All manner of stamina and dedication: diaconal ministry in the Amazon

In this part of the world where there are few priests and with the permission of her bishop, Cira has baptized more than 1,300 children and adults. That the Catholic Church has a presence and can accompany people in these communities is largely due to the efforts of women like Ciria who have braved all manner of weather to travel by boat or to set up camp sites in communities where they travel along dirt roads by auto.

“We don’t need deacons any more.”

We deacons get used to people questioning our identity and purpose.  It's not only individuals who fail to understand:  sometimes a diocese will simply ignore our vocation and seem unable to fathom it or understand how it fits in with other ministries. It can be upsetting and distressing.

All this is far too common in the life of the #distinctivedeacon.  To counter it, we've asked Bishop James Newcome to tell us how he sees the place of the diaconate in the life of the diocese.