REDEDICATION OF DIACONAL COMMITMENT

Bishop: My brother deacons, please stand now and renew your commitment to your diaconate service.

 

(Deacons stand - all others remain seated.)

 

On the day of your ordination, by the laying on of hands and the gift of the Holy Spirit, you were called to be servants of all, a help to the bishops and priests - as Ministers of the Word, the Altar, and of Charity.  In all of these duties, you are to be recognized as disciples of Jesus, who came to serve, not to be served. Now, renew your dedication to Christ and to the Church of the diocese of Cleveland.

 

My brothers, are you resolved to discharge generously the office of Deacon and its threefold ministry of Word, Worship, and Service with humility and love, in order to assist the bishops and priests and to serve the people of Christ?

 

Deacons: I am

 

Bishop: Are you resolved to hold fast to the Mystery of Faith, and proclaim the hope and joy the Gospel offers, believing what you read, teaching what you believe, and practicing what you teach?

 

Deacons: I am.

 

Bishop: Are you resolved to live even more deeply the commitment you once made in the sacraments of Baptism and Confirmation to bring Christ and the power of His love to the community in which you live and to the service that you give in your work or profession and are you resolved to offer more completely the gift of yourself which you made in the sacrament of Marriage and now live out in your love and care for your wife and your family?

 

Deacons: I am..

 

Bishop: My brothers, may God, who has begun this good work in you, bring you to fulfillment; and on the last day, when you go to meet the Lord, may you hear Him say to you, "Well done, good and faithful servant, enter into the joy of your LordI"

 

Deacons: Thanks be to God!

Bishop: And now, my brothers, I would ask your wives to stand with you, even as they have stood beside you in these many years of your marriage, in your formation as deacons, and now in your ministry of service:

(Wives Stand)

My brothers, as you are deeply grateful to your wives for their faithfulness and their dedication to you, to your family, and to the Church, so, too, are we, your co-workers in ministry and all the people of God, also grateful to them. In a special way, they have generously given you to us and to diaconate service.  And so today, we thank them again, and we express our admiration for their trust in the Lord and for their deep love for you and for all the people of God.

Now, I ask them to reaffirm the commitment they made on the day of your ordination.

And so, dear wives, I. ask you: Do you renew your offering of your husband to serve as deacon in the diocese of Cleveland?

Wives: I do.

 

Bishop: And do you also renew your own commitment to support your husband in his diaconal ministry by your love, your prayer, and your assistance?

Wives: I do with the help of God.

Bishop:  My sisters, may God, who has begun this good work in you, bring it to fulfillment; and on the last day, when you go to meet the Lord, may you hear Him say to you, "Well done, good and faithful servant, enter into the joy of your Lord!"

 

Wives:  Thanks be to God!

 

Bishop:  BLESSING.