Word is filtering down from from Massachusetts that they’ve just welcomed a new crop of deacons.

From the local paper:

Six Cape and Islands men were among the 13 ordained as permanent deacons yesterday at Corpus Christi Church, said a spokesman for the Fall River Diocese.

Bishop George Coleman, former pastor of Corpus Christi, presided. Karl G. Buder of Vineyard Haven, Daniel M. Donovan Jr. of Buzzards Bay, John W. Foley of Harwich, Joseph K. Kane of Eastham, Steven F. Minninger of East Harwich and David E. Pierce of Sandwich were among those ordained.

Deacons help ease the burden on parishes, many of which have only one priest. The men, most married with children, are not substitutes for priests, said the Rev. Rodney Thibault, Corpus Christi parochial vicar.

“There are three things a deacon can do. He baptizes, witnesses marriages and preaches. He can’t celebrate a Mass,” Thibault said.

I think Fr. Thibault understates things just a little bit.

Meantime: welcome, brothers! My prayers are with you, one and all.