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My dear brothers in Christ,
While current events might have our rightful attention, I do not want to miss an opportunity to mark a significant milestone in the life of the Church here in the United States. I speak of the 50th Anniversary of the renewal of the Permanent Diaconate in our country.
As you know, we are richly blessed by the steadfast service of over 250 Permanent Deacons in our local church. Their work supports the pastoral efforts of you as Pastors, me as Archbishop, and the good people that all of us are ordained to serve.
I would like to acknowledge this milestone in a particular way this year on the Feast of Christ the King on Sunday, November 25th. I would like each of our parishes to make an effort of your own choosing, to celebrate the ministry of the Permanent Diaconate and the Deacons who serve here.
The staff of the Georgia Bulletin will be planning a special issue with their publication nearest November 25th. I encourage you, in your parishes, to plan whatever you deem to be an appropriate form of acknowledgment and thanks for the ministry of our deacons, both those currently serving and those who have died. This might include a bulletin article on the deacons who serve and have served in your parish, a simple parish reception after Sunday Masses, or something more festive on or near that Sunday.
Thank you for joining me in publicly recognizing and thanking our deacons for their responding to the call to serve the Lord and His Church in the ministry of Charity and Word.
Fraternally in Christ,
Wilton D. Gregory
Archbishop of Atlanta