Oct. 21, 2015

By Deacon John White
Diocesan deacon formation director

Within the Diocese of Ogdensburg, there are currently 70 plus ordained permanent deacons working hand-in-hand with our bishop and priests.

The bishop, priests and deacons of our diocese comprise a rather large family in themselves, a family dedicated to carrying on the work of Jesus Christ in meeting the needs of our brothers and sisters across the diocese.
As in any family, each particular person or group brings individual talents, skills and abilities to this endeavor. All function together for the good of the entire family.

Deacons fulfill many roles and needs within the diocesan family. Some are engaged in prison or hospital chaplain ministries. Some function as parish life coordinators, assisting pastors in building up vibrant parishes comprised of living stones.

Some deacons work in various diocesan offices and departments, helping the bishop and his staff to further the goals and priorities of the diocesan church.

All are ordained and dedicated to serving God’s people through the ministries of Word, Sacrament and Charity. Deacons are ordained to serve the needs of God’s people through their specific and individual charisms.
According to the Acts of the Apostles (Acts 6:1-7), deacons were originally called to serve at table, meeting the physical needs of the burgeoning Church, and thereby freeing the Apostles themselves to focus on spreading Christ’s teachings.

Today deacons are called to function in much the same way, assisting the bishop and priests in carrying out the work of the church. Deacons especially are called to act as a “bridge” between the bishop, priests and God’s people.

Due to the unique situation of deacons with one foot planted firmly in both the Church and the marketplace, these men are able to bring the needs of the people to the Church as well as the teachings of the Church to the people.

This ability stems from the fact that most Deacons are, or have been, married with families, employed in the secular world, involved in community organizations; and accordingly share in the common experience of the Church’s faithful.

This year, 16 men have entered into the candidate phase of the diocesan Deacon Formation Program. This is the approximate half-way point of their journey in discerning God’s will for them and their own ability to bring God to His people through a role of Servant-leadership in the model of Christ himself, who came “to serve, and not to be served” (Mark 10:45).

Through their studies both on-line and in the classroom at Wadhams Hall, they endeavor to increase their knowledge of our common faith as well as their personal relationship with Jesus. Their hope is that the formation process might bring them closer to God, and prepare them for roles of service in the Church, if that be His will.

The Deacon Formation Program of the Diocese of Ogdensburg is supported in large part through the generous donations of our diocesan family to the Bishop’s Fund Appeal.

Through this partnership, we trusts to become even more “United as One Family”. A family that is truly “Christ-led, Christ-fed and Hope-filled”.