Young permanent deacons see unique opportunities, challenges

Young permanent deacons see unique opportunities, challenges

Some 50 young children ran wildly around the yard of the Newton family home in Little Rock, Arkansas, as families mingled and chatted during an annual Pentecost party.Kalisa Newton wandered over to her husband Byron.“Honey, what if you gave everybody a blessing?” she asked.Byron, a 39-year-old permanent deacon in the Diocese of Little Rock, thought it was a great idea. He asked for his book of blessings and then called everybody over.The yard fe…

Young guns: Meet some of America's young permanent deacons - Deacon Greg Kandra

There aren’t many of them, but Jack Figge at The Pillar found a few and reports on the special challenges they face: A recent report published by the Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate found that of the estimated 13,864 permanent deacons in active ministry in the United States, fewer than 4% are under the age of 49, and fewer than 1% – or 138 deacons – are in their 30s. But some of those young deacons told The Pillar they believe thei…

A Deacon aims to be faithful, not successful in a worldly sense

Karl Pierzchajlo is one of three men to be ordained to the permanent diaconate on July 22 at St. Joseph’s Basilica. He will be assigned to Annunciation, his home parish in Edmonton, where he and his family have been active members for many years. There are currently 36 permanent deacons serving in the Edmonton Archdiocese. […] The post A Deacon aims to be faithful, not successful in a worldly sense appeared first on caedm.