This summer, deacons of the Archdiocese of Atlanta will emulate the first deacons of the Church, serving the poor and sharing in the preaching and baptizing duties of the parishes to which they will be assigned.

This was announced by Archbishop Paul J. Hallinan, who said that the deacon program will be on an experimental basis. They will work under the direction of pastors and will be able to distribute Holy Communion, both in the Church and to the sick.

Archbishop Hallinan said, “An ‘active diaconate.’ besides being of real help to the parish, will also provide a good ‘apprenticeship’ to our deacons as they begin their final year of preparation for our diocesan priesthood.”

The text of the archbishop’s statement follows:

“In the early centuries of Christianity, the deacons had significant duties in the Church. Today the order of the diacontate is only a steppingstone on the way to the priesthood. To emphasize its importance, and to give our people a better view of the varied sacred tasks, the Archdiocese of Atlanta this summer will inaugurate, on an experimental basis, a program for the three young men who are about to enter their ‘deacon year’ in their student preparation for the diocesan priesthood.

“At the close of their fifth year of seminary study, they will be ordained sub-deacons at St. Mary’s Seminary in Baltimore, placing upon each the vow of celibacy and the obligation of reciting daily the Divine office. Then, on June 8, 1963, at the Cathedral here in Atlanta, Rev. Mr. Michael A. Morris, Rev. Mr. Edward A. Danneker, and Rev. Mr. James F. Schearer will then be ordained deacons. They will be assigned for seven weeks to three Atlanta city parishes.

“In the Roman Pontifical, the deacon’s role is described as follows: ‘The deacon must serve at the altar, baptize and preach.’ Accordingly, these three young men, under the direction of the pastors, will share in the preaching and baptizing duties of the parish. They cannot offer Mass, but they can distribute Holy Communion, both in church and to the sick, deacons (Acts, 6^th chapter), their roles have been ‘the service of tables’, the care of the poor, it is our plan that they should work closely with the parish St. Vincent de Paul Society. And since this service to the Church goes beyond material things, the weekday duties of our deacons will include instructions and census follow-up. All of the tasks, of course, will be under the direction of the pastors.

“An ‘active diaconate’ besides being of real help to the parish, will also provide a good ‘apprenticeship’ to our deacons as they begin their final year of preparation for our diocesan priesthood.”