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by Michael J. Tkacik (Author)
The Second Vatican Council committed the Catholic Church to the service of the world when it defined the church to be missionary by nature and a sacrament pointing to and making Christ present to all. Such a vision of the church informed the restoration of the permanent diaconate within the ministerial life of the church--a vocation and participation in Holy Orders endowed precisely with the charism of service. Deacons are called and ordained to serve in the areas of sacrament, word, and charity. This work considers the place and role of deacons in the life of the contemporary church through the lens of the ecclesiological reforms of the Second Vatican Council. Via their preaching, teaching, and sacramental ministry, deacons are uniquely gifted and positioned to empower the lay faithful and advance the church's engagement with the world, commitment to ecumenism and interreligious dialogue, promotion of peace, and championing of human dignity.
Author Biography
Michael J. Tkacik is Associate Professor of Theology at Saint Leo University in Florida. Dr. Tkacik has also served as the Secretary for Ministries for the Diocese of St. Petersburg. He holds a BA in Religion and Philosophy from Auburn University, an MA in Theology from Providence College, and a PhD in Systematic Theology from Duquesne University. His professional interests include the sacramentology and ecclesiology of Vatican II, ecumenism, and interreligious dialogue.
