It is with great pleasure and respect that I speak to
my sisters and brothers.
It is an extremely humbling
experience that we are afforded, the opportunity to
serve you as your Diaconate couple. The feelings of
acceptance love and gratitude that we receive from you,
are at times, overwhelming and truly
larger- than-life. We are blessed because of
you.
We would really
like to take this opportunity to explain just
what we, your Diaconate Couple are and the service
that we attempt to implore in the name of our
God.
It is a fact
that Sandi attended every Diaconate Program
Class (with the exception of the Homiletics classes,
of which she was not required to attend).
Sandi participated in every retreat and
successfully completed every prescribed
assignment and she attended all essential
formation courses which are required to
complete the Diaconate Program. It is also a
fact that she is not an ordained minister of
the Church, but I believe that in the eyes of
God and certainly in my lowly eyes, Sandi and
the wives of all Deacons are as much and
sometimes more ordained, than any past or
present Deacon.
The Diaconate
Program requires a dedication of four years
which consists
of attending classes weekly
regarding the application of our faith and in
particular the employment of our Catholic beliefs.
Also included during this tenure is the
successful completion of community service
projects, i.e.., serving in hospitals, community
service centers, etc.
Some but not
all of my exciting duties as your Deacon
include participating
at the refreshing of our spirit and soul at
Masses, officiating at the addition
of new
souls to God in the form of Baptisms,
proclaiming the Word, preaching to our sisters
and brothers, uniting love ones through the
holy sacrament of Matrimony leading and
participating in special holy services,
to
assist our dynamic pastor with the VISION
and to bring another
person closer to God.
Sandi and I pray for you. It is
with a humbling spirit that we ask you, to
keep us in your prayers. It is indeed a
pleasure to be accepted by you
and to deal in
the confines of a safe and exciting Church who
lovingly
accept us. We are looking forward to
extending our knowledge of the Lord and to
better serve the people of St. Ailbe.
Since
retirement my intentions are with God's help,
to be more available to assist Father John and
to serve the people of St. Ailbe and the
greater community. Hopefully, there will be
more opportunities to visit you either in
person or at our new 21st Century Magnificent
Web Page.
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