On the edge of my property a lone peach tree grows between the woods and the gravel drive. Years ago, someone probably finished eating a peach and carelessly tossed the pit out of their car window. With the dense undergrowth, the pit overcame insurmountable odds to sprout into a sapling and grow into a small tree. 
Tom Holland’s magnificent book “Dominion” develops in detail what amounts to a very simple proposition – namely, that Christianity is responsible for many of the central values we take for granted and assume to be universal. In point of fact, he says, our insistence on the dignity of the individual, fundamental human rights, the principle of equality and, perhaps above all, that the poor, the marginalized and the victimized ought to be specially cherished, flows from basic Christian convictions. 
Nearly 40 years ago, on a Tuesday, my sister Erin ran into the house with the excitement and enthusiasm that only a 7-year-old girl with a story to tell could muster. Immediately, she began to tell my mother about the wonderful adventure that she and her older brother had been having outside. Now she described in great detail the clouds and the birds and the sunshine and the neighbors who walked by all as we were engaged in the challenging project of getting a kite to fly on a Tuesday afternoon.
As a small child, I was a bit of a religious nerd. I’m not sure why, but I was the oldest child, the only daughter, and our little Catholic mission parish in farm country was central to our lives. From a young age, faith intrigued me.
There are so many things clamoring for our attention these days, in all different kinds of ways. We are assaulted by advertisements, which are practically unavoidable on every video we watch, on billboards, on the radio and on our social media feeds. 
We began the season of Lent this past Feb. 14, precisely on Valentine’s Day, a day of love and friendship. What better time to begin this season with the true love of Jesus in His self-giving for us!
In Roman Catholic parishes, the rituals of Lent begin with the imposition of ashes on Ash Wednesday. But many Eastern Christians – both Catholic and Orthodox – set the tone for the penitential season of Lent by observing another tradition: Forgiveness Sunday.
Shhhh.
‘Remain firm and steadfast in Christ’
CHARLOTTE — In a special Mass with many of their wives in attendance, permanent deacons from across the Diocese of Charlotte renewed their ordination promises during the Mass celebrated by Bishop Peter Jugis Aug. 13 at St. Patrick Cathedral.
During his homily, Bishop Jugis reminded the deacons they had come to renew their promises “to continue to remain firm and steadfast in Christ.” He emphasized that one of the promises they would renew is to serve in their ministry with humility and charity.
“Parishioners expect to find the image of Christ in you. Christ, who is the model of humility and charity,” Bishop Jugis said. He noted that Christ, in Matthew’s Gospel 20:20-28, said “The Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve and to give His life as a ransom for many.’’
The diocesan Mass for the Affirmation of Ordination of Promises by Deacons is held annually around the Aug. 10 feast of St. Lawrence, a deacon who was martyred during the persecution of Christians in the year 258.
Dozens of the deacons’ wives also attended the Mass and reaffirmed their commitment to serve alongside their husbands to build up the local Church.
Bishop Jugis reminded the deacons of their obligation to pray the Liturgy of the Hours and “to be in contact with the Lord daily in your prayers” to stay close to Christ and serve His people faithfully in their ministry.
Deacon Andy Cilone of Immaculate Conception Parish in Forest City was one of the first men to be ordained for the permanent diaconate for the diocese in 1983. Now 84, he and his wife, JoAnn, are still actively serving the Church 39 years later.
“It’s been a great blessing. I can’t think of my life any other way,” Deacon Cilone said. “It’s a beautiful call and I thank God for the call.” Of his wife’s commitment he said, “I couldn’t do it without her. She has been my support.”
Deacon Quang Nguyen of St. Joseph Church in Charlotte, ordained in 2018, is the first Vietnamese deacon ordained for the Charlotte diocese.
“I’ve moved from being a ‘baby’ deacon to ‘crawling’ deacon,” Deacon Nguyen joked. “After four years, the journey has changed. I have realized the humbler we are, the better the service we are able to do. We wonder just how far we can go to meet what God wants us to do. In the meantime, we just do it.”
Deacon Lon Phillips and his wife, Jan, relocated to Charlotte from Florida three years ago to be near family. They serve in ministry at St. Matthew Church. A deacon for 14 years, Deacon Phillips said the couple were concerned about the size of St. Matthew Church, one of the largest parishes in the U.S. with more than 10,000 registered families.
“I was intimidated by St. Matthew’s size at first, but once I got my head squared away, I said, ‘It doesn’t matter whether there are five people in the pew or 1,500, I am on the altar doing what I have been asked to do,’” Deacon Phillips said.
“I’ve been more involved now,” Jan Phillips noted. “I serve in the food pantry, am a St. Matthew School volunteer and serve as a greeter at church. It’s a wonderful place.”
Deacon John Kopfle of St. Vincent de Paul Church in Charlotte serves as the director of the permanent diaconate. “It’s a blessing to see all the good things that deacons do around the diocese. And all that the men and their wives sacrifice for this.
“There have been challenges, of course, with Covid, but things are opening up and we’re able to serve in our ministries again,” Deacon Kopfle added.
There are currently 140 deacons serving the Diocese of Charlotte. Eighteen men have been invited to begin the two-year aspirancy program for the permanent diaconate this fall, which is followed by three years of formation and ordination.
— SueAnn Howell
Did you know?
Permanent deacons are involved in a wide range of ministries but usually are assigned to a parish where they proclaim the Gospel and assist the priest at Mass, oversee or support parish ministries and charitable activities, administer baptisms, officiate at weddings and distribute Holy Communion to the sick and homebound.
They also work in vital ministries including the airport chaplaincy program, prison ministry, faith formation and ministry to children and college students, as well as provide instruction for aspiring Catholics in the RCIA program and more.
More information on the Permanent Diaconate Program can be found online at https://charlottediocese.org/permanent-diaconate.
Your DSA contributions at work
The Permanent Diaconate Program is funded by the annual Diocesan Support Appeal. For more information or to donate, go online www.charlottediocese.org/dsa.
