The men and women who serve as Diocesan Deacons, are
called from and by the community and strengthened by sacramental
grace, has a primary role of service to those in need. This role
flows from the servant role of Jesus to the poor, the marginalized,
the oppressed, the alienated. "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me;
therefore he has anointed me. He has sent me to bring glad tidings
to the poor, to proclaim liberty to captives, recovery of sight to
the blind, and release to prisoners, to announce a year of favor
from the Lord." Historically, the service of the deacon has been
directed to the disenfranchised; and in these rapidly changing
times, this role of service also urges the deacon to address the
particular spiritual and social needs of a racially, ethnically and
economically diverse community.
Although most Diocesan Deacons have served in parish
ministry, and many will continue to offer this valuable ministry,
the major time commitment of the deacon should be this primary role
of service, within or outside the parochial context. It is from this
role of service that the liturgical ministry springs, providing the
deacon an opportunity to facilitate and motivate concern and action
for justice in the workplace and among the wider community, by
animating the Christian community to an aware-ness of the needs of
others.
For those Diocesan Deacons who are married, their
ministry of service should be seen in light of the pre-eminent place
of their vocation to marriage and family life. Therefore, the grace
of ordination should be regarded as enhancing the grace of the
sacrament of marriage, wherein the married couple already witnesses
to the presence of Christ in the world.
The vision of the diaconal ministry needs to be
reflected in the collaboration of the deacon and the bishop as they
share in their common ministry of service, advocacy and empowerment
relative to the needs of the marginalized of the diocesan church or
mission.
Come,
follow me
Canon Law and Formation Policies
of the ECC
The
Diocesan Deaconate
The
Diocesan Priesthood
Process for
Clerical Incardination
Religious Orders and Religious
Societies
Welcoming Women to
the Deaconate and Priesthood
Welcoming Back Inactive Deacon, Priests, Religious and Bishops
Sample Application for the ECC
Secular Formation Program
and
Saint John the
Evangelist Seminary