August 14, 2019

YEAR FOR VOCATIONS: Deacon Donald Higby

REGIONAL

During this Year for Vocations in the Springfield Diocese, Catholic Communications has invited permanent deacons, both active and retired, to participate in a “mini-survey” by submitting answers to three questions. Their answers will be posted in The Catholic Mirror, on iobserve.org and the Catholic Communications Facebook page, and in the Parish Packet for use in parish bulletins.

Here are the responses from Deacon Donald Higby of St. Mary Parish, Longmeadow.

What gives you the most joy as a deacon?
The opportunity to bring Christ’s presence to people who are at the margins, in my case, especially the elderly, homebound, and nursing home residents.

What do you find most inspiring about the Catholic faith?
Its reasonableness, its long history of respecting truth wherever you find it.

What gives you hope for the future of vocations in the Catholic Church?
Small Catholic colleges which strive to be one with the church, out of which come a disproportionate number of vocations (for example, Christendom College, Franciscan University of Steiubenville, Thomas Aquinas College of California and Northfield, Mass.) The fact that students of these colleges enter the priesthood and religious life is one thing, but the fact that many serious Catholic families are made up of parents who graduated from such places and will be sources for future vocations also is significant.