By Rita McInerney

Father Daniel A. Shanahan, pastor of Holy Cross parish in northeast Atlanta, views the restoration of the diaconate program "as one of the greatest gifts of Vatican II."

In his vision, he said, the deacons become the continuity in a parish.

The 13 deacons ordained for the parish in ceremonies this month at the Cathedral of Christ the King "will be ministering here under a 'ministry agreement' signed by the deacon and his wife, the pastor, and the director of the permanent diaconate.

Each will be limited to eight hours of service weekly. "In their generosity I have seen too many burn them selves out," he said. The order of charity has to be observed: God, spouse, family, job and ministry, he firmly believes, and each deacon's willingness and ability to follow this order is crucial.

At Holy Cross the new deacons will be given structured opportunities to use the gifts they discern as their ministry, he said. They will serve the elderly, sick, people in prison, minorities, in family ministry and the Stephens Ministry to troubled, hurting individuals.

Father Shanahan' s program for the deacons at Holy Cross is based on years of experience gained while he set up diaconate programs in Dallas, TX, and Duluth, MN, and in Beaumont, TX, where he set up and led the diaconate program.