By Deacon Dick Currie

Deacons, their wives and families from all around the globe gathered in Rome for a three-day Jubilee for Deacons, and my wife Mary Beth and I had the blessed privilege to be part of it.

Roughly 2,000 deacons – nearly one out of every 20 deacons worldwide – were there. We met deacons from England, France, Canada, the Czech Republic, California, Washington state, Boston, and even the exotic lands of Newark, Patterson and Metuchen. 

Our first formal session was on May 27, and was actually five simultaneous “meeting” sessions for deacons and their families, broken up by language, in different basilicas around the city.

The overall topic was “The Deacon: Image of Mercy for the Promotion of the New Evangelization.”  The session my wife and I attended, at the Basilica di Santa Maria Sopra Minerva near the Pantheon, featured three wonderful talks. 

Deacon James Keating, director of theological formation for the Institute for Priestly Formation in Omaha, Neb., spoke on the family of a deacon, noting that in most cases deacons had fallen in love and started families before discerning a call to the diaconate.

But he insisted that given the proper formation, a deacon would end up becoming a better husband, and that he and his wife would love each other more deeply due to his deeper relationship with Jesus and his greater availability for others. 

Deacon Anthony Gooley of the Archdiocese of Brisbane, Australia, spoke of the commissioning of the original seven deacons to fill the unmet needs of the Church, just as the bishops are charged with doing today.

He told us that the ministry of these first deacons was not limited to “waiting on tables” (Acts 6:2) but encompasses the full three-fold ministry of Word, Sacrament, and Charity. In this light, the potential contributions of the deacon to the New Evangelization are nearly limitless.

Finally, Deacon Greg Kandra of Brooklyn spoke about our ministry in the workplace, reminding us that we “are deacons” no matter where we are.  We are called to be the face of Christ to those we work with daily, those “in the next cubicle,” being present to them in their needs, their joys and sorrows.

“Some of the most important missionary activity in the world today may begin in unlikely places, not in a jungle or desert or some far-of country, but around the water cooler, on a bus, or over coffee in the company cafeteria,” he told us. Such powerful words, not only for deacons, but all of us!

On Saturday morning we made a pilgrimage through the Holy Door in St. Peter’s Basilica – what an amazing experience!  We met at the far end of the Via della Conciliazione and were led by deacons carrying a cross into St. Peter’s Square, through the Holy Door of the Basilica, and up to the tomb of St. Peter.

In spite of the distractions on the way, the experience of processing and praying publicly for mercy on our way to and through the Holy Door was, for many of us, very profound.

On Saturday, we also had an opportunity to visit some of the seven churches in Rome associated with St. Lawrence, a Roman deacon and martyr.

The highlight among highlights was Mass in St. Peter’s Square celebrated by Pope Francis on May 29. We deacons, vested with special commemorative Year of Mercy stoles, were seated to either side of the altar, while our families had prime seats at the front of the assembly. 

While the Mass was celebrated in Italian and Latin, everyone had a booklet with which we could sing and pray in unison. The Mass is the Mass wherever in whatever language; what a beautiful experience of the worldwide community of deacons! 

In his homily (proclaimed in Italian that I read afterward in English), Pope Francis used the Gospel to reflect on three attributes of a faithful deacon and servant:

• Availability: clock-hours “on the job” do not reflect how we should be open and available to others who call on us, night and day, whenever;

• Meekness: always welcoming others with patient love and unflagging sympathy, making them feel welcome and at home in the ecclesial community;

• A healthy heart: “a heart healed by God, one which knows forgiveness and is neither closed nor hardened.” 

So much to reflect upon; so many words of not just challenge but also encouragement spoken personally to, as he called us, “my dear deacons!”  Words all of us will be praying over for days to come!

At the conclusion of the Mass, the Pope formally received all the special guests, but then was immediately up and about, and greeting as many deacons as he could. He then rode in his “pope-mobile” through St. Peter’s Square, greeting and blessing all those in attendance to the extent possible.

My wife and I can both attest that the smile you see in photos is absolutely authentic; our Holy Father is a Pope who thrives on being with and “smelling like” those to whom he ministers.  What a blessing to be part of this great worldwide diaconal celebration!

Deacon Dick Currie and his wife Mary Beth are members of St. James Parish, Pennington.