Continuing Education For Today's Diaconal Ministry
From 1976 through 2003, the Institute was held on the campus of Notre Dame University, with the cooperation of the Department of Continuing Education. Thus, the ND crest symbolizes this relationship. The N.D.I.C.E. banner is symbol of the stole of the Roman Catholic deacon. This stole is worn during liturgical acts of worship by the deacon and is a way of identifying him as a cleric of the church.
Another depiction of the stole is below:
This cross is the cross of Christ, representative of His Crucifixion. The red stole has its origin in two areas. In olden times, an approaching messenger was recognized by the colorings of the cloth he wore. The recipient would know from afar the originator of the message long before the messenger's face was close enough to be revealed. The deacon as a messenger of the Word of God wears the stole to symbolize he carries this Word about him.
The second explanation is that the stole is like the dish cloth used by a waiter. As he prepares the table for his guests, he throws the dish cloth over his shoulder. To the deacon, the stole is a reminder of his role as a servant to others.
The stole is worn over the left shoulder, across his chest, to the right waist. The color of the stole reflects the colors of the liturgical year or occasion of the liturgical activity.