Q & A
“What is a deacon?”
A deacon is an ordained minister of the Catholic Church who assists the priest at Mass and who is entrusted with proclaiming the Gospel and even preaching on occasion. He can also help with celebrating baptisms, marriages, and funerals. “Deacon” comes from the Greek word meaning “service.” See chapter six of The Acts of the Apostles for a description of the ordination of the first deacons.
“What vows did you make?”
I made a vow of obedience to the bishop and his successors, as well as a vow of lifelong celibacy (remaining unmarried). (See my reflection “Why do I wear a wedding ring?” if you’d like to learn more about why we make this sacrifice.) Also, I promised to daily pray the Liturgy of the Hours; these are the psalm-based prayers that priests pray five times a day.
“What’s next after this?”
I will be spending the summer serving as a deacon at Prince of Peace parish in Taylors, SC. I will then return for my final year of theology studies in Columbus, Ohio. The following summer, I will be ordained a priest on the evening of Friday, July 27th, 2007. Please keep me and my brothers in your prayers!