tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2595608247665759734.post3797011194980006039..comments2023-09-27T02:46:21.569-07:00Comments on Deacons Today: Musings on Diakonia and Diaconate: Deacons and Diakonia: "Configured to Christ the Servant"Deacon William T. Ditewig, Ph.D.http://www.blogger.com/profile/11525431509279159558noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2595608247665759734.post-67895583462493689012011-04-15T19:36:02.798-07:002011-04-15T19:36:02.798-07:00Dear Diakonos,
Sorry, I just now saw your suggest...Dear Diakonos,<br /><br />Sorry, I just now saw your suggestion about a basic (and short) text on the diaconate. That's what I was hoping "101 Q & A on Deacons" could do! LOL! I know it's not a "pamphlet," but I do think it's a pretty good, popular introduction to the subject.<br /><br />God bless,<br /><br />BillDeacon William T. Ditewig, Ph.D.https://www.blogger.com/profile/11525431509279159558noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2595608247665759734.post-74139731526676006812011-04-06T10:04:51.632-07:002011-04-06T10:04:51.632-07:00Amen, brother!Amen, brother!Mikehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11415395477955746672noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2595608247665759734.post-59226941384194004612011-04-06T09:41:08.796-07:002011-04-06T09:41:08.796-07:00Don't you think an important reason why many p...Don't you think an important reason why many priests do not understand deacons is that their experience of "diaconate" is several months spent in more immediate prepration for ordination to the prebyterate? How can they take diaconate seriously as a distinct ministry when it wasn't their experience? I think it requires that the bishop give teachings on the diaconate and that each of us deacons be informed and able to explain things. Wouldn't it be GREAT if there was a small handy pamphet or brochure to give out that contained basic magisterial and ministerial info? Ahem...are you listening to that suggestion deacon-author Bill?Diakonoshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16896251554818257122noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2595608247665759734.post-77473935744830653752011-04-06T07:57:30.444-07:002011-04-06T07:57:30.444-07:00I really wish our bishops would do a better job of...I really wish our bishops would do a better job of delivering this message to our priests. Most of them "get it" but there are a few who don't have a clue about this strange creature who wants to invade their space. I work with one who won't let me touch the chalice. He reluctantly lets me stand next to him at the altar but clearly would rather I sat down somewhere and got out of his way.Mikehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11415395477955746672noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2595608247665759734.post-25309238178050393832011-04-05T00:31:12.043-07:002011-04-05T00:31:12.043-07:00Perhaps it is just a question of semantics. Once o...Perhaps it is just a question of semantics. Once ordained one is a deacon 100% of the time and everything that you do must be seen in that light. I think that the reason for the emphasis on family and work life is to stop you being sucked into unsustainable time management issues. Everything that we do, ordained or not, should be directed towards the glory of God.Barryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14234034111126169326noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2595608247665759734.post-89120567510081284552011-04-04T17:57:22.410-07:002011-04-04T17:57:22.410-07:00I think the notion that the diaconate is a part-ti...I think the notion that the diaconate is a part-time job helps explain why some of our candidates think it is more "diaconal" to take communion to the sick than to get their hands dirty in a social ministry: "After all, the laity could do that!" I tell them that if deacons are ordained to represent the foot-washing Christ at the Last Supper, then every aspect their lives should exemplify loving service--to their family members, to co-workers and those they serve on the job, and to neighbors and community members. It is too much of a stretch for the laity to recognize a deacon as Icon of the Servant Christ if the only actual service they ever see the deacon doing is tidying up the communion vessels.Ronhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16858192358085762357noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2595608247665759734.post-2324748270981554592011-04-04T09:28:06.948-07:002011-04-04T09:28:06.948-07:00Dear Barry,
We're often told that here in the...Dear Barry,<br /><br />We're often told that here in the US as well. On a practical level, this is often helpful. However, on a theological level it is almost heretical! LOL! <br /><br />The reason I say that is this: once ordained, we are deacon 24/7/365, even when we're focused on our families. We're deacons even when we're not focused on ecclesial things. The danger to the prioritization approach is that it suggests that we're only deacons when we're doing some kind of churchy thing. The truth is much more profound, and I believe that most deacons understand that in their hearts. But it can lead to grave misunderstandings by others (like parish priests, for example).<br /><br />God bless,<br /><br />BillDeacon William T. Ditewig, Ph.D.https://www.blogger.com/profile/11525431509279159558noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2595608247665759734.post-34554250989361826912011-04-04T01:16:53.215-07:002011-04-04T01:16:53.215-07:00Here in the UK we are told that our family comes f...Here in the UK we are told that our family comes first, followed by our work commitments as the role of Deacon is unpaid. Then comes one duties and role as Deacon. So in this sense it is a part-time ministry; but a Deacon is a full member of the parish team.Barryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14234034111126169326noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2595608247665759734.post-18278045339478771002011-04-03T19:59:24.243-07:002011-04-03T19:59:24.243-07:00I have read your series in The Priest maagizine re...I have read your series in The Priest maagizine regularly. I also wished that some of them could be out into a simple short pamphlet format (like the easy to read Liguori pamphlet series) to have in the parish vestibule book rack or to distribute whenever people ask, "What is a deacon?"<br /><br />I think the biggest obstacle to a unified understanding among ourselves - let alone the presbyters et al - is that there still doesn't seem to be an agreed upon "Amen to that!" theology of the diaconate. How can we embrace as an Order what is not available? The closest I have come to seeing such a unified understanding would be both the Vatican's and the USCCB documents, but even then things have been "tweaked" (I believe) by Benedict XVI's motu proprio on a diaconal canon.Diakonoshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16896251554818257122noreply@blogger.com