http://www.diaconate.org.uk/2009/02/the-deacon-at-mass-a-theological-and-pastoral-guide/ Permanent Deacons in the UK Mon, 29 Mar 2010 19:42:19 +0100 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 http://www.diaconate.org.uk/2009/02/the-deacon-at-mass-a-theological-and-pastoral-guide/comment-page-1/#comment-4 John F. Forster Wed, 04 Feb 2009 15:38:01 +0000 http://www.diaconate.org.uk/?p=316#comment-4 I am very pleased to read of Deacon William, a person very well prepared theologically, and who is on, what I believe to be, the right track in characterizing who and what the Permanent Deacon is and does. Still today there are far too many misunderstandings and misrepresentations of just who the Permanent Deaconate is, what he is called to do/perform and how he is to be present, presented (a cleric not a lay person, nor a half lay-person, half ordained minister) and functional within the Church. Still today, some 45 years following Vatican II and the re-establishment of the Permanent Deaconate by His Holiness Paul VI, there are far too many even ill advised remarks and strongly inappropriate ideas concerning the Deacon as a person called by God to fill a very important institutional and pastoral role in the Church. The Church is facing a time, like no other, when the call is so strong, to face head-on the many social ills,and the pastoral/theological deficit of so many parishioners. There is such a vast need for prepared, ordained ministers of the Word who, also having other talents and educational backgrounds are ideal, well-rounded persons, able to reach out to the many in such desperate need economically, socially, medically, and spiritually. The Deacon, a minister of service to The Body of Christ, is one who, should perform duties like a cleric, should be presented like a cleric, should look and sound like a cleric as he is one within the three-fold ministery of Holy Orders--a cleric. Deacon William, in my view, sees the role and the identity of the deacon with 20/20 vision. Certainly it would serve local Church leadership, aspirant deacons, parish communities and individuals well to look deeper into the reality of this, God's calling, the Deaconate for the richness that is inherent in it's service to God, to those in need, and to the entire Body of Christ-the Church. Many thanks to Deacon William for his active postulate as a Deacon, and his witness as a spokesperson who presents the Deacon in the Holy and dignified manner intended by our Church Doctors and Fathers and most certainly by God who calls individuals to this service to others. In the Fraternal Love of Christ, John I am very pleased to read of Deacon William, a person very well prepared theologically, and who is on, what I believe to be, the right track in characterizing who and what the Permanent Deacon is and does. Still today there are far too many misunderstandings and misrepresentations of just who the Permanent Deaconate is, what he is called to do/perform and how he is to be present, presented (a cleric not a lay person, nor a half lay-person, half ordained minister) and functional within the Church. Still today, some 45 years following Vatican II and the re-establishment of the Permanent Deaconate by His Holiness Paul VI, there are far too many even ill advised remarks and strongly inappropriate ideas concerning the Deacon as a person called by God to fill a very important institutional and pastoral role in the Church. The Church is facing a time, like no other, when the call is so strong, to face head-on the many social ills,and the pastoral/theological deficit of so many parishioners. There is such a vast need for prepared, ordained ministers of the Word who, also having other talents and educational backgrounds are ideal, well-rounded persons, able to reach out to the many in such desperate need economically, socially, medically, and spiritually. The Deacon, a minister of service to The Body of Christ, is one who, should perform duties like a cleric, should be presented like a cleric, should look and sound like a cleric as he is one within the three-fold ministery of Holy Orders–a cleric. Deacon William, in my view, sees the role and the identity of the deacon with 20/20 vision. Certainly it would serve local Church leadership, aspirant deacons, parish communities and individuals well to look deeper into the reality of this, God’s calling, the Deaconate for the richness that is inherent in it’s service to God, to those in need, and to the entire Body of Christ-the Church. Many thanks to Deacon William for his active postulate as a Deacon, and his witness as a spokesperson who presents the Deacon in the Holy and dignified manner intended by our Church Doctors and Fathers and most certainly by God who calls individuals to this service to others.
In the Fraternal Love of Christ,
John

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