Deacons live busy lives, working at jobs to secure their financial stability or in retirement to take on other roles, but always in the public eye.
Most deacons enter their lives of ministry as one half of a married couple, with their lives of service shared by those closest to them — their wives. While they do not seek to be recognized, they play important roles as part of the couple, both emotionally and intellectually.

Some people “juggle” more than others, and a deacon’s wife is no exception. Josie Weiler is a parish secretary at the cathedral in Belleville and also the wife of Deacon Wayne Weiler, ordained in 2013.
Josie describes her role as “far more fulfilling than I had even anticipated.”

The very brief gospel reading of this Sunday is a sequel to and summary of the Parable of the Good Shepherd. Between the presentation of the parable and its summary John quotes various statements connected with the parable. The parable had pointed out that the Good Shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. The expression, “lays down his life” is especially appropriate because a Palestinian shepherd brought the sheep into the fold or pen at night.