Abstract
The purpose of this paper is to assess the spirituality of the deacons in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany and to develop recommendations for a pastoral response if one is needed. This study addresses a number of concerns and questions, including which elements add to the spirituality of the deacon and which practices detract from that spirituality. In regard to this credible concern, the researcher closely examined spiritual elements of "spiritual direction," an "annual spiritual retreat," and "deacon support groups" for this project. This paper also examines how the spiritual, physical and emotional union of marriage help reinforce and play a significant role in the spiritual life of the deacon and how the union of marriage affects the spiritual elements of spiritual direction, spiritual retreats and support groups.

Table of Contents:
THE ALBANY DIOCESE IN A TIME OF CHANGE/TRANSITION: PROBLEMS, NEEDS AND HOPES
A SURVEY OF THE SPIRITUAL PRACTICES OF TEN DEACONS AND DEACONS' WIVES
PERSPECTIVES ON DIACONAL SPIRITUALITY
INCREASING OUR AWARENESS OF EXPERIENCE AND TRANSFORMATION
A CONVERSATION BETWEEN ACADEMICS AND PRACTICE
PASTORAL RESPONSE
Appendix

From the Paper
"Through a brief history, a look at the geographic makeup, facts about population shifts since World War II, along with facts and analysis of the demographics of the diocese at present/projected, this study's introductory chapter surveys the contemporary demographic, social, economic and political realities of the place where deacons minister for the Albany Diocese. During this study, the researcher develops a contextual picture of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany through information from the United States Census Bureau, the Center for Applied Research for the Apostolate (CARA), DemoReports and interviews from two diocesan leaders, Sister Maureen Joyce, Director of Catholic Charities for the Diocese of Albany, and Mr. Jack Manning, Director of Pastoral Planning for the Diocese of Albany.
"Also, in this study, the researcher summarizes the diocesan pastoral planning program, Called to Be Church (CTBC). The researcher utilizes results of this planning program, involving all parts of the diocese, as a guideline for how the diocese will function and address the needs of the parishioners, as well as the people of God in the Albany Diocese for the future.
"Since its founding in 1847 until the present, the diocese has experienced continual growth; experiencing a positive priest to people ratio. The Buffalo Diocese, founded at the same time, encompassed all the upstate counties with the Albany Diocese. The upstate area included all counties outside of New York City and the counties contiguous with New York City. In 1886, after the dioceses of Ogdensburg and Syracuse were formed, the diocese became the 14 counties (including the partial county, Hamilton) comprising it today."

Tags:Roman Catholic Church, deacon church pastor diocese

Abstract
The paper analyzes the differences in the role and status of women within Christianity in the United States and Hinduism in India. It looks at the history of women in religion and notes how the role of the women has evolved in the United States. There are now women ministers and deacons within the Christian Church in the United States. However, women within the Hindu religion in India are still submissive with few rights. The paper looks at the history behind the changing role of the woman within Christianity in the United States and concludes that Hindu women in India must follow this example and fight for their rights.

From the Paper
"What would religion be like without women? Are women important in religion? Women throughout history have played different roles in different religion, but most of the time women were submissive to men. Women would never dream of becoming a minister or involved in the leadership of the religion regardless which religion it was. Today, women play more roles in leadership than ever before. Christianity in the United States and their role of women is different than Hinduism in India and their role of women. Christianity in the United States allows women to become leaders in the church such as a minister or a deacon, while Hinduism in India's role of women are required to be submissive with few rights. As women of the Christian faith have fought for rights in America to become ministers, deacons, and other leadership roles, women of the Hindu faith must receive more rights and stop being submissive to men."

Tags:hinduism, christianity, women

Abstract
The paper argues that children need physical exercise in order to be in optimum health; children spend most of their week days in school, and so it is important that they get some exercise during this time period. Moreover, the paper reveals that research has found that people who have active lifestyles as children, usually have active and healthy lives as adults (Deacon). The paper goes on to discuss how the BC Department of Education has recognized these facts, and to that end has expended considerable time on trying to devise ways to support teachers in increasing the amount of physical activity children do.

From the Paper
"It is an established fact that children need physical exercise in order to be in optimum health. As children spend most of their week days in school, it is important that they get some exercise during this time period. Moreover, research has found that people who have active lifestyles as children, usually have active and healthy lives as adults (Deacon). The BC Department of Education has recognized these facts, and to that end has expended considerable time on trying to devise ways to support teachers in increasing the amount of physical activity children do. This is a report on what schools and teachers are doing to provide more physical activity..."

Tags:physical, education, bc

Abstract
This paper discusses the case of Deacon Blue, a twenty two year old male from Belfast who has been found in possession of drugs. The paper discusses his situation and the mitigating circumstances from both his past and present life that should affect the sentence he is given. The paper presents a pre-sentence report and offers possible alternatives to a prison term, particularly a custodial sentence.

Table of Contents:
Introduction
The Offender In His Or Her Life Setting
Offence Analysis
Risk Of Harm To Public And Likelihood And Re-Offending
Conclusion

From the Paper
"Having assessed Deacons history, circumstances and offences I propose that a custodial sentence is unsuitable in this case. Indeed, it is likely that such a sentence would produce more negative connotations and positive ones. At the moment Deacon seems to be committed to his family and helping himself out of the current malaise. The imposition of a prison sentence would go a long way to destroying the prospects of both. In this instance, a community sentence would be more appropriate along with a clear and definitive warning that any future infractions would result in a prison term. Furthermore, as Deacon has responded well to anti drug education in the past, I would recommend that such avenues be pursued to a greater extent. It is difficult to see what logical benefit could be derived from incarceration, whether for Deacon, his family or the wider community."

