I had a grand time at the NDICE conference in Cincinnati (I’ve finally learned how to spell it) and enjoyed rubbing elbows with my brother deacons from around the country. I’m told about 250 people were there, deacons and their wives, and it was one of the best turnouts they’ve had in years. Among other…

[Note: This homily was delivered last Sunday to about 250 deacons and their wives at the opening liturgy of the annual gathering of the National Diaconate Institute for Continuing Education (NDICE) at Xavier University in Cincinnati. I was also privileged to be the keynote speaker later that night. The homily was designed, then, for a…

You can always count on New York Archbishop Timothy Dolan for an engaging, even eloquent homily. And at the recent diaconate ordination, he didn’t disappoint: As he ordained 13 new deacons for the archdiocese, Archbishop Dolan said graces will flow through their hands as they carry out their ministries of service to the Church and…

Last week, I posted about the passing of Paul McArdle, hailed as the first permanent deacon in the United States. A day or so later, Deacon Bill Ditewig (Deacon Dr. Ditewig, or Triple D) dropped me a note to set the record straight. Seems there was one other one before Deacon Paul: On 1 June…

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