In letter to Joliet, Archbishop Hicks reveals he received the call to be Archbishop of New York on December 9, the feast of St. Juan Diego, saying that it “is a reminder that sometimes God calls us to things that feel beyond us, but with grace and faith, we can answer yes.”

"I have a pastoral heart. The leadership style is one of a pastor who tries to be a spiritual father, a collaborator, a listener. Some people are surprised when they heard that I’m an introvert." thedeaconsbench.com/its-hicks-illi…

Hegseth moves to overhaul chaplain corps thedeaconsbench.com/hegseth-moves-…

This has become a prevailing theme in Leo’s messages. Several times in the early days of his papacy, Pope Leo has gone back to the theme of service and serving others, underscoring how central this is to the Christian life, and especially his papacy. thedeaconsbench.com/peace-be-with-…

"The ministry of the permanent deacon, configured to Christ the Servant, is a living sign not of a superficial love but one that bends down, listens and gives generously..." thedeaconsbench.com/pope-leo-on-pr…

There’s not a good time to tell your peeps you’re now marching to the beat of a faster drummer — but the season of Advent isn’t the worst. As a Christian, the weeks running up to Christmas are a time to orient our hearts toward the hope of what’s to come. thedeaconsbench.com/the-bitterswee…

‘We’re Not That Far from Bethlehem’ thedeaconsbench.com/were-not-that-…

Each of us is living in our own Nazareth, a place of everyday life, and everyday problems. And we pray each day to find in our own Nazareth some kind of grace. thedeaconsbench.com/grace-is-every…

Living in an age of martyrs: 17 church workers murdered in 2025 thedeaconsbench.com/in-an-age-of-m…

‘The Deacon magazine is still alive and well…’ thedeaconsbench.com/the-deacon-mag…

Dorothy Day's New Years Resolutions amywelborn.wordpress.com/2025/12/31/dor… via Amy Welborn

Worth a thousand words thedeaconsbench.com/worth-a-thousa…

A new year, a new pastoral staff for Pope Leo thedeaconsbench.com/a-new-year-a-n…