Fifth Sunday of Easter

My Dear Parishioners,
 
We gather on this the Fifth Sunday of Easter to celebrate the Lord’s Day. In our reading from Acts of the Apostles we come to the account of the ordination of the first deacons. They were seven in number who were chosen to assist the Apostles in providing pastoral care for the “Hellenists.” This order was instituted to enhance the ministry of the Apostles so that all could be served in the name of Jesus. The ministry of the deacons began with service at the table but developed into much more. We find the Deacon Stephen preaching, and the Deacon Philip evangelizing and baptizing. It will be the Deacon Stephen who will become the first martyr, the first to die for Christ.
 
On Saturday, His Excellency, Bishop Arthur Serratelli ordained 10 seminarians to the diaconate for service in the Church. These ten have been ordained as “transitional”, that is, they will serve as deacons for a short time. God willing, next year, they will be ordained to the priesthood. Here in Rockaway we claim two of these new deacons, JOSEPH BOYKOW and MATEUSZ DARLAK. Deacon Joseph is a native of Rockaway, born and raised at Saint Cecilia Parish. Deacon Matt is a native of Poland but assigned to Rockaway as his home parish by Bishop Serratelli. We are proud of both young men and we support their journey to the priesthood.
 
Deacons, by virtue of their ordination, exercise the duty to preach, baptize, assist at the liturgy, and preside at weddings, funeral services and public prayer. They bring the Eucharist to the sick, conduct catechetical classes and represent the Church in an official capacity. The deacons are collaborators of the Bishop and work under the direction of the Pastors to which they have been assigned. Transitional deacons make the vow of celibacy at their ordination and are obliged to pray the Divine Office each day (the Liturgy of the Hours).
 
After the reforms of the Second Vatican Council the “permanent” diaconate was restored which allowed married men to be ordained to the office of deacon. Their ministry and duties are identical to those of the transitional diaconate. The only difference is that those ordained to the transitional state will move on to the priesthood, the permanent deacons will not. Deacon Paul Willson, who serves so faithfully at Saint Cecilia Parish, and when needed at Sacred Heart Parish, is a permanent deacon.
 
The work of the Church is great and challenging. The Apostles knew that they could not do alone all the Lord Jesus commanded them and so they called for assistants. The ordained ministry is always in need of workers. The Lord Jesus Himself said, “ The harvest is great but the laborers are few, ask the Lord of the harvest to send out workers to work in His vineyard.” As we pray for Deacon Joseph and Deacon Matt, let us ask pray that the Lord will raise up more young men to serve as deacons and priests!
 
Christ is Risen!
Father Zig