The millions and millions of people that read this blog know that I have been discerning a call to be a permanent deacon in a diocese that has yet to fully embrace the ministry.
Several months ago, I might have been considered a friendly pest. Every now and then, I would write a letter to our Bishop. I'd send an e-mail to our diocesan vocations director every few months. Although they did not urge me to go away, they never offered much hope that there would be a tangible way for me to pursue the call.
Something changed a few weeks ago. I don't know what happened or who was involved. Earlier this week, at their request, I met with two diocesan leaders. While things have not reached a point where hard commitments can be made, it is obvious that there is some support to take some action to make it possible for men in our diocese to pursue a call to the permanent diaconate. It could be that training takes place in a neighboring diocese. It could be that there might be ways to utilize technology for distance learning. There was even discussion of attempting to see if some of the credits I have received from various courses I have taken might be able to be applied toward permanent diaconate formation and decrease the time it might take for me to be ordained.
Perhaps this change in attitude is the result of the work of the Holy Spirit and the intercession of my recently deceased mother.
No comments:
Post a Comment