushed their husbands very hard to get ordained in order it would appear, to boost their own positions within the parish.The recruitment here is heavy. And with mixed results. The quantity of ordained is high.
Out of 4 men (good friends of mine) who were on a youth ministry team 10 years ago. 3 are now deacons.
Here is a problem though. All 3 have marriages in which the woman is the dominant partner. And all three wives are strong leaders and proponents of women’s ordinations.
I’m not sure that really has anything to do with it.
Here, the second Sunday of the month is Deacon Sunday. And in many parishes with adequate priests homilies are given by any deacon on the second Sunday. Baptisms by priests and weddings by priests are hard to schedule.
The point is there is an overflow of deacons. And a want of priests who minister.
Nothing wrong with a deacon preaching – so long as they are able. One thing I have noticed in my diocese. When it comes to baptisms and funeral liturgies, even though deacons are available, people invariably ask for priests.
D
Don_Ruggero
Guest
I assure you of my prayers.
To be enriched by the Sacrament of Sacred Order through the imposition of hands is to receive an inestimable gift…for time and for eternity.
May the Lord guide you and may He guide the bishop and those clerics in the service of your bishop in the process of discernment, when the time comes.
Having seen this incredible gift of the Blessed Pope Paul VI and the Council Fathers, I am ever more convinced that the Deacons of the future will be entrusted with much. It has been a phenomenal gift to the post-conciliar Church.
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JakeWI
Guest
Thank you for keeping me in your prayers. I definitely need a lot of them for numerous reasons. Discernment probably won’t come for years from now, when I officially start the process… but it is still something I feel a calling for, when the time comes. I have seen the way Deacons have helped in our parish, as well as my great uncle who was a Deacon and was the person who baptized me. Ironically enough, he was a good friend of the Deacon at my Parish who guided us through our marriage prep.
I totally don’t see it as being a mini-Priest, but it’s own thing that, as you mention, will be entrusted to more as there becomes more of a Priest shortage. I will keep my mind open into the future, to see where God’s will takes me. God Bless!
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OraLabora
Guest
I’ve been told on a few occasions that I would be a good candidate for the diaconate. After much reflection however, I have concluded that my vocation is mainly as a Benedictine oblate witnessing for Benedictine values (which really are the Gospel values with Benedictine seasoning) in the world.
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