Archbishop challenges deacons to act on Dilexi te

Archbishop Alexander Sample facilitated this week’s retreat for deacons and their wives and offered a focused reflection on Pope Leo XIV’s Apostolic Exhortation Dilexi te (“I Have Loved You”).

In reviewing the exhortation, the Archbishop noted how Pope Leo points to the earliest deacons of the Church as clear models of service. He referenced St. Stephen, the first martyr, and St. Lawrence, who identified the poor and suffering as the true “treasures of the Church.”

Archbishop Sample explained that the diaconal vocation places deacons at the forefront as “servants of charity,” providing a concrete sign of a Church that welcomes and supports those on the margins.

The full text of Dilexi Te is available on the Vatican website for further reading and application.