On the Left Coast, a fresh tide of new permanent deacons has just washed ashore — as reported, providentially, in The Tidings, the paper for the Archdiocese of Los Angeles.

“Seven reputable men” were ordained, echoing the very first diaconate class 2000 years ago.

Roger Cardinal Mahony presided at the mass concelebrated by Auxiliary Bishops Alex Salazar, Oscar Solis, Gerald Wilkerson and retired Bishop Joseph Sartoris.

According to The Tidings:

As homilist, Bishop Wilkerson thanked family members and formation leaders for accompanying the candidates and “supporting them and loving them during these [five] years of preparation and education for this great day.” He noted that a recent U.S. bishops’ document, “The National Directory for the Formation, Ministry and Life of Permanent Deacons in the United States,” described the deacon as an “icon” of Christ, the servant.

“It’s an amazing image. When we see the deacon, we see Christ, the servant,” said Bishop Wilkerson. While the directory says a deacon is ordained for service of the word, of the liturgy and of charity, he explained, it emphasizes that a deacon’s ministry of the service of the word and liturgy are “severely deficient” if the deacon does not have a ministry of justice and charity.

“The directory says that, for the deacon, his ministry is found not only when he puts on the vestments, not only when he stands at the altar, but especially and particularly when he goes out into the world. That is where he makes visible Christ the deacon and servant of all.

“You are called to die in the service of God and his people. You are called to lay down your life each day in service of word, of liturgy, of charity. And you are indeed always to be wherever you are the icon of Christ, the deacon and servant of all, who came not to be served but to serve and give his life as a ransom for the many.”

Welcome, brothers. My heart and my prayers are with you.

Photo by: Paula Doyle