As this item from Arkansas Catholic notes, those words have broad application for deacons:

For many years, evangelical churches have posted signs at their parking lot exits that proclaim, “You are now entering the mission field.” Immaculate Conception Church, located in the heart of Fort Smith’s downtown, has seen its opportunities to minister to parishioners and the unchurched grow in the current recession.

“A deacon’s job is supposed to be out among the people serving them as best we can,” Deacon Greg Pair, Immaculate Conception’s director of ministries, said.

Local churches and area agencies are facing a serious challenge — many more people in need of help and fewer funds to help them with. Immaculate Conception’s charitable funds have been seriously depleted, and because of this, priority is given to members of the parish. The agencies that Pair has traditionally referred people to are facing their own financial shortfalls.

“There are other agencies,” he said, “but right now nobody’s donating to anybody. That’s a sad situation. All the churches that used to help out don’t have the funds, and we’re no different here.”

Some of the saddest situations involve undocumented parishioners.

“Dinora Reyes, a parishioner who’s a bilingual adult and child therapist, saw a need we need to act on,” Pair said. “Several young teens have gone to court for minor offenses and been given probation with orders for substance abuse counseling. They don’t have social security numbers and can’t get the counseling they need. If they could have had counseling, they could have headed off the problem initially.”

He is working with Reyes and Deacon John Burns of St. Boniface Church, also in Fort Smith, to see how this problem can be solved.

As a member of the Latino Task Force, Pair is helping Latino women realize that there are options for them if they are abused by their spouses.

“The Crisis Center for Women built a beautiful building on South 14th Street where abused women can find temporary shelter. Our task force is also working with Western Arkansas Guidance and Counseling about getting mental health counseling for undocumented families,” he said.

Check out the rest. And do keep the good deacon and his work in your prayers.