Publications

Deacon Harold Burke-Sivers is a prolific Catholic author in the 21st century Church with dozens of books, articles, pamphlets, and other writings.

  • A Look at ‘Our Life of Service’ A book review of Deacon Harold's new book *Our Life of Service: The Handbook for Catholic Deacons.* “The Deacon”, May/June 2022 Issue (Volume 4, No. 6). Our Sunday Visitor.
  • Putting Our Focus on Jesus Deacon Harold writes that a Church responding to the sexual abuse crisis must never be comfortable with sin. “The Deacon”, May/June 2022 Issue (Volume 4, No. 6). Our Sunday Visitor.
  • Words Matter: On Christ, Clerics, and the Sacraments We clerics must use the matter and form given to us by Christ and handed down to us from the Apostles. If we fail to do this, we will not have a complete picture of God’s plan of salvation and will be unable to help Christ finish what he started. Published on 20 February 2022.
  • Parish Addressing Racial Healing Deacon Harold Burke-Sivers spoke on the Catholic response to racial injustice on January 20, 2022 at Our Lady of the Lake Parish in Lake Oswego, OR. “We must heal with love,” he told a large audience at the parish, which is addressing racial healing." Published on 27 January 2022.
  • Preaching the Pro-Life Message Deacon Harold discusses the deacon’s commitment to respect and protect human life. “The Deacon”, January/February 2022 Issue (Volume 4, No. 4). Our Sunday Visitor.
  • Tips to Stay Close to God (Book Review) Deacon Keating’s book teaches us how to weave prayer into the day. DEACON HAROLD BURKE-SIVERS is the author of “Our Life of Service: The Handbook for Catholic Deacons” (Ave Maria, $17.95).
  • Holy Orders: Deacons and Bishops "Holy Orders: Deacons and Bishops" assist in Christ’s mission to go and make disciples. “The Deacon”, September/October 2021 Issue (Volume 4, No. 2). Our Sunday Visitor.
  • Carrying the Lord with Us: The Deacon and the Eucharist Sending forth, the deacon joins the faithful in taking Jesus to the world. “The Deacon”, May/June 2021 Issue (Volume 3, No. 6). Our Sunday Visitor.
  • The Power of Matrimonial Love: The Married Deacon When deacon couples open their hearts to His love and mercy, when they make themselves vulnerable before the Giver of all gifts, when they are able share with God the deepest parts of who they are, then they are giving themselves to Him in return. “The Deacon”, January/February 2021 Issue (Volume 3, No. 4). Our Sunday Visitor.
  • Advent Pilgrimage: A Journey From Eden to Bethlehem (Book of Esther) Esther was a prayerful woman and her spiritual submission to the will of the Lord gives us a beautiful example for our Advent journey.
  • The Next Four Years: Only True Love Can Defeat Racism For the Oct. 30 - Nov. 7, 2020 special election issue of Angelus, we asked a handful of Catholic thinkers to offer their thoughts on the issues that American Catholics should care about for the next four years, independent of the candidates or political party that govern after the Nov. 3, 2020 elections.
  • Until Death Do Us Part When a man and a woman enter into a marriage covenant, they promise unending love and devotion to each other, regardless of their circumstances, for the rest of their lives until death. *The Narrow Gate*, Parousia Media Blog. 17 August 2020.
  • The Deacon’s Role at Baptisms Like our predecessors, the Levites, the deacon’s responsibility at baptisms within Mass is to assist the priest, leaving plenty of room outside of Mass for the deacon, like the first deacons in Acts of the Apostles, to preach the Good News of the life-changing encounter with Jesus Christ and to solemnly confer the Sacrament of Baptism. “The Deacon”, September/October 2020 Issue (Volume 3, No. 2). Our Sunday Visitor.
  • A Catholic Response to Racism (Catholic World Report) Racism is learned behavior, and Catholics can play a significant role in breaking down the walls of racism by taking a “hands on” approach to creating pillars of mutual respect and understanding built on the firm foundation of covenant relationship. Catholic World Report, 29 June 2020.
  • Can Catholics support ‘Black Lives Matter’? Catholic leaders say the Church has an important role in working for racial justice, but that protesting for justice does not imply endorsement of the positions taken by Black Lives Matter organizations. *Catholic News Agency*, published 17 June 2020.
  • Tips for Battling Pornography Handout Deacon Harold Burke-Sivers provides tips, tools, and resources to help you battle pornography in your life.
