deacons and evangelization "go and make disciples of all nations" deacons and evangelization deacon...

Deacons and Evangelization "Go and Make Disciples of All Nations" Deacons and Evangelization Deacon William T. Ditewig, Ph.D. Professor of Theology Santa Clara University Director of Faith Formation, Diaconate and Planning Diocese of Monterey

Introduction "Go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit." "Go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit." Mission is easy; the details get complicated, especially for deacons, still "emerging" after nearly 50 years. Mission is easy; the details get complicated, especially for deacons, still "emerging" after nearly 50 years.

All About Evangelization 1. Renewed Evangelization and Diaconate: Common Foundation 2. Joyful Witness 3. Varied Renewal of the Order of Deacons 4. Obedience, Respect, Flexibility and Adaptation

Three Essential Assumptions: 1. Deacons only make sense within broader context of servant Church Analogy with "priestly people" and ministerial priesthood 2. "Vision of the Founders" 3. After nearly 50 years, Diaconate is still emerging from the shadows

"Emerging"? From what? From what? To what? To what? The experience of Diaconate in 2013 NOT the same as it was in 1967, which was NOT the same as it was in 67! The experience of Diaconate in 2013 NOT the same as it was in 1967, which was NOT the same as it was in 67! Also, not the same in Germany as Australia as India as the USA... Also, not the same in Germany as Australia as India as the USA...

Plus, not in a vacuum

During the Conference... 1. What was "the vision of the founders" for evangelization and diaconate? 2. "Novus Mentis Habitus" 3. Current realities, concerns, untapped potential: compare with vision?

Renewed Evangelization and Diaconate: Common Foundation Vatican II "Deacons are Apostles of the New Evangelization" (JPII)

Most Basic Question: WHY?

"Vatican II: That's when the Catholic Church...." Executive Officer, USS Billfish (SSN 676): "I remember Vatican II: that's when the Catholic Church sold out to.... Executive Officer, USS Billfish (SSN 676): "I remember Vatican II: that's when the Catholic Church sold out to....

1962-1965: What were YOU doing? What were you doing during the Council? What were you doing during the Council? Were you even alive? Were you ordained yet? What was your assignment? When was the first time you heard about "the Council? What did you think?

Current Example: Papal Retirement and Conclave 2013 Novus mentis habitus (John XXIII, Paul VI, JPII) Novus mentis habitus (John XXIII, Paul VI, JPII) Consider the "backgrounding" that went on Consider the "backgrounding" that went on What did they bring into the conclave? What were their hopes, dreams, expectations? On a massive scale, same happened before Vatican II

Last night, Pope Francis: "Instead of being just a church that welcomes and receives by keeping the doors open, let us try also to be a church that finds new roads,

Overnight, Pope Francis: that is able to step outside itself and go to those who do not attend Mass, those who have quit or are indifferent. The ones who quit sometimes do it for reasons that, if properly understood and assessed, can lead to a return.

Overnight, Pope Francis: But that takes audacity and courage."

To understand the church today, and our role in it, must first understand the vision behind the overall renewal

Paul VI: Everything was evangelization Vatican II: "The great Catechism of our times" Vatican II: "The great Catechism of our times" The role of Vatican II: "to make the Church of the twentieth century ever better fitted for proclaiming the Gospel" (EN, #2) The role of Vatican II: "to make the Church of the twentieth century ever better fitted for proclaiming the Gospel" (EN, #2)

Vatican II: Trajectories of Renewal What if you were heading into Vatican III? What if you were heading into Vatican III?

What did THEY bring? Average age in 1962: 62 Average age in 1962: 62 Cultures Cultures Experience Experience Priorities Priorities Nearly 9,000 proposed agenda items! Nearly 9,000 proposed agenda items!

A Little History: From 1900 - 1959

Just one horrific example

1933 1945: Dachau becomes incubator of ecclesial reform

Only the beginning....

Priests at Dachau Total Priests Incarcerated at Dachau: 2720 Total Priests Incarcerated at Dachau: 2720 Priests released: 314 Priests released: 314 Priests who died in camp: 1034 Priests who died in camp: 1034 Priests transferred to other camps: 132 Priests transferred to other camps: 132 Priests who survived the war: 1240 (less than half) Priests who survived the war: 1240 (less than half)

Dachau and Ecclesial Renewal? Clergy & Religious of all faiths: "no special treatment" Clergy & Religious of all faiths: "no special treatment" Der Priesterblock Der Priesterblock Incubator for renewal: "How must the Church change so that this does not happen again?" Incubator for renewal: "How must the Church change so that this does not happen again?"

