National Directory for the Formation, Ministry and Life of Permanent ...

66Chapter 3attentiveness to the manifold physical, emotional, social, and spiritualneeds of people in his immediate environment and throughoutthe world reminds the Church that it is a servant-people sent into aneedy world. 61 Within this commitment to a strong social consciousness,an essential emphasis emerges: “The practice and the commandmentof love and mercy in everything which, in the spirit ofthe Gospel, gives priority to the poor.” 62The spirit ofthe GospelCatholic social teaching148. From its beginnings, the ministry of the deacon encompassedstewardship of the Church’s material goods, making evident theclaim of the poor on the resources of the community. Deaconshelped to ensure that the allocation of those resources made provisionfor meaningful assistance to those who suffered from poverty,hunger, homelessness, and disease. Today, the restored diaconatemaintains this traditional stewardship through its commitment tothe poor. The deacon’s service encompasses a witness to charity thatmay assume different forms, depending on what responsibilities thebishop assigns to the deacon. 63149. Although all those in sacred orders have a responsibility topreach justice, the deacon may have a particular advantage in bringingthis message to the laity because he lives and works in the secularworld. The deacon, because of his familiarity with the day-to-dayrealities and rhythms of the family, neighborhood, and workplace,can relate the rich tradition of Catholic social teaching to the practicalproblems experienced by people. He also may serve to link theCatholic Church to other Christian communities, other faith traditions,and civic organizations to address pressing social needs and tofoster a collaborative sharing of material resources and personnel inresponse to those needs. 64150. The deacon, as a servant of the Church’s ministry of charityand justice, helps the faith community to understand and carry outits baptismal responsibilities. Formation programs, therefore, canhelp the participant to grow in an understanding of the Church’steaching and tradition of social justice. They also can impart the skillsneeded for promoting that teaching in the marketplace, parish, anddiocese. Formation programming needs to provide opportunities toinclude an ever-deepening reflection upon the participant’s experienceand his growing commitment to the Church’s social teaching. 65