A Hearty Welcome

to something old and something new...

A very hearty welcome to you at the newly minted pages of Alb & Stole. If you're seeing this for the first time, you probably just dropped in and wondered what this is about, who I am, and why I'm taking the time to write this Substack blog/ newsletter. I'm a Catholic deacon in the Diocese of Knoxville, Tennessee. I've been married to my wife for the last eighteen years, and I have two daughters who are currently seven years and two years old, and while our youngest is too young for schooling just yet, our oldest is currently homeschooled. In the midst of all of the difficulties in dealing with the obstacles of the COVID-19 pandemic, I've been trying to get my oldest ready for her First Holy Communion, which has finally happened in the last couple of weeks.

I took the decision to start Alb & Stole because for many years I covered sports and later politics in radio (especially while I was in university) and in print. Since my undergraduate degree is in political science, that kind of writing came naturally to me. In 2005 I began a successful political blog that focused on Tennessee politics and later covered the State Capitol for The Examiner. I've been a low level party official, and twice been a candidate for local office. Over the years, I have greatly enjoyed writing, especially being able to use this medium to write about important things, and oftentimes be paid to do so. That season of my life that I spent concentrated on politics and political writing did have one critical difference compared with my life today… I didn't have children, and I wasn't an ordained member of the clergy back then. 

When I came to discern that the Lord was calling me to the diaconate, I also knew that I could not spend my time writing exclusively about politics anymore. The Gospel doesn't know a political party or preference, and when you are dedicated to being a servant to the Gospel, it means that sometimes you even have to serve those you don't agree with. Certainly when preaching and teaching I have to be very careful to stick to the Gospel and the Magisterium (teaching authority) of the Catholic Church. That doesn't mean that I can't have political opinions and preferences or even express them, as those who know me will tell you, I often do and I don't conceal my views when asked. In our local community, my politics aren't exactly a secret considering the years I have been involved. What I cannot do either in good conscience or as a matter of policy is attempt to put the authority of the Church behind my personal political views. Not only would that be wrong, it might drive people away who otherwise would be receptive to the message of Jesus Christ that I have committed my life to convey to others.

However, one thing I have greatly missed is being able to write and being able to receive some remuneration for that effort, and for me it does take a little more effort than some other people. I have a disability, so when you see a column or a post from me the odds are great that it has taken days to write. In my world, that kind of goes with the territory. I suggested to my wife that I miss having a writing gig, I miss the work, I miss the stories, the tips, the scoops, and sometimes I would just miss the ideas that would come into my head that would inspire me to start writing something that might take all week. She suggested that it might be time for me to get back in the saddle again. I told her that some writers that I really respect were all starting Substack newsletters. She responded that that might be worth doing, and I agree.

 I do have a blog in which I post my homilies and some other material as well related to my Ministry. I'm going to continue to keep that up. If you want to get a taste of my view of ministry, of the Church, disability, charity, family, or politics from time to time, Alb & Stole will be the place for you to come. You'll read about those things from a deacon's perspective. More specifically, you'll read about those things from the perspective of this particular deacon!

Substack is a service for writers who write a subscription product. How will that work with Alb & Stole? I'll produce regular content, and if you like it, I'd love to have you as a subscriber for $5 a month. Not everything will be behind the paywall. If I post a homily or sermon here, I will never put that behind the paywall. Our Lord never charged anyone for the Gospel, so I'm not about to start. The good news of Jesus Christ is always free. From time to time I will also write posts of interest that I think will be worth the widest possible distribution, and I won't put those behind the paywall either. That includes this first post, and I'll let readers know when things will begin to go behind the paywall.  

So get a nice hot cup of tea or coffee, or something a wee bit stronger if you are so inclined, and feel free to make yourself at home at Alb & Stole. You don't have to agree with me to know two things for certain. God loves you, and I do too.