  • Deacon’s Role in Liturgical Preaching Outside of Mass Distinguishing between the homily at Mass and preaching at a liturgical service. The Deacon, May/June 2020 Issue (Vol.2, No.6), Our Sunday Visitor.
  • *Daily Dose of Deacon Harold* Jesus Diagram DOWNLOAD Chart for use with "Daily Dose of Deacon Harold" (Natures of Jesus)
  • The Narrow Gate: Rising From the Ashes – Deacon Harold The Narrow Gate this week is taken from Deacon Harold Burke-Sivers‘ blog The Deacon’s Heart, originally published on Ash Wednesday of 2011. Parousia Blog, 5 March 2020
  • ‘Munera’ of Deacons ‘Munera’ of Deacons as sacramental signs and witness of the Church’s mission of service. "The Deacon", January/February 2020 Issue (Volume 2, No. 4)
  • Deacon: Be ‘Contagiously Catholic’ A Catholic’s duty is to watch for an opening, get his or her foot in the door, toss in some seeds of faith, and let God do His work. Be “contagiously Catholic.” The Observer, Diocese of Rockford, 7 November 2019.
  • Dynamic Deacon: ‘We have to build strong Marriages’ (Catholic Outlook) American Catholic Deacon Harold Burke-Sivers has lived up to his international nickname of the ‘Dynamic Deacon’. Deacon Harold was the guest speaker at the 2019 Faith in Marriage Seminar, hosted by the Diocese of Parramatta’s Life, Marriage and Family Office on 30 August. With his renowned passion, energy and love, Deacon Harold spoke to the 150-person crowd on the topic of ‘Building Strong Marriages’. Catholic Outlook, 18 September 2019
  • The Narrow Gate : St. Teresa of Calcutta – Deacon Harold Saint Teresa of Calcutta once said, “We cannot separate our lives from the Eucharist . . . Jesus has made Himself the Bread of Life to give us life. Night and day, He is there. If you really want to grow in love, come back to the Eucharist, come back to that Adoration.” Parousia Blog, 4 September 2019
  • Living Well, According to Father Tolton Rather, in a way too few hagiographies do, Deacon Burke-Sivers aims to give us a deeply rich and often profoundly moving meditation not only on Father Tolton’s life but on […]
  • What Piano Playing Can Teach Us about Evangelization Jesus is calling all of us to evangelize, each in our own way to invite people to know him, to love him, to serve him and to follow him. If we want Christ to be in us, he has to go through us. Our hope is that those who witness and experience the evangelizing Christ in us will turn toward the lord to open themselves deeply to him in freedom and love.
  • Merciful Like the Father (Deacon Digest) Deacon Harold explains the deacon's key role in the domestic Church is to love like Christ. *Deacon Digest*, January/February 2019 (Vol.1, No.4)
  • Homily on the Sex-Abuse Scandal (19 August 2018) Deacon Harold's homily for the 20th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B. The homily focuses on the sex abuse scandal and what can be done about it.
  • “Sower of Hope” (Filipiniana News – June 2018) For three evenings, Deacon Harold touched on subjects that at times are lighting rods for modern day skeptics or, at other times, are sources of confusion among those who are trying to live their Christian faith.
  • The Spirituality of Stewardship – *Catholic News* (Singapore) In this article, guest writer Deacon Harold Burke-Sivers discusses the Christian principle of stewardship and its immense significance as a way of life for Catholics. 27 November 2016.
  • Students Across Sydney Catholic Schools Experience the Dynamic Deacon Students across Sydney Catholic schools were recently privileged to experience an empowering presentation by the Dynamic Deacon. August 2015.
  • Deacon Harold Breaks the Spiritual Glass Ceiling (Legatus Magazine) Deacon Harold featured in Legatus Magazine, September 2017 issue.
  • Into the Breach w/ Deacon Harold (*National Catholic Register*) What does it mean to be a Catholic man? How does a Catholic man love? Why is fatherhood, fully understood, so crucial for every man? *National Catholic Register*, published 16 February 2017.
  • The Power of Prayer in Men’s Lives, Character and Leadership Nineteen pastors, faith leaders and men in various vocations have come together with Washington (DC) Area Coalition of Men's Ministries. *The Washington Times*, published 16 June 2016.
  • American Catholic Preacher Speaks in Hobart (Archdiocese of Hobart) Deacon Burke-Sivers talked of the importance of faithfulness to church teachings for married couples, when he spoke to Hobart audiences recently. *Archdiocese of Hobart* website.
