Diaconal ministry is rooted in service to the Church and diocese
Cleveland Auxiliary Bishop emeritus Roger Gries told the four men ordained to the diaconate on May 6 that Pope Francis is challenging us to embrace the ministry of service.
?The authentic power of the Church is rooted in service,? he said, adding that the challenge is the same for those who are ordained as deacons and those who go on to become priests. Bishop Gries told the newly ordained deacons that they were called by the Lord, a theme echoed in the day?s Gospel which said, ?It was not you who chose me, but I who chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit that will remain, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name he may give you.?
Click HERE to watch the video replay of ordination.
Bishop Gries said ?we all carry a lot of baggage and are not perfect. We need to rely on the Lord . . . you were called by the Lord.? He said Vatican II put the role of a deacon in perspective by emphasizing the call to serve.
Deacons read the word of God, preach homilies and are agents of the new evangelization, he said, cautioning them to ?remember that you preach his Gospel
