Diocese Celebrates Jubilee for Deacons
July 12, 2016 • Diocese of St. Augustine

A Jubilee for Deacons as part of the Extraordinary Jubilee Year of Mercy will be celebrated in the Diocese of St. Augustine on Wednesday, August 10 – the feast of St. Lawrence – patron of deacons.

Pope Francis celebrates the Eucharist during a Mass for the Jubilee of Deacons in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican May 29. The Mass was an event of the Holy Year of Mercy. (CNS photo/Paul Haring)
Pope Francis celebrates the Eucharist during a Mass for the Jubilee of Deacons in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican May 29. The Mass was an event of the Holy Year of Mercy. (CNS photo/Paul Haring)

Bishop Felipe Estévez will celebrate a Mass for the deacons and their families at St. Luke Catholic Church, 1606 Blanding Blvd., Middleburg at 5 p.m. The homilist for the Mass is Father John Tetlow, director of the Permanent Diaconate of the diocese.

In their charism as ordained ministers of the Church, Deacons are called to be ministers of mercy – a living sign among the people of God to be generous in service to the poor, needy and most vulnerable of our world. Their role is manifested in the sacred liturgy when the deacon, at Mass, proclaims the Gospel and announces the intentions of the Universal Prayer (the Prayer of the Faithful) in which the needs of all are presented to God.

The community is encouraged to celebrate the Mass with the deacons of the diocese as part of the Jubilee Year of Mercy. For more information, call St. Luke Parish at (904) 282-0439.

Earlier in Rome

Deacons and their families from all around the world made a pilgrimage to Rome, May 27 to 29, in order to participate in a major gathering on the occasion of the Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy. Pope Francis celebrated a Mass for deacons and their families at St. Peter’s on May 29.

The motto of the Holy Year, Merciful Like the Father, which is taken from the Gospel of Luke, serves as an invitation to follow the merciful example of the Father who asks us not to judge or condemn but to forgive and to give love and forgiveness without measure. Such a global convocation and ministry are closely associated with works of charity in the life of the Christian community, will serve to give witness to all that “mercy is the very foundation of the Church’s life.” (Pope Francis, Misericordiae vultus 10)

Click here to read the full text of Pope Francis’ Homily for the Jubilee Mass for Deacons