Let the message of Christ find a home in you
Mass for Renewal of Diaconate Vows
At the Chrism Mass each year priests are invited to renew their priestly vows. For me personally it has always been a special moment. It is as though we pause in what we are doing as priests and acknowledge who we are as priests. We recall the essential elements of our priestly identity and recommit to being priests.
Being always preceded doing.
Today is a similar moment for the deacons in the Archdiocese. Though few in number, your identity is important in the Church. The ministry of deacon was established in the infant Church as a clear decision of the Apostles. We have always had deacons in the Church, even if for a period the ministry was seen as a pathway to priesthood. The Second Vatican Council rightly restored the Ministry of Deacon as a specific vocation. And that is what it is. It is not just a halfway point to priestly ministry, but it stands in its own right.
I have always felt that every parish should have a deacon as well as a priest. Deacons had a specific ministry in the Christian community. The ministry of deacon is presented as having a threefold dimension. It is the ministry of Word, Liturgy and Charity.
In its realisation in concrete circumstances, the deacon can give expression to his ministry in a variety of ways. It is usual that the deacon is assigned by the Bishop to a particular parish where he can, firstly, give liturgical expression to his ministry in the celebration of the Mass. He assists the priest and has specific functions, like reading the Gospel, announcing the petitions in the Prayer of the Faithful and giving certain liturgical directions, like “bow down for the blessing”.
The ministry of Word finds expression is opportunities for preaching. When a deacon is celebrating a sacrament, for example, Baptism, he is the ordinary minister for preaching the Word. At Mass, the priest is the ordinary minister for preaching and, if the deacon is asked to preach, it is a delegation by the priest. The deacon can also extend this ministry of preaching by engaging in various catechetical or pastoral activities, like a Lenten Group, or Prayer Group, or Scripture Study. His study of Sacred Scripture and Theology gives him a solid foundation for such ministry.
The ministry of charity can take a wide variety of forms. It is appropriate that here in Tasmania one of our deacons is responsible for Catholic Mission and another for Caritas. Both of these agencies are official works of the charity of the Church. That a deacon oversees this work is most appropriate. A deacon is called upon to seek an engagement in the charitable works of the parish. He may assist in the work of St Vincent de Paul, for interest, or assist in the parish responding to special needs as they arise.
Of course, a deacon can exercise all manner of roles within a parish, in consultation with the Parish Priest. He can be a valued assistant to the priest in fulfilling his pastoral responsibilities. There is always much to do and few to do it. Each deacon has his own particular gifts and these can be placed at the service of the parish or the diocese.
This is a day of renewal and so the Scripture reading from St Paul’s Letter to the Colossians can be a source of spiritual encouragement.
St Paul said, “Let the message of Christ, in all its richness, find a home with you”. This reminds us that we immerse ourselves in the teachings of Christ. As we listen to the Lord teaching we are conscious that we have a special responsibility to receive the teaching into our own heart and life.
Dear deacons and aspirants, I encourage you to always seek Christ and daily ponder his teaching, that you may become more and more conformed to him.
May God bless you and your wives, and give you joy in his service as deacons.
Today as I invite our two deacons to renew their diaconate vows I hope it will also be an encouragement to our two aspirants as they begin their journey towards ordination as deacons in the Archdiocese.
Archbishop Julian Porteous
Saturday, 11 June 2022