Following the War.... Survivors begin to write and plan Survivors begin to write and plan New theologies emerge to deal with a new understanding about God New theologies emerge to deal with a new understanding about God Things had to change.... Things had to change....

Following the War, example: diaconate? Otto Pies, Wilhelm Schamoni Otto Pies, Wilhelm Schamoni Hannes Kramer and the "Diaconate Circles" Hannes Kramer and the "Diaconate Circles" Karl Rahner Karl Rahner International Catechetical Week, Assisi, 1956 International Catechetical Week, Assisi, 1956 Pius XII (1947, 1957) Pius XII (1947, 1957)

JPII on WWII "World War II: An abyss of violence, destruction and death unlike anything previously known." (2004 World Day of Peace Message) "World War II: An abyss of violence, destruction and death unlike anything previously known." (2004 World Day of Peace Message)

Vatican II: Response to WWII

What else going on October 1962? Barbara Streisand signs her first recording contract Barbara Streisand signs her first recording contract James Meredith enters U. of Mississippi James Meredith enters U. of Mississippi Johnny Carson hosts his first Tonight show Johnny Carson hosts his first Tonight show Ugandan independence from Britain Ugandan independence from Britain USSR tests nuke in atmosphere USSR tests nuke in atmosphere US tests nuke in atmosphere US tests nuke in atmosphere But the big news story... But the big news story...

Cuban Missile Crisis Pope John helps JFK and Kruschev reach a resolution Pope John helps JFK and Kruschev reach a resolution

John XXIII Reason for the Council: Evangelization "to assert again the teaching office of the Church... taking into account the errors, requirements and opportunities of our time... for all people throughout the world." (Opening Address, 11 October 1962) "to assert again the teaching office of the Church... taking into account the errors, requirements and opportunities of our time... for all people throughout the world." (Opening Address, 11 October 1962)

"Good Pope John" Violence inflicted on others, the might of arms, and political domination, are of no help at all in finding a happy solution to the grave problems which afflict them. That being so, the Catholic Church... desires to show herself to be the loving mother of all, benign, patient, full of mercy and goodness toward the brethren who are separated from her.

"Tantum Aurora Est!" John XXIII Blessed John XXIII challenged the Council Fathers and us to recognize that 'it is now just the dawn" of a new age for church and world. Blessed John XXIII challenged the Council Fathers and us to recognize that 'it is now just the dawn" of a new age for church and world.

The bishops speak to the world: "We wish to convey to all people and to all nations the message of salvation, love, and peace...." (Message to the World, October 20, 1962) "We wish to convey to all people and to all nations the message of salvation, love, and peace...." (Message to the World, October 20, 1962)

From the beginning of Council A New Way ("habit") of thinking (mentioned by many conciliar Fathers, as well as John XXIII, Paul VI, JPII, and now, Francis) A New Way ("habit") of thinking (mentioned by many conciliar Fathers, as well as John XXIII, Paul VI, JPII, and now, Francis) 70 draft documents, but all were rejected, either in whole or in part. 70 draft documents, but all were rejected, either in whole or in part. Bishops rejected the older, curial "way of thinking" Bishops rejected the older, curial "way of thinking" Inadequate to contemporary needs Inadequate to contemporary needs

Reform & Renewal Five critical areas: Five critical areas: Role of Bishops & their Relationship to the Pope (complements Vatican I) Role of the Laity Definition of Church Membership Relationship of Catholic church to other Christian churches Relationship of Church's mission to the life of the world

Role of Bishops Complemented & completed work of Vatican I Three basic questions: What is a Bishop? What is the unique role of the Bishop of Rome? How do they relate? Bishop is called by God. The sacramental identity of the bishop! Bishop is head of the local church, in communion with the Pope. [LG 26] Bishop is a vicar of Christ [LG 27]

Prior to Vatican II: "Find the Bishop!"

