My friend and patron
It was a blessed surprise I when opened the Nov. 21 issue of the Hawaii Catholic Herald and on the front cover I saw my friend and patron St. Joseph featured. I was not familiar with this particular statue of St. Joseph and was delighted to see him in Hawaiian attire. St. Joseph is a powerhouse of blessings. Thank you for the photo and article fostering devotion to him. Those who invoke his aid in prayer will not be unheard.
Sister Marian Therese Muehlbauer, CSJ
St. Louis, Missouri
Deacons further explained
I would like to add a biblical response to recent questions to Father Kenneth Doyle’s catechesis column (Hawaii Catholic Herald, Nov. 21) regarding the ministry of deacons:
The first question was the concern that the deacon may be overstepping his bounds by preaching. The second asked why the deacon on occasion administers the Sacrament of Baptism?
If we look in chapter six and seven in the Book of Acts, we read how the Greek widows in the very early church were being neglected in favor of the Hebrew widows. This came about because in that culture at that time widows had no rights and only their sons or brothers could speak for them. The Greek widows, being foreigners, had no one to speak for them were not being treated justly.
So that they would not have to neglect the Word of God, the Apostles after prayer chose from among the community seven men to assist with this task to bring about justice and serve the community. The first recorded ecclesial act was performed when they prayed over and laid hands on seven men, Stephen, Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenos and Nicolas. These are recognized as the first deacons in the church.
Shortly after this, Stephen was charged and convicted of blasphemy by the leaders of the Jewish community because of his preaching the Good News of Jesus. His punishment was death by stoning. Our tradition acknowledges Stephen as the first martyr for preaching the Gospel of Jesus. This is why at ordination the deacon receives the Bible from the bishop who says, “Receive the Gospel whose herald you are; preach what you believe and live what you preach.” This is why the deacon during Mass carries the Book of the Gospel in the procession, proclaims the Gospel and on occasion preaches.
As for baptism, we read in the eighth chapter of Acts how Philip, one of the seven deacons, explains to the eunuch on a journey to Ethiopia the messianic passage from Isaiah and how this passage was fulfilled in Jesus, the Messiah, who came to bring salvation for everyone. The eunuch believed and was baptized by Philip. This is the first recorded Christian Baptism and explains why, throughout our tradition, the deacon administers the Sacrament of Baptism.
Deacon Ernie Carlbom
St. Anthony Church, Kailua
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