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Thursday 18 April |
Saint of the Day: Bl. Maria Anna Blondin
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‘Serving in God’s army’ as a deacon

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Deacon Greg Kandra - published on 09/04/16

From Australia:

In 2006, 14 men were ordained to the Permanent Diaconate for the Archdiocese of PerthA decade on, the Deacons talk to The eRecord about how their work as Deacons has inspired them. When Permanent Deacon Trevor Lyra was ordained 10 years ago, it was the second time he had entered into a fellowship of men serving something bigger than themselves. Permanent Deacons are men – married or single – who are called to be ordained ministers of the Church, undertaking a spiritual role in the Archdiocese at a specific parish or location. Deacons can preach, celebrate baptisms, marriages, conduct Communion Services and other liturgical celebrations such as funeral services but are unable to celebrate Mass, anoint the sick or give absolution. Deacon Lyra had previously been a member of the Indian Army, and he said being received into the Diaconate had brought him a similar honour, albeit one which connected him more to his faith. “On the day of my graduation from the Indian Military Academy at the age of 21 years, I felt a sense of pride that is hard to explain,” he said. “On the day of my ordination to the Diaconate, that same sense of pride returned to me, and I realized that I have now received all seven sacraments.” He added that he had felt both surprise and honour upon being asked to perform a blessing on the night of his ordination. “I had not yet left the altar, when a priest approached me, fell on his knees in front of me and asked me for my first blessing,” Deacon Lyra said. “The shock was beyond my expectation, filled with tears and a lump in my throat, I struggled to bless that humble priest. “He quickly brought me to the realisation of what it meant, serving in God’s army as against serving my nation, in man’s army. A sense of humility flooded me and I thanked God for it.”

Read the rest.

Ad multos annos! 

Photo: Jamie O’Brien

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