  • The Emerging Catholic Men’s Movement (Catholic World Report) Conferences and faith-based groups are helping men know, defend, and live their Catholic faith. *Catholic World Report*, 7 May 2015.
  • Earthly Marriage and the Marriage Feast of Heaven (Catholic Sentinel) In his Letter to the Ephesians Saint Paul writes, “Be subject to one another out of reverence for Christ” (Ephesians 5:21). Later he adds, quoting from Genesis 2, "For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh" (Ephesians 5:31).
  • From Eden to Eternity (The Catholic World Report) A homily on the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, 15 August 2016.
  • Faith, Family, and the Choices We Make (The Catholic News) Shortly after our twins were born, I spent one of my many sleepless nights thinking about how my life had changed since the day I met my wife. Archdiocese of Singapore, *The Catholic News*, April 25, 2010, Vol 60 No 08.
  • Being a Gift to Each Other (Catholic Sentinel) God is love. These three simple words describe the most basic and fundamental reality of all creation.
  • Covenant Love in Marriage (Catholic Sentinel) When my wife Colleen and I wee married, we made a permanent decision to love - to give ourselves to each other freely and completely. On our wedding day, through the gift of grace, we entered into a profoundly intimate and life-giving relationship in communion with the Lord. On that day, with the help of Christ, we established a strong foundation upon which to build our married life.
  • Where Are Our Husbands and Fathers? (University of Portland Magazine) From a recent talk for the University’s Garaventa Center for Catholic life by Deacon Harold Burke-Sivers, a scholar of black Catholic life. Straightforward man, Deacon Harold is. University of Portland Magazine, 2009.
  • Human Sexuality and Marriage (Aurem Cordis Article) Pope John Paul II, in his encyclical letter Evangelium Vitae, states that "human life, as a gift of God, is sacred and inviolable. . . The meaning of life is found in giving and receiving love, and, in this light, human sexuality and procreation reach their true and full significance" (no.81). *Aurem Cordis*, 2004.
  • The Real Meaning of Christmas: Eucharist and Evangelization Christmas is truly the genesis of Christian evangelization in the world precisely because Jesus' birth is the inaugural Eucharistic event of our faith. 9 August 2014.
  • Catholicism and Authentic Fatherhood (The Catholic World Report) Clayton C. Barbeau’s The Father of the Family communicates a spirituality that truly embraces what it means to be a man of God. *The Catholic World Report*, Book Review, 14 June 2014.
  • Rosary Reflections (Real Men Pray the Rosary) The rosary is not just “what we do” but expresses “who we are” as we reflect deeply on the mysteries of Christ’s life, death and resurrection through the heart of the Blessed Mother. *Real Men Pray the Rosary* Website, 3 September 2013.
  • Biblical Manhood (Book Chapter) *Man Up! Becoming the New Catholic Renaissance Man*, Paperback – March 17, 2014.
  • What Black America Really Needs: Committed and Faithful Fathers Deacon Harold Burke-Sivers discusses the family crisis that is afflicting the entire nation, but especially its inner-city communities. *The National Catholic Register*, 10 September 2013.
  • Beyond the Zimmerman Verdict (The Catholic World Report) In the wake of the Travyon Martin case, African Americans have an opportunity to redirect their energies toward healing their families and communities. *The Catholic World Report*, 22 July 2013.
  • Make a Gift of Ourselves (Faith ND) Jesus calls husbands and fathers who are lost to use the navigational tools of prayer, forgiveness, and mercy to find our way back to our Father in heaven. *Faith ND* Website.
  • A Father’s Vital Presence (Book Chapter) New book gathers experts to equip and encourage today’s dads. *Man to Man, Dad to Dad: Catholic Faith and Fatherhood*, Chapter 6: A Father's Vital Presence, Pauline Books & Media, 25 June 2013.
  • The Catholic Teaching on Homosexuality (Saint Paul Street Evangelization) Many people often misunderstand or misrepresent the Church’s teaching on homosexuality. The Church is not against homosexuals as persons. It never has been and never will be.
  • The Role and Responsibility of Catholic Parents (The Catholic News) Catholic mothers and fathers today continue to till the soil in the Lord’s vineyard following the example of the Holy Family. Archdiocese of Singapore, *The Catholic News*, June 19, 2011, Vol 61, No 12.
  • A Life-Giving Love Song (Catholic Way) Some reflections on perhaps the central question of popular music—What is love? *Catholic Way*, 2000.
  • Taking Christ into the Workplace (The Christian Broadcast Network) It's not easy being a Christian in the workplace. *The Christian Broadcast Network*, 2000.