“Receive the Gospel of Christ whose herald you now are
believe what you read, teach what you believe, and practice what you preach.”

Sixteen years ago today, I was ordained deacon by Bishop George Stack, then auxiliary bishop of Westminster, at the Church of the Immaculate Conception in Farm Street, London.

As a priest, it is good to remind myself that I am a deacon too [1]. My ordination to the priesthood has not erased my diaconate, nor is it a promotion in rank. I am reminded of this every Holy Thursday, at the washing of the feet, where we recall Christ’s mandatum or commandment (hence Maundy Thursday):

So if I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet.

John 13,14

Though Luke doesn’t narrate the washing of the feet, he does include the discussion about greatness, where Jesus states:

For who is greater, the one who is at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one at the table? But I am among you as one who serves (ὡς ὁ διακονῶν / hôs ho diakonôn) [2]

Luke 22,27

As a priest, I find it a deeply moving moment, removing the festive chasuble, and girding myself, to be on my knees, at people’s feet. Called to conform myself to Christ the deacon, a reminder that our call to ministry, and even more radically our very baptismal call, is a call to conform ourself to Christ, and live by the commandment of love, a love that is service.

Footnote:
[1] <rant> This is why I find the term transitional deacon quite inappropriate and misleading. The diaconate I received, and to which I am called, is no less permanent. It’s not like some chrysalis stage, after which we transition into butterflies, losing our pupa stage of life in the process. Once a deacon, always a deacon.</rant over>

[2] in Greek, ὡς ὁ διακονῶν / hôs ho diakonôn, literally like a deacon/servant.