Tags:cannabis, drugs, community, offender

Abstract
This paper discusses the background and history of St. Anathasius, the 20th Patriarch of Alexandria. It describes some of his contributions to the Christian Church, in which he served as both bishop and deacon. The paper discusses some of the works that St. Anathasius is best known for and describes an apolytikion that was based on his influence and is still sung today.

From the Paper
"Beyond his involvement with the Nicene Creed, Anthanasius served his time as bishop in many other constructive and influential ways. Known around the world for the high quality of their astronomers, the bishop of Alexandria had a duty to write to all the other bishops every year to inform them what the correct date for Easter would be. These letters were called Easter, or Paschal Letters. Anthanasius took this duty very seriously and his letters contained other information as well. One letter, for example, Since Alexandria had the best astronomers, it was the duty of the Bishop of Alexandria to write to the other bishops every year and tell them the correct date for Easter. Naturally, his annual letter on this topic contained other material as well. On such Paschal Letter that Anthanasius is well known for, often referred to as his 39th Festal Letter gives a list of the books that should be considered part of the canonical Scriptures. He also listed several books suitable for devotional reading (Forbes & Washbourne)."

Tags:Paschal, scriptures, Nicene

Abstract
One may find it quite easy to stand with the Reverend Thornton Stringfellow concerning his views of the institution of slavery. As a deacon of the 19th century Protestant Episcopal Church, Stringfellow brought a clear understanding of the traditional beliefs of his congregation. The paper shows how the argument in favor of slavery is substantiated point for point by the Scripture of the Old and New Testament. The paper examines Stringfellow's views from his time period and shows how the issues could be applied to present day scenarios of sweat shops and child labor.

From the Paper
"If one uses the Bible to determine their morality then Reverend Stringfellow throws a monkey wrench into the abolitionist's way of thinking. He requires that they re-think their morality, which they are so fond of defining with the words right and wrong. It is the duty of the servant to render service with good will to his master, writes Stringfellow. The mercy shown in Biblical times to prisoners was indeed great. Slavery in the South, though not introduced by war, was still a great mercy to those who found themselves in a strange country full of strange people. Was it right to capture others in the first place? That was an economic decision supported by the law of the period. The sincerities of the relationships between master and slave are more desirous than the onerous relationship between sweatshop owner and child laborer."

Tags:abolitionist, Jesus, economics

Abstract
This paper analyzes the role of the permanent diaconate in terms of biblical prophecy. The author points out that the source of prophecy as profound spiritual need among masses of people in the Old Testament. The paper states that its Christian expression is in the New Testament.

From the Paper
"Biblical prophecy in the Old Testament grows in significant part out of the evidence of profound spiritual need among the mass of people. Old Testament prophecies provide a cosmic universal explanation for the decline of the Jewish people. In the books of Amos, ..."

Tags:permanent, diaconate, deacons, Catholic, Church

Abstract
This essay compares the Christian religion prior to and after the rise of Constantine from A.D. 50 to A.D. 100. The author examines the influence Constantine had on Christianity in forming a single unified Orthodox Roman Church.

From the Paper
"When Constantine the Great took the throne in A.D. 306, Christianity began to be more clearly adopted as the religion of the Roman imperial government. While a struggle for spiritual authority had been going on since the time of Jesus, it was from this official embrace of Constantine that the idea of forming a single, unified and orthodox Roman church began to develop."

Tags:imperial, government, religion, bishops, priests, patriarchal, Gospel, deacons

Abstract
Nathaniel Hawthorne's short story "Young Goodman Brown" is an allegorical account of a young man's journey one dark night into the forest outside of Salem to meet with the Devil. The paper discusses how, after the night of his journey, Brown can never look at another person without seeing that individual's hidden sin and hypocrisy and he loses his faith in religion, along with his faith in mankind. The paper focuses on the theme of truths in the novel, especially the one truth emphasized by Hawthorne, that every human, no matter how pious he or she claims to be, has not only the potential to be a sinner in thought and action, but also has committed some sort of sin.

From the Paper
"Oblivious to everything except man's potential to sin, Brown becomes suspicious of every person with whom he comes into contact. He begins to see evil where none exists. Returning home from his journey the following morning, Brown observes Goody Cloyse catechizing a young girl of the village. Brown ". . . [snatches] away the child, as from the grasp of the fiend himself" (128). At this moment, he forgets that Goody is the godly woman who once taught him his own catechism. From then on, Brown is "a stern, a sad, a darkly meditative, a distrustful, if not a desperate man" and finds listening to the church congregation sing psalms, as well as hearing the minister preach, almost unbearable. Indeed, being in church causes him to "turn pale, dreading, lest the roof should thunder down upon the gray blasphemer and his hearers" (129)."

Tags:Deacon, Gookin, Goody, Cloyse

Abstract
This paper analyzes the book "Paradise" by Toni Morrison and discusses the issues raised by the storyline. The writer illustrates how the central characters of the book create a society just as abhorrent as the one they escape from.

From the Paper
"However, there is a yin and yang to life, and without one the other cannot exist. Without fear and dread there can be no paradise and Eden, because without the two sides of the coin, the good and the bad, the joy and the sorrow, there can be no appreciation of paradise. We wouldn't be able to recognize it."

Tags:racism, ruby, oklahoma, deacon, coffee, tea