Bishop holds dialogue with Deacons

Bishop Serratelli meets with 80 Permanent Deacons of the Diocese at St. Paul Inside the Walls

MADISON  Bishop Serratelli met with 80 Permanent Deacons of the Diocese on Jan. 30 at St. Paul Inside the Walls. The meeting was a combination of the spirituality of the Diaconate and a discussion of items of importance.

Bishop read and provided a reflection on Acts of the Apostles Chapter 6, dealing with the institution of Deacons and their role in the early Church. Specifi­cally, Bishop identified several characteristics of the Diaconate that were important in the early Church and are still important today. These characteristics include: Being a witness for a life of faith through prayer; daily Eucharist and charity; being open to different points of view and solving problems; being models for humble servanthood; being good preachers and reaching out and evangelizing. The Bishop emphasized the important place that Deacons have in the Church today — an importance that requires collaboration with priests and bishops.

The balance of the meeting was used to discuss issues of continuing education and skill sets, preaching effectiveness, dealing with a diverse parishioner base and reaching out to others through our connections in the community and work.

Bishop Serratelli appreciated the response of the Deacons and indicated that similar meetings would occur in the future.