And they said it wouldn’t last.
I’m marking my first week here at Beliefnet, after two years at my previous address, and so far, so good. I haven’t broken anything, and the Pope hasn’t called to complain. I’d say we’re off to a great start.
If you’re new here, welcome! Last week, I posted a brief hello and an explanation. I was distracted by the moving men and trying to figure out where to plug in the coffee pot, but now that I’m more or less settled in here, I can offer a few more words about myself and what I hope to do here.
First, as you can tell from my biography (conveniently located on the upper right hand corner of the blog), I’m a Permanent Deacon serving the Roman Catholic Diocese of Brooklyn. I was ordained in 2007. I started this blog shortly after that. For 26 years, I was a writer and producer at CBS News, straddling two very different worlds, until last year, when I decided (as my bishop likes to say) “to put out into the deep,” and work full time for the Church. I accepted an offer to become the first Director of News for New Evangelization Television, or The NET, the cable channel for the Diocese of Brooklyn. There, I’ve created the first-ever daily 30-minute Catholic news show, “Currents.”
And here I am.
Earlier this year, I wrote about my adventures wading into the Catholic blogosphere:
I wanted to stake out territory that was home to most American Catholics, or at least those I encountered in my ministry: the observant and thoughtful churchgoing people who were curious about the faith, showed up every Sunday for Mass with their envelopes and sleepy children, and did not cling to extremes of either the right or the left. I was looking to capture the middle ground.
That is still the territory I want to capture. I hope you’ll find here many differing viewpoints and views, allowing many voices from our big, crazy, quarrelsome Church to be heard. I have no agenda to push, no axe to grind, no fingers to point. I’m just sitting here at my bench, watching it all unfold with curiosity and humor and no small amount of awe.
I’ll be posting news items, along with my weekly homilies. (If you want to observe a naked deacon, just look in the pulpit on Sunday. That’s where we deacons stand, fully revealed, warts and all. Fortunately, my pulpit is high and almost covers my chest.) My homilies cover a wide array of subjects, from parish life to our all-encompassing Church to Ash Wednesday and, of course, Christmas.
I hope you’ll keep coming back, as I survey the passing scene, link to stories and commentaries, and invite you to offer your own ideas about what you see and hear. I have only one bias, and that is an abiding love of my faith, and a desire to share it.
So as I light my candle and mark this day, my wish is that this little enterprise will do whatever God intends it to do, and that it will serve Him, even as I serve Him, week after week at His altar.
Happy anniversary!
posted October 2, 2009 at 7:23 am
Deacon Greg, Happy One Week! It has been great to watch this shift and I think you are doing great.
As for the Pope not calling, well, let’s just say that he was talked out of it for now, but be aware…. I kid, I kid. I think if the Holy Father were to call you, it would be to offer congratulations, blessings and prayers.
posted October 2, 2009 at 8:39 am
Greg,
Nice digs!! May God continue to bless your ministry as you guide us through this sometimes challenging world.
Christ’s Peace,
John
posted October 2, 2009 at 10:13 am
Congratulations on the shift, Dcn. Greg. I pray that you’ll be able to reach an even wider audience here.
And kudos for lighting a candle rather than cursing the darkness!
All the best,
Steve
posted October 2, 2009 at 2:01 pm
I have been following your blog pretty much since you began, however this is the first time I’m commenting.Congratulations on the move. More people will benefit from your perspective.
Continued blessings on you ministry both in cyberspace and in the parish.
In the Peace of Christ
Deacon Ed
posted October 2, 2009 at 4:13 pm
The Deacon’s Bench is a bright spot in my day and an inspiration to my vocation. Congratulations and continued blessings.