BY ERIKA ANDERSON

Staff Writer

ATLANTA--Deacon Alfred Mitchell, vicar of deacons for the archdiocese, has assumed the role of president of the National Diaconate Institute for Continuing Education (NDICE).

Mitchell, 65, who also serves at Sts. Peter and Paul Church in Decatur, was ordained a deacon May 23, 1987. A convert to Catholicism, he became a Catholic when he married his wife Josie in 1959.

As the president of the NDICE, the oldest organization for continuing education for deacons, his main responsibility will be organizing and implementing the annual convention held for deacons and their wives at the University of Notre Dame in South Bend, Ind.

The president is responsible for choosing speakers and a theme for the convention. Next year’s theme will be “Proclaiming and Living the Word.”

“I think sometimes as deacons, we get too much involved with the preaching...We don’t always think enough about what Christ called us to do, which was live the Gospel,” he said. “We need to live a life that shows that we’re deacons whether we are preaching or not.”

Elected as president at the 1997 convention, Mitchell assumed his role at this year’s convention held in July. He said that it is nice to be appointed by his fellow deacons.

“There always seems to be a drive for recognition and it’s important to maintain that balance against becoming big-headed, but it’s nice to be honored by your fellow deacons,” he said.

Mitchell was appointed vicar of deacons in 1990 by the late Archbishop James Lyke, OFM. He advises the archbishop on issues pertaining to the diaconate and makes recommendations about men interested in pursuing a call to the diaconate.

Deacon Loris Sinanian is assistant vicar of deacons for formation.

Mitchell said his role gives him the opportunity to meet a lot of the 136 deacons of the archdiocese.

“(My position) helps,” he said. “I try to get to know all the deacons, just so I can get an idea of what’s going on in the different parishes.”

At Sts. Peter and Paul, Mitchell also serves in a variety of ministries including the pastor’s advisor to the men’s club, the evangelization committee and adult education. He said that he has changed in a subtle way since becoming a deacon in 1987.

“I’m more aware of my own attempt at being spiritual and of the spiritual presence in other people,” he said.

Well known for his story telling ability, Mitchell said he enjoys the preaching aspect of the diaconate more than anything because it gives him an opportunity to share his faith.

“I also have the wonderful opportunity to be right at the priest’s side and to participate closer than I could sitting in the pew,” he said.