Joy as seven permanent deacons ordained in Auckland

Bishop Steve Lowe ordained Deacons Adolf Goldwyn, Clive Goodman, Falaniko Kelemete, Manuel Lopez, Andrew May, Butch Rafols and Michael Tanoa’i at a packed cathedral on August 2. In his homily, Bishop Lowe referred to the first seven deacons of the Church mentioned in Acts 6, saying theirs was a ministry that saw the need of others as its heart, and they responded to that need.

Addressing the ordinands by name, Bishop Lowe said “you are men that the community has discerned . . . are worthy of ordination”.

“It has been a long discernment, it began several years ago when your wives said, ‘yes, I support my husband in this call’. It is a discernment of your parish priests and your community, as they have looked at you and thinking, ‘yes, there is something in this man that makes him suitable to answer this call of the Lord’.”

Bishop Lowe thanked those involved in the formation process.

The bishop also mentioned key aspects of being a deacon – humility, dependence on and friendship with the Lord, and being immersed in the Scriptures.

“Jesus has loved us just as the Father loves him. Now he commands you, love one another as I have loved you. And this is at the heart of the deacon’s mission,” Bishop Lowe said. 

“You have been learning this art of love from your wives and in your family over the years. Your wives and your families have taught you – don’t take yourselves too seriously. Your teenage children will always remind you [that] you have so much more to learn. And that is a good way for a deacon to be.”

Bishop Lowe reminded the ordinands that their “first vocation is to your wife, your family, as husband and father”. But their hearts must widen to embrace the Church in a new way, he said.

“Remember, those people that you serve are God’s great gift to you. And as you serve them truly after the example of Christ the Deacon, so they will teach you more and more what it is to be a deacon.”

It is always the People of God that teach what it is to be a deacon, a priest or a bishop, Bishop Lowe added.

Bishop Lowe reminded the deacons-to-be that they were being ordained to be the Lord’s deacon, to preach His Word, to assist at the table of His Body and to witness to the world His serving love, a love that does not seek to be served, but to serve.

FULL STORY

The Catholic Diocese of Auckland Ordination (Catholic Diocese of Auckland/YouTube)