Ordination to the Diaconate of Brother Ciarán Egan
Homily of Bishop Paul Dempsey
St Kevin’s, Harrington Street July 21, 2024
We gather on this special day in the life of Brother Ciarán and his family and the Oratorian community as he offers his life in service to the Lord and the Church in the Diaconate. Before we reflect upon the deep meaning of this very important step in Brother Ciarán’s life, I want to refer to another very important moment in his life when his family gathered with him in circumstances somewhat similar to today – a day you don’t remember, Ciarán, because it was the day you were baptised. On that day you were immersed into the life of Christ. You became a son of God the Father, a brother of Jesus Christ, a temple of the Holy Spirit and a member of God’s family, the Church.
In baptism we are all called to be disciples of Jesus Christ and we live out our discipleship in different ways. Some follow the way of married life, some the single life, others the way of religious life and for some the way of priesthood.
Over the years, Ciarán, through your experience of life and faith, you heard the call of Christ deep within your heart. Through prayer and discernment, you have followed that call and it has led you to this day, the day you are to be ordained Deacon as you continue the journey towards the Priesthood.
However, it would be a mistake just to see the Diaconate as a mere step towards the Priesthood. The Diaconate has a significant place in the life of the Church going right back to its beginnings. We hear in the Acts of the Apostles how seven men were appointed by the Apostles to assist them in their daily ministry. Through prayer and the laying on of hands they were entrusted with the ministry of service, particularly with serving at table. It was a ministry that involved great humility.
This ministry of “diakonia” or service was rooted in the ministry of Jesus Christ, who offered himself in total service to the Father. Jesus reminds us of this in Luke 22:27: “I come among you as one who serves.” Following on from this, an essential character of a disciple of Jesus is one who serves. The ministry of Deacon is a reminder or an icon of this servanthood that is at the heart of the Church.
When we talk about the Church, we might ask ourselves: why does the Church exist? What is the task of the Church? The late Pope Benedict outlined the answer to these questions. He reminded us that there are three tasks of the Church. These are really helpful for us to understand the ministry Brother Ciarán is about to take on today. The three tasks of the Church named by Pope Benedict are: Worship, Evangelisation and Care of the Poor. Interestingly, the threefold ministry of the Deacon is based upon the Altar, the Word, and Charity. The tasks of the Church and the tasks of the Deacon are in parallel with one another.
The first task of the Church is Worship. The Deacon assists at the Altar, especially at the Eucharist, the “source and summit” of the Church’s life, the most profound act of Worship. Ciarán, may the Eucharist be at the heart of your life and ministry. May you approach the beauty of this mystery with humility. As you open your heart to the Eucharist may your relationship with the Lord grow ever deeper.
The second task of the Church is Evangelisation. At the heart of the Deacon’s ministry is the Word. The Deacon proclaims the Gospel and preaches the Word. The Word of God is at the heart of our calling as Christians. The Word outlines a deep love story, God’s love story for us. We need to hear that message more than ever today. Ciarán, we cannot preach the Word without first knowing the Lord. Through your prayerful reflection upon the Word of God may you draw closer to Christ and may you, through your preaching, share the beauty of your relationship with him and in that way reach out to many in the task of evangelisation today. The world needs to hear of the Lord’s love for us. Your ministry, immersed in the Word, offers you the opportunity to share that love.
The third task of the Church is to care for the Poor. The Deacon is the Minister of Charity. At the Last Supper, Jesus got down on his knees and washed the feet of the disciples. It is a profound image for us all to reflect upon. An image that perhaps captures the Ministry of Deacon in the most profound way of all. We are called to reach out to others, to listen, to serve, to help as Jesus himself did. The challenge for us all and for you, Ciarán, as Deacon, is not only to preach the Gospel but to live it and put it into action in your own life!
So the three tasks of the Church – Worship, Evangelisation and Care of the Poor – go hand in hand with the threefold ministry of the Deacon, namely service at the Altar, sharing and preaching the Word and being a minister of Charity.
The Gospel today shows how Jesus cared for his disciples, they had worked hard, he wanted them to have some rest. However, for Jesus himself, he didn’t take any rest. The people followed him, he didn’t turn them away, it was all unplanned, but he saw it as an opportunity to engage with them and share his message. Ministry has a strange way of doing that. Yes, we need to pace ourselves, but one never knows when opportunities emerge that enable us to engage with people and listen and share. The God of Surprises always opens moments for us, very often when we’re not expecting them. Be open to those grace filled moments.
In conclusion, I was reflecting upon the life of St Philip Neri, a man close to your heart. A man of prayer and preaching, but also a man of deep joy. That sense of joy has also been at the heart of the pontificate of Pope Francis. His Apostolic Exhortation Evangelii Gaudium reminded us of the “Gospel of Joy”. May your ministry as Deacon be filled with joy, Ciarán! Make sure to keep a sense of humour and be able to smile at life. Remember, the Lord is the one who is in charge, it doesn’t all depend upon us – thank God!
May the Lord who has begun this good work in you bring it to fulfilment.
