Donnie… A friendly, bear of a man. Italian to the bone with a heart… a heart that is big enough to totally surround you with love.
When Donnie and I first met–both of us in the 20+ weeks of Pastoral Prep Classes–he must have asked me every question about the Deacon Formation Program in the diocese that he’d ever had! No problem… I was more than willing to share.
He’s now less than a year away from ordination. I know he’s ready: I can hear it… no feel it when we talk. What a permanent deacon he will be! Even though he was two years behind me in the “1st Year Class”, he was light years ahead of me in thinking about his call to vocation.
Donnie wrote a very moving note to “His Band of Brothers” a year ago. I was just a
month away from my ordination and thinking about all that lay ahead. When I received his note, his words moved me: both emotionally and physically. Within a day or two of Donnie sharing his experience, I put together my “Deacon Kit”. I carry it with me all the time. It has everything that he mentioned, and more…
Thanks to Donnie for letting me share this. Post a comment or drop me an e-mail. I’ll share it with Donnie and with his class.
Filed under: Ministry, Service | Tagged: deacon, Ministry, prepared, vocation
Hi Tim,
What a wonderful reflection. I just started my internship at a local hospital and this serves as a wake-up call to always be prepared. I hope you don’t mind, but I wanted to cross-post this on my new forum with all attributions. I would like to personally invite you and your friend and anyone you think would benefit from another resource to diaconal ministry at http://www.deaconspath.com. An extension to my Diaconate journey blog, http://www.cascadecatholic.com.
May God Bless you,
Al
Al – Certainly… please share. Donnie was so “on-target” and his message can really help all of us.
Blessings – Dc. Tim