Question for Permanent Deacons

[gez722]

Over the past several years I have been hearing what I think may be a call to the permanent diaconate. There is one question that always comes up in my mind and I’d like to get some advice from any permanent deacons on the board. What would you do if your pastor states that he doesn’t want you to mention abortion, artificial birth control, cohabitation outside of marriage, etc. in your homilies? I can’t even remember the last time that I heard the word purgatory in a homily. How about if a priest starts messing with the liturgy and asks you to assist with things you no are not licit as specified in the rubrics?

My pastor is very good, but he seems to work very hard at not offending people when he speaks. I realize that there is a pastoral balancing act that you must perform, but I think that it is important to teach Catholics the true Faith! I am very involved with the Church and I have heard other Catholics (who are involved in Church ministries) say that they don’t believe in purgatory and that women will someday be priests, etc.

I am wondering if I’d be a more effective evangelist by remaining a member of the laity and teaching the truths of the Faith in an unofficial capacity.

I look forward to hearing your advice.

God Bless,
Gary

 

[Cristiano]

I am not a Deacon but I have my opinion about this. First of all I doubt that a priest would forbid this kind of topics a priori. I can see his pastoral concern in not pushing people away from the Church with a confrontational attitude, especially when we are really trying to real them in.

I think that as a Deacon you will have an obligation of addressing the needs and the issues of your community. If some necessary topics are embarrassing for the people in the pews then you have to be very clear on why those specific teachings are good for them.

We are children to God and as children we do not always understand why the parents force us to do things that we do not like. The laws of God are for our well being, not for His. As a Deacon you would be taught to make this message clear.

During the five years of formation into the Diaconate, you will be formed to be a reasonable, knowledgeable person with pastoral concerns, and I seriously doubt that by the end of your five years you will look at these concerns as the major issue in your ministry.

 

[plato3]

****This is a very good honest question. I have been blessed to be in a conservative diocese, where I have no problem with these serious topics in my homilies. However, what is expected is a lot of study for each homily-hours of preparation and preaching on the practical application of the readings for the Mass. Often these topics can relate, sometimes not. The old fashion sermon is a thing of the past. I can image being in a place where, as was stated, there are worries of hurt feelings. When you meet the director of the deacon program and have your interview, you should get a feel for it’s faithfulness to church doctrine. I have heard of one program, where actual fist fights broke out in the formation program among the candidates. Our program required many years of church ministry before one is even considered.

May God bless you for your desire to serve him,
deacon tony

 

[gez722]

This is a very good honest question. I have been blessed to be in a conservative diocese, where I have no problem with these serious topics in my homilies. However, what is expected is a lot of study for each homily-hours of preparation and preaching on the practical application of the readings for the Mass. Often these topics can relate, sometimes not. The old fashion sermon is a thing of the past. I can image being in a place where, as was stated, there are worries of hurt feelings. When you meet the director of the deacon program and have your interview, you should get a feel for it’s faithfulness to church doctrine. I have heard of one program, where actual fist fights broke out in the formation program among the candidates. Our program required many years of church ministry before one is even considered.

May God bless you for your desire to serve him,
deacon tony

Deacon Tony,
Thanks for your excellent advice. I really appreciate it. If it turns out that our program is not faithful to Church doctrine, I may opt to serve the Lord as a member of the laity. I may be more effective that way.

God Bless,
Gary

 

[darryld]

Gary,

I was recently ordained to serve the Archdiocese of Louisville. It would be the same for you. You serve the diocese as a whole. You may not be assigned to serve in your current parish at all.

When I started formation, I couldn’t imagine serving anywhere but my home parish. Two years into the process, the situation changed at my home parish and I no longer wanted to serve there. The Holy Spirit opened up a new door for me. I feel truly blessed to serve in the parish to which I was assigned.

Put your faith in the Holy Spirit. Trust the formation process. A lot can happen in the years it takes to reach ordination.

Your Brother in Christ
Deacon Darryl Diemer

 

[hmhanel]

Here are two additional things for you to consider when discerning whether you are being called to be a permanent deacon.

1. If you are in a parish in which the pastor forbids preaching on the sticky moral issues, that should not cause you to abandon a call to the diaconate. Assuming you are assigned to your home parish by your bishop, and you disagree with your pastor on this issue, you are still called to obedience. God can use the merits of your obedience and suffering in ways that you may never realize.
2. If your pastor does relent and allow you to preach on these issues remember that, as a deacon, you are always called to preach the truth, but to preach it with love. Our people are hungry for the truth and being a deacon places you in a position to nourish those souls. Not all people will agree with your position, but if they can sense by the way you teach that you are doing so out of love, they will respect you for that.

I am fortunate that I am currently assigned to a parish that is faithful to the teachings of the Magisterium. But I am also ever mindful of the fact that I serve at the direction of my bishop and could be reassigned to a parish which would challenge my call to servanthood.

 

[gez722]

1. If you are in a parish in which the pastor forbids preaching on the sticky moral issues, that should not cause you to abandon a call to the diaconate. Assuming you are assigned to your home parish by your bishop, and you disagree with your pastor on this issue, you are still called to obedience. God can use the merits of your obedience and suffering in ways that you may never realize.

hmhanel,
That is a very profound post! I never looked at it that way before. Thanks for sharing it with me!!!

God Bless,
Gary