Diaconate directors gather in Denver for national convention

Published: 2006-04-28

DENVER (CNS) -- Archbishop Charles J. Chaput told directors of diaconate programs gathered in Denver that deacons were originally chosen because the Twelve Apostles needed helpers. "These assistants were not asked to do something fundamentally different from what the apostles were doing," the Denver archbishop said in a keynote speech during the April 19-22 convention of the National Association of Diaconate Directors. "They were called to do the works of practical service that belonged integrally to the apostolic ministry, the duties the apostles could not always fulfill," he said. Deacons serve the church through ministry of the liturgy, of the word (Scripture) and of charity. Deacons can officiate at baptisms, weddings, wakes and funerals, and they can assist the priest at Mass by preaching and distributing Communion. The archbishop described deacons as men from the church in the heart of today's world, as well as men of today's world in the heart of the church.

Copyright (c) 2006 Catholic News Service /U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. The CNS news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed, including but not limited to such means as framing or any other digital copying or distribution method, in whole or in part without the prior written authority of Catholic News Service .