Role of Bishops Renewal of the Diaconate is tied directly to this renewal of the Episcopate

Bishops-Evangelization-Diakonia 24. Bishops, as successors of the apostles, receive from the Lord, to whom was given all power in heaven and on earth, the mission to teach all nations and to preach the Gospel to every creature, so that all may attain to salvation by faith, baptism and the fulfillment of the commandments.

Bishops-Evangelization-Diakonia 24. To fulfill this mission, Christ the Lord promised the Holy Spirit to the Apostles, and on Pentecost day sent the Spirit from heaven, by whose power they would be witnesses to Him before the nations and peoples and kings even to the ends of the earth. And that duty, which the Lord committed to the shepherds of His people, is a true service, which in sacred literature is significantly called "diakonia" or ministry.

Schema 13: Unique among all Documents "Schema 13" only schema to emerge at the Council itself; Suenens, first session "Schema 13" only schema to emerge at the Council itself; Suenens, first session At the urging of the bishops themselves, not the curia At the urging of the bishops themselves, not the curia Drafted in FRENCH Drafted in FRENCH Working groups around the world Working groups around the world

Gaudium et spes 4. The Church has always had the duty of scrutinizing the signs of the times and of interpreting them in the light of the Gospel. Thus, in language intelligible to each generation, she can respond to the perennial questions which people ask about this present life and the life to come, and about the relationship of the one to the other. We must therefore recognize and understand the world in which we live, its explanations, its longings, and its often dramatic characteristics. 40. She serves as a leaven and as a kind of soul for human society as it is to be renewed in Christ and transformed into God's family.

Importance of the Schema "It is precisely in this document that the proof will out: whether the institutional church considers herself the be- all and end-all, or whether she deems herself an instrument in the hands of Christ, at the service of all mankind." Dutch Dominican Edward Schillebeeckx, 1964 "It is precisely in this document that the proof will out: whether the institutional church considers herself the be- all and end-all, or whether she deems herself an instrument in the hands of Christ, at the service of all mankind." Dutch Dominican Edward Schillebeeckx, 1964

Was he correct? New Church Identity: Servant We stress that the teaching of the Council is channeled in one direction: the SERVICE of human kind, of every condition, in every weakness and need. The Church has declared herself a servant of humanity at the very time when her teaching role and her pastoral government have, by reason of this Council, assumed greater splendor and vigor. However, the idea of SERVICE has been central. We stress that the teaching of the Council is channeled in one direction: the SERVICE of human kind, of every condition, in every weakness and need. The Church has declared herself a servant of humanity at the very time when her teaching role and her pastoral government have, by reason of this Council, assumed greater splendor and vigor. However, the idea of SERVICE has been central.

Paul VI: Animator of Evangelization & Diaconate Diaconate: Sacrum Diaconatus Ordinem (1967); Ad Pascendum & Ministeria Quaedam (1972) Diaconate: Sacrum Diaconatus Ordinem (1967); Ad Pascendum & Ministeria Quaedam (1972) Evangelization (Evangelii Nuntiandi) (1975) Evangelization (Evangelii Nuntiandi) (1975)

Vatican II and the Diaconate: "Vision of the Founders"

Who Had the Vision? Majority of supporters were from Europe (especially Spain, Germany, France, the Netherlands and countries of Eastern Europe) Majority of supporters were from Europe (especially Spain, Germany, France, the Netherlands and countries of Eastern Europe) Others were bishops from Latin America, Africa, and Asia (especially Micronesia, Indonesia, India and Pakistan). Others were bishops from Latin America, Africa, and Asia (especially Micronesia, Indonesia, India and Pakistan).

The Deacon at the Council 16 proposals (71 bishops) on functions of deacons. Speak of deacons of "mature age" (40); age of deacons will be a topic of discussion during the later debate, AND LOWERED it to 35. 16 proposals (71 bishops) on functions of deacons. Speak of deacons of "mature age" (40); age of deacons will be a topic of discussion during the later debate, AND LOWERED it to 35. Specific functions: Specific functions: "experienced catechist" parish administration administration of church goods and property official preaching and teaching presiding at Extreme Unction and other sacramental ministries Deacon is a recognized leader in the community, not a person new or inexperienced in ministry. Deacon is a recognized leader in the community, not a person new or inexperienced in ministry.