Deacon Convocation Held

Bishop Michael G. Duca celebrated mass for 40 permanent deacons and their wives at the second annual convocation for deacons at St. George Church in Baton Rouge on June 5.

The theme of the convocation was “Broadening Horizons: The Pillar of Charity of the Deacon.”

The men currently in diaconate formation were also formally installed as lectors, acolytes and candidates.

Directors from the Office of Formation for the Permanent Diaconate  presented the program content, which included  round table discussions.

“The annual Ritual Mass is significant since it highlights important milestones for the men in formation who are preparing for their upcoming ordinations (Aug. 22),” said Episcopal Vicar Father Jamin David, who is also director of Formation for the Permanent Diaconate. “It shows to the deacon community the strength of the program and proves that God continues to call men to serve in their sacred order.

“It also shows to the men who have not been engaged in formation for a long period of time the steps they will consider on their path to ordination.”

Deacon Tim Messenger, deacon assistant at St. Margaret Queen of Scotland Church in Albany, said the convocation’s purpose was to better define charity, the use of statistical data demonstrating how the diaconate community has opportunities to better serve not just a deacon’s home church parish but the greater diocese and to provide a roadmap on how to gain support from the laity, the presbyterate and ultimately become more relevant in serving the suffering.

Bishop Duca reminded the deacons that the diaconate, from the early days of the church “was established to serve the widows, orphans and others who suffered physically or emotionally.”

“Serving the suffering is founded and a pre-requisite to our ministry at the altar and may require we give from our needs and not just from our discretionary time and talents,” the bishop said.

Deacon John Veron, director of Deacon Life and Ministry, presented insights from recent popes and deacons, pointing out that tradition indicates the deacon’s liturgical role derived its purpose from his primary role as servant to the poor.

“It is in our ministry of charity where we experience the humanity of Jesus Christ in the faces of the suffering,” Deacon Veron, who is also a deacon assistant at St. George, said. “Jesus wasn’t primarily concerned with timelines, planning, finances or administration.”

“We can only fulfill our ministries of liturgy and word by first serving the poor, the marginalized, the forgotten,” he added. 

Deacon Messenger said deacons must be prepared to leave the comforts of their parish and serve in a diocesan-wide capacity. 

“The diaconate must be aware of not only what obvious needs exist but be proactive and creative in identifying non-traditional needs like immigration, human trafficking and homelessness.

“Finally, deacons will need to be champions of change in raising awareness among the laity, a source of volunteers, but also securing support from their pastors in sharing their time in a broader capacity.”

Deacon Tommy Benoit, deacon assistant at St. Isidore the Farmer Church in Baker, made the case for a greater commitment and presence by deacons in the services of charity. Using data from the Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate, Deacon Benoit suggested that collectively “our diaconate order falls short of the national average and that opportunities abound to raise not only our presence but our impact to those crying out for help. A focus on charity, unlike liturgy and word, often means that our work is not seen and we are not recognized.”

Father David said charity is at the heart of the diaconal charism, adding that through personal interactions and encounters that the deacon posits powerful evangelical influence that calls for transformation through Christ.

“Hopefully, the conversations begun at the convocation will bear much fruit in our local church through our deacons’ lives and examples of service.”