Deacons of the Diocese attend Jubilee talk by future Pope Leo XIV

Photo: L-R Susan Dowds Deacon Tom Gorman, Mary Ross, Deacon Michael Ross, Kieran Burt, Fr Mark Cassidy (Rector of the Scots College), Bishop Toal, Deacon Joe Dowds, Deacon Joe Gallagher, Deacon Bill McMillan, MaryAnn McMillan, Deacon Kevin Kirby, Margaret Gallagher, Hilary Kirby.

In the Easter edition of Fontes, Deacon Michael Ross wrote about the recent Pilgrimage the Permanent Deacons, along with their wives and Bishop Toal, made to Rome to celebrate the Holy Year. During their Pilgrimage, the Deacons attended a talk given by Cardinal Robert Prevost. Who would have imaged that a short time later he would become Pope Leo XIV. Read the full article from Deacon Michael below.

Deacons Pilgrimage to Rome for Jubilee

By Deacon Michael Ross

In mid-February of this year, six Deacons and five Deacons’ wives from the Diocese of Motherwell, under the leadership of Bishop Toal, travelled to Rome to attend the Jubilee of Deacons. Joining 5000 Deacons from across the world, the group journeyed through the Holy Doors, among other activities, and attended a weekend of talks and discussion culminating in Mass at St. Peter’s Basilica (and the ordinations of twenty-five new Deacons). An inspiring and uplifting event, one of the phrases repeated throughout the proceedings was that ‘…the restoration of the Diaconate is a gift to the Church.’

There were three central events during the Jubilee (including Mass at St. Peter’s). In the first event, ‘Concrete signs of hope in the ministry of Deacons’, held at the Basilica di Sant’ Andrea della Valle on Friday 21.02.25, His Eminence, Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, Prefect of the Dicastery of Bishops and President of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America gave a talk in which he shared a variety of comments made by Pope Francis (who was unwell and in Hospital at the time). The Cardinal noted that the purpose of this event was to allow ‘space’ for those attending to be filled by the Spirit and added that Deacons are the ‘custodians’ of service . He suggested that in a Synodal Church, we are called to walk together and to listen together and to become a ‘Diaconal Church’. As Deacons, Cardinal Prevost said, we are asked to have humble hearts inflamed by love.

The role of the Deacon’s wife was addressed by Cardinal Prevost on behalf of Pope Francis, and the Cardinal emphasised the importance of placing this issue on the agenda. The Deacon and his wife must seek to serve God in unity and the Deacon’s wife supports the Deacon both materially and spiritually. Importantly, the love between husband wife is a crucial part of the vocation of Deacon, and also serves as a witness to family life.

In the second session, ‘Deacons in a Synodal and Missionary Church: to be witnesses of hope’ held on Saturday, 22.02.25 in Auditorium Conciliazione, led by the South Korean Cardinal, His Eminence, Cardinal Lazarus You Heung-sik, Prefect of the Dicastery of the Clergy, a ‘snap-shot’ of the diaconate throughout the world was presented. Interestingly, there are 47,000 Deacons world-wide.

Of the ten nations represented, a variety of issues were raised. In the USA, Deacons were described as indispensable to parish life, while in many parts of Africa, low numbers of Deacons were the result of cultural misunderstandings and a lack of economic resources. In South America, where there appears to be a vibrant diaconate, issues of social justice were raised as of paramount importance, including, issues in the liberation of peoples, the promotion of the well-being of women and children, the protection of nature and issues in migration and international relations. On a cautionary note, it was observed that the Church has still to fully understand the role of the diaconate since its restoration in Vatican II.

However, it was observed that in a Synodal Church, the ministry of the Deacons was essential. Deacons guarantee the face of the Church by establishing love in action and are not social workers but ‘visible signs of Christ the Servant’. Further, Deacons are servants of hope, both the custodians and guardians of hope by reminding the Church to remember the poor, defined both in instances of material and existential poverty.

In our own Diocese, perhaps a number of issues, arising out of the Jubilee, are worth considering. For example, what constitutes the spirituality of the Diaconate? Additionally, how do we ensure that our vocation to service is fully enacted in our Parishes and across the Diocese? Perhaps these and other outstanding issues will be further addressed in a planned follow-up event scheduled for 2026 in Rome.

Read the Easter edition of Fontes.