A Day in the Life of... A Deacon

Deacons are ordained to provide service to the church in three specific areas: To serve in charitable endeavors, to serve at the altar, and to serve in the proclamation of the Word. Many deacons provide this service but remain fully engaged in their “day job”. Other deacons are retired from their jobs and are able to devote greater time to these areas of service. Still others are employed by the church as they serve in ministry.

My own particular situation as a single deacon provides me the opportunity to continue in my “day job” and also to be employed in a ministerial position with the parish where I serve as a deacon.

I serve as Director of Evangelization for St. James on the Near South Side of Chicago. We are a small parish but we have many active ministries that provide outreach opportunities. We are located near several college campuses in the Bronzeville area. So, I spend considerable time making connections with students who seek the pastoral care offered by our parish. Sometimes students attend daily Mass allowing me to touch base with them about things happening in their lives – preparing for the MCAT, anticipating a visit from parents, struggling with the tensions of living on a campus immersed in secular values, and myriad other events.

Another major responsibility is helping the students plan events that are of particular interest to them. At the beginning of each year, we plan a Welcome Mass which allows returning students to invite new students into the life of a parish that seeks to serve the students. Although we are not a traditional Newman Center, our parish devotes considerable time and resources to program events that are of particular interests to college students.

Young adult ministry is another key aspect of evangelization in our location in the Near South Loop of Chicago since more and more young adults are moving into this area. Like many aspects of evangelization, it is crucial to identify those with the potential to provide leadership in the ministry. We do plan social events that appeal to young adults and thereby get to know them better. These events also allow them to invite friends to “Zeb’s House.” We know that James was a “young adult” when he was called to ministry. His father was Zebedee. So, we continually try to create an atmosphere where young adults will feel comfortable coming to “Zeb’s House”.

So much of the work of evangelization is simply inviting people to be a part of our worship experience, our catechetical events, or fellowship time. Many people, more than you might think, are really glad to receive a personal invitation to attend an event, to help plan, or contribute an idea. To be sure, college students and young adults lead busy lives and often decline invitations. But I am heartened by the many who do respond with enthusiasm. So, a good portion of my time is spent inviting people into the life of the parish.

As I mentioned before, I also keep my “day job” which is coaching college basketball. I have worked in the community college system of Illinois for over twenty years. Currently I coach at Daley College one of the City Colleges of Chicago. Over the years coaching has become a ministry for me. I have begun to understand that the Lord has blessed me by sending these young men into my life. In fact, it was my desire to sanctify my work as a coach that motivated me to explore the diaconate. Indeed, in restoring the diaconal ministry to the church, it was the desire of the Second Vatican Council that Christ would be more concretely brought into the workplace. I hope I am able to do that.

The most difficult aspect of serving as a deacon is balancing the demands of my profession with the demands of my ministry. In this, I suppose, I am not that much different from many people who are stressed by the frenetic pace of urban life in the 21st century. Praying the Liturgy of the Hours or celebrating at daily Mass are the soundest means I have discovered for keeping it all together. It sounds simple, but it works. I know – For when I skip these quiet moments with the Lord because “I am too busy,” then my life REALLY gets too busy.

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