A Light in the Night
To hope is to wait for something that has already been given to us: salvation in the eternal and infinite love of God, that love, that salvation, that gives flavor to our life and that constitutes the cornerstone on which the world remains standing…
To hope is to savor the wonder of being loved , sought, and desired by a God who did not hide in his impenetrable skies but became flesh and blood, history and days to share our fate.
Pope Francis
The Monstrance at the Old Ursuline Convent
While working on the strategic diaconate initiatives project of The 4:12 Pathways for Pastoral Leadership grant, I seized the opportunity to visit the Old Ursuline Convent located in the French Quarter of New Orleans. The Convent is one of the city’s most...
Deacon Ray Duplechain Featured in the Clarion Herald from the Archdiocese of New Orleans, LA
Duplechain was ordained as a permanent deacon in 1996, and he is now the director of the Archdiocesan Office of the Permanent Diaconate.
A Pilgrimage of Hope
Pope Francis designated the Holy Year 2025 as a time to renew ourselves as pilgrims of hope. Deacon Andy Saunders journeyed as a pilgrim to Rome during the Jubilee Year along with deacons from around the world. The following reflects his experience in Rome as A Pilgrim of Hope.
A Chance Encounter with a Former Student and the Future Pope
Deacon Andrew Saunders reflects on his chance encounter with a former student, Deacon Joe Stillo and the future Pope Leo XIV at Sant’ Andrea della Valle in Rome.
A Pilgrimage of Hope to Rome
In this video Deacon Andy Saunders reflects on his pilgrimage to Rome as part of the Jubilee Year of Hope declared by Pope Francis. To see the video, hear the podcast, or read the reflection click on the read more below. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h4iuZA4iwJk A...
A Deacon Pope – A Reflection on Pope Francis by Deacon Stephen Kern
Pope Francis was a deacon. Indeed, we could say that every pope is a deacon. The deacon is the lowest of the three orders of the sacrament of Holy Orders, with priest being the second order and bishop being the highest order. When you are ordained a deacon, we...
Pilgrims of Hope
Just before the beginning of Lent, I had the privileged opportunity to go to Rome for two weeks to attend an international conference on the diaconate and then participate in the Jubilee of Deacons. It was part of the yearlong Jubilee Year celebration, Pilgrims of...
Deacon Andy reflects on climbing the Holy Stairs in Rome
Just before the start of Lent I was in Rome on a pilgrimage. One of the churches I visited was the Pontificio Santuario della Scala Santa. It is more commonly known as Scala Santa or, in English, the Holy Stairs. Tradition tells us the staircase in the church is from...
Deacon Andy Saunders discusses permanent diaconate at Lay Centre
By Anastasia Pinto The Jubilee of Deacons, celebrated in Rome from February 21-23, provided a wonderful occasion for us at The Lay Centre to welcome Deacon Andrew Saunders on February 26 for our weekly community evening. Deacon Andrew, currently serving as co-director...
The 4:12 Pathway collaborates with the Archdiocese of New Orleans
Deacon Andrew Saunders, Co-Director of the 4:12 Pathway for Pastoral Leadership grant, Immaculate Conception Seminary School of Theology traveled to New Orleans from January 28 to January 31, 2025, to collaborate with Deacon Ray Duplechain, Director of the Permanent...
Statute of the Blessed Virgin Mother at Immaculate Conception Seminary School of Theology