www.byzcath.org Forums General Discussions Town Hall Diaconate

John, your wife (as already has been mentioned), your spiritual father, and input from your kids (if older) are very important primary sources of outside input in your discernment.

Deacon John, Diak and Scotus,

Thank you for your insight. Yes, my wife is my number 1 resource in all of this.

Aside from liturgy, how do you share you "diakonia" with the wider world?

Thanks,

John

Congratulations Scotus !

Scotus wrote:(FYI, It was about a 2 1/2 year discernment for me, I was accepted into Formation to the Deaconate in the ArchDiocese of Detroit this summer)

I wonder if this is a Roman deacon canidate? We have a good friend a bi-ritual priest, who goes to the mission in New Orleans occassionally. He has spoken of deacons there, so it just makes me wonder if this person, may be getting training through the Roman diocese of New Orleans. Not sure I am making sence.

Diak is totally correct it talking with your kids. It is very hard, I am thankful ours are older (the youngest is 19 now), dad's Sundays are no longer his own. Along with whatever else needs to be done for others during the week.

I admire Deacons John, Lance, and Denny and so many others who are holding down young families, jobs, and the diaconate. God bless them everyone!

Pani Rose

Joe other parishoners are a good indication. Part of, at least I think so, the ball rolling is God sends people up to and they say things like "you ought to be a deacon." After God sends engouh of them your way, you start to get the hint.

But, more importantly is the hunger. The unquinchable desire to serve the altar. The more you are there, the more you want to be there. You have such a love for God's people, and you find yourself sitting there wondering where all this love comes from. The outward sign to the community that you want more, that you desire to totally give of and with your family...life is never your own. One can say you are the deacon, and your wife doesn't have to do anything, that is your job. But, you are changed as a husband and wife, and as a family. The gift of ordination does not just touch the man, it touches the family.

To me an outward sign of the gift of ordination was for Deacn Stan, a wonderful singing voice. He always tried, but his voice seemed somewhat timid. Don't forget we are Ruthenian serving in a Melkite parrish, so the tones are also very different - yet the same, and after ordination upon returning to St. Georges, low and behold he has this wonderfully strong voice to sing the Divine Liturgy. That is a simple way, but it again an outward sign of the inward annointing.

OK ...I'm done.
Pani Rose

Pani Rose wrote:
My oldest is 6 and we're expecting #4 in January.
So they will probably grow up not really knowing Daddy being anything other than a Deacon.

My son Kieran (the 6 year old) is the only one who can really process it yet. And he thinks it's a great idea. He wants to be a priest now so he can order me around

Of course he also wants to be an astronaut, but we've discussed that such a call is OK too, he can be the first Bishop of Lunar Colony.

Scotus,

I've seen quite a number of children order their parents around without the benefit of Holy Orders.