January 7, 2017 we continue our diaconate journey… today, Deacon Ryan Adams went over the responsibilities of being deacon at the Altar and deacon of the Word. (Please click here to read all of our experiences of the bi-monthly Deacon formation classes)
The deacon of the Word would carry the Book of the Gospels in the entrance procession, proclaim the Gospel, and if a deacon was to provide a homily, it would be here, he also reads the Prayers of the Faithful. During the Mass he would sit at the presider’s right.
The deacon of the Altar would enter on the presider’s right during the entrance procession. He may lead the “Lord have Mercy”. It is his responsibility to prepare the altar to receive the gifts, assist the presider to accept the gifts, and then prepare the gifts for consecration which would include adding water to the wine and then pouring it into the chalice and handing it to the presider. He also has two speaking functions. After the Lord’s Prayer, it is deacon who says, “Let us offer each other a sign of peace”. At the end of the Mass, it is this same deacon who dismisses the people by saying, “The Mass is ended, go forth to serve the Lord and each other.” During Mass, he would sit at the presider’s left.
If there is only one deacon, he would then take on both roles as deacon of the Word and deacon of the Altar and would be sitting at the presider’s right.
This is one of two remaining practicums that Jay has to complete. The other is the witnessing of the ceremony of matrimony.
During class on Saturday, one of our classmates, Mike Flores, received a call that his mother had passed away suddenly. Please keep Mike and his family in your prayers.
On January 17th we will have our final interview with the formation team. It involves going over information that we have learned over the past five years, proclaiming a Gospel and giving a homily, discussion about various moral issues and the blessing a person and the blessing an object. It takes between two and two and a half hours. Please remember us in your prayers as we prepare for this interview.
And our Diaconate Journey continues…
If you have any questions about what we have experienced in the diaconate (aka “that deacon thing”), please ask us or send us an e-mail to gbmom_01_02@yahoo.com.
If you are interested in becoming a Deacon or a Deacon Couple for the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, please contact:
Diaconate Formation Office Archdiocese of Los Angeles
3424 Wilshire Boulevard, 2nd Floor
Los Angeles, CA 90010-2241 213-637-7383
Candy & Jay Krueger, Diaconate Formation, Year V,
Holy Family Church, South Pasadena, CA