With the synod and the resulting confusion from it, what does the Catholic Church actually say about women being ordained deacons? Can it happen? Who were deaconesses? What is Pope Francis saying? Joining Fr. Chris Alar as he explains what the Diaconate is, who St. Stephen was, and why we celebrate his feast day on December 26.

Saint Stephen, whose feast day we celebrate on Dec. 26, is one of the first ordained deacons of the Church and the first Christian martyr we read about in the Bible. Father Chris Alar, MIC, explains the clerical state of the diaconate, and reminds us that Catholic priests are also ordained deacons. Then Fr. Mark Baron, MIC, sits down with Bishop William Byrne of the Diocese of Springfield, Massachusetts, to discuss the true meaning of Christmas.

We are all called by God to a vocation, whether to consecrated life and serving Him; to the single life; or to marriage – we are all called to holiness. Father Donald Calloway, MIC, explains what a vocation is, and how to hear God telling you what your vocation might be. Then hear the story of Burke Masters, who thought his vocation was to be a Major League baseball player, but then God threw him a curveball.