May 13, 2026 “I’m not sure I know anyone else who would say giving an hour-long presentation to a room full of people made for an awesome day at work,” my friend said. “I had a better audience – a better room full of people – than anyone else,” I responded. This week, I had the privilege of spending a day with the deacons and their wives at the annual Deacon Assembly in Lake Placid (see photos here). Though I wasn’t presenting to the assembly until the afternoon, I arrived just before 9:30 to attend Mass and take pictures. After Mass, it was a blessing to join the deacons and their wives for lunch and for social time before my presentation. There’s nothing like spending time with a person who has the peace and joy of Christ. This was like doing that times eleventy billion. This was a room full of people who were vibrantly alive and joyful but also peaceful – people who are rooted in and reflect the love of Christ. “Getting to do stuff like that is life giving,” I told my friend. Being around so much joy and peace, I walked out feeling more joyful and peaceful. Being around those wonderful men and women makes me want more of that peace and joy. It makes me want to be closer to Christ so I can grow in his joy and peace. That experience also reminded me how important it is for me to reflect Christ’s joy and peace and how doing so can help Christ draw others to himself the way it drew me to him. I’m not always the best at doing that. It was also a good reminder of how amazing our deacons and their wives really are. Looking around that room, I saw men and women who serve our parishes, youth/children, the elderly, the sick, the dying, the poor, the unborn, the imprisoned, the dead… I saw people who love Christ, his Church and each other and who serve Christ, his Church and each other. That really is an awesome day of work. |
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