Pope Benedict XVI has asked Catholics the world over to observe a year for priests from now through next June. I have already shared with you some information about this special year, with more to come. But for now I would like to write about another group of clergy in this archdiocese. I don’t mean the bishops. I call your attention to the ministry of the growing corps of deacons serving here across Western Oregon.
Every year I try to arrange for a gathering of our deacon community, including spouses. On Sunday, July 12th, we gathered at Portland’s National Sanctuary of Our Sorrowful Mother, more popularly known as the Grotto. We spent some time together discussing matters that pertain to our shared ministry. We celebrated the Eucharist and enjoyed a fine dinner.
The Archdiocese of Portland was a bit slow in welcoming deacons as members of the clergy. Until 1993 there was only one deacon. But as of last year there were 60 deacons serving here in the archdiocese. Last fall I ordained four new deacons at our Cathedral. This coming Oct. 31 three more men will be ordained deacons for service in this local church. The directors of our Deacon Office, Father Richard Huneger and Deacon Vern Korchinski, tell me that 15 men are in the process of seeking application for acceptance as candidates into the deacon formation program, a venture of some four years. It is quite a sacrifice for them and quite a blessing for the rest of us in the Church.
Deacons are ordained for service across the archdiocese. This is sometimes misunderstood because most deacons tend to begin their ministry in their home parishes, much unlike the experience of newly ordained priests. Deacons are not hired by a pastor but assigned to a particular ministry by the bishop. Sometimes a deacon is hired for a particular responsibility by a pastor and this becomes the source of his remuneration. Obviously there has to be some cooperation between the bishop and the pastor, because a man can’t be working in one parish and assigned to another. Likewise, termination cannot take place without a cooperative process involving both the parish and the Archdiocese. Most deacons do their work gratis while maintaining their employment elsewhere.
Across Western Oregon there are many wonderful men involved in their diaconal ministry. The one who comes to mind first of all is John Ries, who will be retiring from diaconal ministry at the Cathedral at the end of August. He was ordained in the class of 1993 by my predecessor, Cardinal William Levada. Like most deacons, his ministry was varied and intensive. He was generous in his service of prayer at sacramental celebrations, especially Eucharist and Baptism. He instructed candidates who were preparing for the Easter sacraments in the RCIA Program. He frequently visited the sick and was actively involved in “Christmas in April” for many years.
Dr. Owen Cummings is a deacon who serves as professor of theology at Mount Angel Seminary, a frequent lecturer and spiritual director. He directed our own priests’ retreat in early June.
Deacon Jim Pittman is pastoral associate at Christ the King Church in Milwaukie. He has been extraordinarily successful in bringing together a host of resources to serve the needs of the poor, particularly food, clothing and furnishings. Deacon Raul Rodriguez served for many years in Southern Oregon and some years ago accepted responsibility for coordinating ministries at San Martin de Porres Mission in Dayton. I could go on and on but I think you get the picture.
Deacons were not at all uncommon in the early Church. In fact, in those days they were more involved with the work of the bishop than were the presbyters. This began to change in the third century. The office of deacon gradually became simply a stepping stone on the way to ordination to the priesthood. The Fathers of the Second Vatican Council restored the diaconate in the early 1960s and, little by little, deacons have become very important partners with the bishops and priests in bonding our people together as one church and strengthening our evangelizing mission.
Many deacons have been recognized by the Church as saints. In fact, one of the most popular saints of the City of Rome is the deacon, Lawrence, who was one of seven deacons at Rome when Sixtus II was pope. Last year the Church observed the 1,750th anniversary of the martyrdom of St. Lawrence. Many churches in the Eternal City are named after him. The Basilica of San Lorenzo, a popular place for pilgrimage, marks the site of his burial.
Last year Pope Benedict visited the Basilica on the First Sunday of Advent. On that occasion the Holy Father acknowledged St. Lawrence’s “solicitude for the poor, his generous service to the Church in the area of social welfare and charity, and his fidelity to the pope.” In his book, Deacons and the Church, Deacon Owen Cummings describes St. Lawrence as a “deacon for deacons,” one “whose witness is cherished by the Church and whose example is an invitation to deacons today.”
On another occasion last year, during the meeting with the clergy of the Archdiocese of Rome, Pope Benedict also addressed the significance of the ministry deacons provide. Pope Benedict acknowledged that deacons do indeed enhance the riches of our Church’s sacramental ministry. But he also pointed out that deacons serve as an invaluable link between the lay world, the professional world, and the world of priestly ministry. He cited the many deacons who are employed in the workaday world, while on Saturday and Sunday they labor in the church. I think of Deacon Steve Tabor of Immaculate Conception Church in Stayton, who is a practicing attorney with five children, the oldest of whom begins college this fall. Obviously, his ministry gives great visibility to the working world of the presence of faith in the lives of our people.
The Pope was asked which tasks might be especially proper to the deacons of Rome. He said that history teaches us that the duties of deacons vary, depending upon their own talents and the needs of the Church. What they do must always be in communion with the bishop and with the parish. Some are committed to the cultural sector, others to the educational realm, and all to the Church’s ministry of charity.
Yes, deacons have been a great gift in the Church over the centuries, a gift that was seemingly forgotten for many centuries but now is acknowledged and celebrated throughout the current world, no place more significantly than here in these United States. I thank God for the gift of the deacons who serve us. I ask you to pray for them and for those who are involved in diaconal formation. Their calling comes from the Lord and from the Church. Their generous response involves sacrifice and commitment. As we pray for our priests in this special year, let’s not forget some of their closest collaborators, our good and faithful deacons!
